Every year, Jan. 1
is the day when New Year’s resolutions begin
to face the test of time. Goals are set and the
first day of the year marks action getting underway.
Runners are known for setting ambitious
goals, whether that means chasing a lofty PB, racing
for the first time, or not racing at all but setting
a personal milestone. The tricky part of running
is that it may take weeks and months to see the
progress.
With 2024 already under way, here
are a few running resolutions you can set and try
to follow through on in the new year.
And remember, our resolutions, while
they might be fairly specific (they have to be in
order to succeed), usually serve a more general
purpose.” Did you miss one day here and there
but stay consistent overall? No big deal as it’s
the big picture that matters.
__________________________________________________________________
1 - Enter
a new (for you) race
Is your routine of the same races
starting to feel stale? Try an event you’ve
never done before. There will likely be the thrill
of conquering the unknown. And though you may not
know the course like you do at your home race, the
new environment and scenery may mean time passes
by quicker.
A reminder that registering early
in the year for a race often means saving a few
bucks down the line when the deadline nears and
early-bird registration ends.
2 - Try a new surface
Like trying a new race, take change
a step further and hit the trails or cross-country
course. Or, if you’re an avid trail junkie,
try testing out flat land by racing on the roads.
3 - Start
or continue a run streak
A run streak means you’ll
be putting in consistent mileage on a week-to-week
and month-to-month basis so you’ll be on track
to be in PB-fitness. Just don’t be discouraged
by those who have hit the 10,000-day mark.
4 - Keep
a training log
Keeping tabs on where you are in training is always
a good idea. It’s helpful to look back on
past workouts to see where things may have gone
wrong or, if you set a big PB, it’s motivating
to see just how far you’ve come. With the
proliferation of electronic device aids, a training
log can be kept almost automatically.
5 - Add or
cut out a routine
Challenge yourself by dropping a habit you’ve
wanted to kick for some time, or, alternatively,
push yourself in other ways by adding in a specific
type of cross-training here and there or attempt
to master a strength training exercise.
6 - Join a run group
Running in a group may help keep
you accountable towards your goals and opens the
door to meeting new people in the community.
7 - Try to
qualify for an exclusive race
Certain races have specific qualifying standards
like the Boston Marathon. If you’re not ready
to attempt to qualify this year, at least check
out what the qualifying standards are for future
years. You can likely cut off more time from your
PB than you think.
8 - Listen
to your body
Runners are used to pain, whether it’s in
training or on race day. Sometimes too much pain
is a bad thing. This year, convince yourself that
you can take a day off here and there if you feel
an injury coming on. An intermittent or weekly day
off is better than needing to take weeks and months
off at a time.
9 - Try a
big city race
There’s a certain feeling
to big-city races as thousands, sometimes in the
tens of thousands, of runners take over downtown
and the surrounding area. The high volume of runners
means there’s a good chance you’ll have
someone to run with for much of the race (albeit
there may be more bumping), and that could lead
you to a PB.
Have fun training
|