January is the perfect time to set new running-related goals! Setting goals early in the year helps to keep me motivated and focused during my training. In the past, I have made more challenging performance-based goals for myself, but in recent years I have changed to a “enjoy more, stress less” mindset. Make a few goals for yourself and write them down. Check back during the year to track your progress and re-focus if you need to! Here are 12 brilliant running goals to motivate you in the New Year, no matter what your focus is for 2020!
Don’t forget to check out my Badass Travel Goals to achieve in 2020 if you need some non-running related goals!
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Run a Marathon
I made this goal many years ago and achieving it was one of the proudest moments of my life. Running a marathon is a GREAT goal to have. It takes a lot of training and hard work, but the pay off is worth every ounce of effort. Check out the movie Brittany Runs a Marathon if you need any more motivation! I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty emotional at the end of that movie!
Run a Shorter Distance Race
While long-distance races are a wonderful goal, don’t overlook shorter distance races! If jumping into marathon training is intimidating, try a 5K out first! Short-distance races are a great place to start for new runners, plus they take a lot less time to train for.
Even for veteran runners, making a goal to run one of two short-distance races is excellent! Long-distance runners rarely take breaks from running, but focusing on speed work and fewer miles could help you recover between marathons.
Do a Virtual Race
This is something I want to try in 2020. Virtual races are everywhere online (I know runDisney even has one!). You sign up for a race distance, run it on your own, and receive a medal and/or swag once you complete your “race”. I am curious about these and want to see what they are all about, plus I do LOVE medals! Maybe I will try one of the runDisney races, or maybe a Harry Potter one! There are so many possibilities!
Travel to a New State for a Race
Since I love to travel, racing in a different state is always a goal for me! Running a race is a fun excuse to check out someplace new. You can even expand this to be more global; I’ve heard good things about the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon 😉
PR at any Distance
For those who are more performance-driven, making a PR (Personal Record) goal is a great way to push yourself! After years of making and achieving my PR goals, I eventually decided I was happy with what I’ve accomplished for now. That’s not to say I won’t want to try to break those records someday. Pushing yourself to new limits is tough, but can be very fulfilling! If you are ready to work hard and get results, make a PR your new year’s goal!
Enjoy Racing More
On the flip side of PR goals, there is the “enjoy more” goal. After years of constantly pushing myself to the point I wasn’t enjoying racing anymore, I decided to make a change! I made a new goal to start enjoying my racing experiences again. Last year, I ran the St. George Marathon with that in mind and absolutely loved my marathon experience! There is something to be said about letting go of expectations and living in the moment. My upcoming Walt Disney World Marathon will be a race to enjoy and not stress so much about keeping a fast pace!
Set a Distance Goal for the Year
This goal can vary widely depending on your fitness level and time constraints. Some people have a goal to run 1,000 miles in a year, while others run 2,019 miles for the year 2019. If you look around online you will see many distance goal ideas. Check it out and see what looks appealing to you!
Do a 365 Day Challenge
Another popular goal is the 365-day running challenge! These folks make the goal to go out and run EVERY DAY that year! I love this goal, and maybe someday I will do it! It certainly would take A LOT of dedication!
Run a New Race Series
Choosing a new race series to try is a fun way to experience something different next year. I have been wanting to run a Rock’n’Roll race since I started running! I hope to finally run one in 2020!
There are also team race challenges that would be awesome with a group of running friends! I’ve heard good things about Ragnar Races, they are very popular and look like a lot of fun!
Run a Trail Race
Something I have never done but would love to try someday is trail racing! For the die-hard road runner, a trail race would be a completely new challenge. It forces you to slow down and focus on the terrain. I know many runners who have fallen in love with trail racing and prefer it to the fast-paced road races.
Do an Obstacle Race
If you are completely burnt out on running normal road races, try an obstacle race! These popular races are full of interesting and usually muddy challenges. The most popular ones are the Spartan Series and Tough Mudder. They offer multiple race distances and are located throughout the world. Originally these races were designed with ex-military folks in mind. Now anyone can take on the challenge and see how far they can push their limits!
Multi-Race Challenge
Many races offer multi-day challenges. If you run all the races during the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend you have completed the “Dopey Challenge”. That’s A LOT of running! If being Dopey is not your jam, runDisney also has plenty of two-day race options. I ran the “Glass Slipper Challenge” a few years ago when I completed the Walt Disney World Princess Weekend 10k and Half Marathon races. There is also the “Coast to Coast” runDisney challenge which you complete by running a race in Disneyland and Walt Disney World within the same calendar year.
The Rock’n’Roll Marathon Series offers several challenges as well. Check out their website for the specific race combos for special medals, or be a “Heavy Medal” and run multiple Rock’n’Roll races in a year to get special bling!
With all these Brilliant Running Goals for 2020, what will you choose? Share them in the comments below! There are so many fantastic options when it comes to running, don’t let it get stale! By making goals for the new year you will be sure to stay motivated and keep on enjoying your training in 2020! Happy Trails and Happy New Year! =)
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I don’t race much but I do enjoy running. I had no idea virtual races were even a thing!! I might have to look into that.
I want to start running this year, an obstacle run is one of my goals but I had no idea about Virtual races. Hopefully, you’ll write a post when you do one. Great Post!
Thank you! Good luck, and I will definitely post about my virtual race experience!
Our family just started doing 5k races together. It has been a wonderful way to spend time and enjoy and share an experience. One of the Disney races is definitely on our bucket list!
Disney races are amazing!