Now that we are a week into the new year, it’s time to think about sticking with your running goals! It’s one thing to lay them out there, but another thing entirely to keep them going!
Remember Your Why
On those mornings when it’s hard to get out of bed, and you “just don’t wanna,” remember why you’re doing it. Your reason should be compelling enough to help you battle those moments of lower drive.
Recruit A Friend
Accountability is one of the best methods of sticking to your running goals. When you recruit a friend to your cause, you automatically have a built in accountability partner. You can rely on each other to continue your training, push through plateaus, and conquer those goals! Bonus: friends make things more fun.
Schedule Your Workouts
I personally find it incredibly helpful to have my runs and workouts already scheduled into my calendar. Is it ok to skip one (or a few) or reschedule? Absolutely! However, if you carve out the time you need and get it on the books, you’ll be that much more invested in making it happen. Promise.
Don’t Be Afraid To Adjust
What happens if you realize your running goal isn’t challenging you or you bit off more than you could proverbially chew? That’s ok! Make the adjustment. If running one mile a day leaves you hungering for more, go for it (in safe increments). And if going from Couch To Marathon in a month was a bit too much? Step it back. We don’t know how we’re going to feel until we try, and it’s ok to make tweaks along the way to suit our real life experience. Tis better to reign it in and keep going than to get overwhelmed and quit.
Time For A Reward
There is zero shame is dangling carrots for yourself to get through the tough times, and I fully support a “treat yourself” mindset. Give yourself milestones to hit and then do something nice for you: a self-care treatment, a new piece of running gear, a fancy coffee. Do the thing that floats your boat and gets you to the next marker!
What are your techniques for sticking with your running goals?
Welcome to Fit Five Friday, our Friday linkup!
We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites! Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Who’s ready for some fun?
Recruiting friends to come along is my favorite way to keep my running goals moving forward! Thanks for the link up
Deborah Brooks recently posted…Top Tips For Keeping Your Fitness Goals On Track This Year
These are exactly my 5.
I wish I had friends during the work week. But I do the best I can solo. But it’s easier not to bail if a friend is waiting.
All great points! I’m really enjoying my new group runs in my new town! The accountability is tenfold!
I like your point about being willing to adjust – there’s no failure in revising a goal.
Love all of these! And love that my friends are all pretty much on the same page with setting goals and sticking to them!