21 Running Resolutions for 2021
Tags: Goals, Running, Productivity, Training, New Year

21 Running Resolutions for 2021

It’s resolution time!

Photo by Yasemin K. on Unsplash

What are goals anymore? We set them last year, and look what happened.

Don’t let 2020 discourage you from aiming high. Not having a goal at all will guarantee stagnancy, and who wants to be stuck in this mess?

Here are 21 running goals for 2021. You might not be able to train for that race, so take this opportunity to switch up your mindset and improve your athleticism in different ways.

Run the year in miles: 2021 miles in 2021. Set a birthday goal to train for. Turning 30? A 30k might be the perfect way to celebrate. Run every street in your city. Find a map and go for the goal of exploring every sidewalk, cul-de-sac, and pedestrian bridge inside your city limits. Run streak! for a month, a season, or the full year, see how many days in a row you can run at least one mile. Go for speed. Can you run your fastest mile, 10k, or marathon this year? Check out Strava segments. Are you the fastest Strava user on your block? Speaking of Strava, their new Local Legend feature allows for a new type of goal setting. You might not be the fastest in town, but can you run segments the most? Pick one route and conquer it the more times than anyone in a 90 day period. Pay it forward. Do you have a friend who is interested in running, but doesn’t know where to start? Take them under your wing for a few runs a month and show them how rewarding this sport is. Push your limits. Put something on the calendar that’s totally out of your comfort zone, like two races in one week or back to back long runs. Set a world record! Did you know there are all sorts of Guinness Book of World Records events for “Fastest marathon in (insert silly costume here)”. I’ve known record holders for both fastest marathon in a toga and fastest marathon pushing triplets. Switch up your routine. Do you run after work, but aspire to be a morning runner? Do you always listen to music during exercise, but envy those people who can work out to just the sounds of nature? Use this year to shake up your paradigm. Start stretching. I don’t think I’ve ever met a runner who has their recovery strategy completely on point. Get on a strict schedule with your stretching, yoga, and foam rolling. Document your training. Take an extra 30 seconds to log your workout and note how you felt before, during and after the run. Having this data is invaluable. If you feel really good, or if you face an injury, you’re able to look back at the months prior and have a great idea of what works for you. Go somewhere new. Find a trail network you’ve always wanted to explore, and plan yourself a running vacation. Find a campground or Airbnb near the trailheads, and create your own training camp. Find your perfect gear setup. Make this the year that you truly commit to getting rid of those shorts that always make you chafe or the shoes that don’t quite fit. Build a relationship with a local running shop with a good return policy, and commit to getting your favorite gear down to a science. A subscription to Ultrarunning Magazine or Runner’s World is a fun way to kickstart your research. Get comfortable with maps. Map reading might be a thing of the past for the general population. For runners, especially trail runners, knowing your way around a map is important. Get used to the ones provided on your watch or phone, and then upgrade to the old fashioned paper maps and trailhead signs. Elevation challenge. You might not be able to travel to Mt. Everest right now, but can you scale the equivalent 29,032 feet on your local hill? Set a running-focused reading goal. There are so many amazing books about running. Lots of pro athletes have gotten into the cookbook scene as well. See if you can tackle one book a month and gain inspiration for your own training. Master mobility. Running is a repetitive motion, and it can cause stiffness and muscular imbalances if you don’t do your mobility exercises. I recommend runners work through this book to learn practical mobility tips. Get to know your body through running. Have you experimented with heart rate training? Do you know what it feels like to do barefoot strides in a field after a run? Endurance sports allow you to spend hours discovering more about your own physiology. What can you learn about yourself in 2021 on the run? Spread the love. This is an isolating time for everyone. A smile and wave from a distance goes a long way. Set a goal to give a welcoming nod or joyful hello to someone on each of your runs. You could change their day for the better.

Photo by Fitsum Admasu on Unsplash

Happy 2021, runners. What goal do you have your eye on this year?