On Friday, we will ring in the new year, which means it’s time to take on a January challenge! I’m not going to pretend that 2021 is going to change everything, but it is a time to renew, refresh, and restart.
Run The Year Virtual Running Challenge
Perhaps the most popular January challenge, at least for runners, is the one offered by Run The Year. The intent is for each athlete to complete 2,021 miles over the course of the upcoming year, but there are options for 500, 1000, or 1500 miles as well. Registration ranges from $30 to $60, offering a minimum of a mobile-friendly mileage tracker, optional private Facebook group, and branded mileage guide, all the way up to a RTY t-shirt, medal, legacy coin, and passport with stickers.
Ragnar 31 Day Challenge
I’ll be taking part in Ragnar’s January challenge with my local She Runs This Town chapter this year. This 31 Day Challenge is only $5, and offers a way to log daily activities, compete among your teammates, and earn Ragnarian bragging rights. Participants can also purchase optional swag, and opt in to motivational texts, increasing the fun!
Strava Fresh Start Challenge
When I was sidelined, I didn’t focus a lot of attention on Strava, but this year, I’m joining a few of their challenges, including the Fresh Start January Challenge. The goal is to log 30 total hours of activity this month, and in return, athletes earn a digital badge in their trophy case. Obviously, my main focus is always running, but almost every form of activity or workout is eligible for the grand total, which should motivate me to branch out. Want to be friend on Strava? You can find me here!
Make-Your-Own January Challenge
For the first month of the year, I’m going to cobble together my own challenge. In August, I took on a wellness challenge, and I really liked ticking off daily activities on the calendar. There are some things I definitely want to work on for this month, including
- running three days a week
- adding one day of speed work
- drinking more water (surprise)
- reading at least 30 minutes a day
- spending more time building Runs With Pugs
- dedicating more time to strength and stretching
From there, I think I will add in a plank or pushup challenge, like this.
I don’t expect 2021 to have any kind of magical beginnings. We are still deep in the throes of the pandemic, political chaos, and so much anxiety. Clearly, that’s not going to disappear, but I still want to do my best to stay on track and set some realistic goals to distract me from the difficulties we continue to face.
Are you taking on a January Challenge?
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A few years ago, maybe in 2015 or 2016, I joined Run the year with the goal to run the miles of the year. I spent most of the year injured and had a low mileage year. So now I don’t want to jinx myself and set a yearly goal! I think I’m going to focus on working towards a 5k in January. So no specific challenge, but I’ll plan out a schedule to keep me focused.
I like your January do-it-yourself challenge, especially that it includes non-fitness goals as well, like reading.
What kind of books do you have in mind?
Great idea. Thanks for sharing
I already signed up for two running challenges. I’m good lol.
Though yes I need to do more than run.
I am hesitant to set a yearly mileage goals however, I do love the monthly Strava challenges. I also do monthly Peloton challenges for strength and cycling. I like the shorter challenges they are easier for me wrap my head around. 🙂 See you on Strava
Great minds think alike because I have a sort-of challenge post I’m working on for next week. 🙂 There are so many out there, mine are different!
No yearly mileage goals for 2021 (but I never set those anyways). Although my foot is pretty much healed, I’m still forging ahead with caution for the next few months. I am working on an ab/core challenge for January, though!
We’ve just moved into T4. So I guess I’ll have lots of free time for more running in jan 2020.
Gianni@WalkTheLand recently posted…Running Up To Houghton On The Hill And Through Some Surrounding Fields
I’m actually just finishing up a six month challenge that started last July, 700 miles, virtually from Lake Tahoe to Malibu. I’m over 700 miles because when I got covid I added my “dog walk” miles. I have until January 15 and I’d like to get the full 700 in running but I don’t think I’ll quite make it.
I like your make-your-own challenge!
I’m probably going to do some of the Peloton challenges. I did the Run the Year challenge a couple of years ago, but I’m not sure about setting such a high mileage goal for 2021.
Good luck with your challenges!
I was hoping Run The Year had a mileage goal but in kms! But I don’t think they do. So I will do my own 2021 km challenge. Not sure how realistic that is though (for me) but let’s see how far I get! Best of luck with all your challenges. You’re 100% right, 2021 won’t be a magical new beginning, maybe even much of the same, but we will get through it like we did this one and come out stronger!
Right now, I’m just going to focus on PRing my lifts in the gym; I’ll keep a running base and just kind of wait for things to come back. Hoping to just build on my momentum from 2020. Getting the vaccine feels like an injection of optimism!
That’s a great goal! I want to work on my strength, but it’s hard when we don’t have a ton of equipment at home, and I am still edgy about the gym.