Since taking up running in 2016 I’ve always had short-term goals in mind. Run one kilometre without dying. Complete a 5km run without stopping. Stop hurting my back whenever I run. Compete in my first race. I was looking ahead 6-8 weeks at best.
Now that I’m injury-free and feeling more like a ‘real runner’ by the day, I wanted to make some specific running goals for 2018. So here they are:
My Running Goals for 2018
One of the reasons why I started this blog was to hold myself accountable to the goals I set for myself. It’s something that has worked for my personal finances for the last eight years, so I’m hoping to continue that level of accountability here on this blog.
What gets measured, gets managed. That’s why I set S.M.A.R.T. goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.
Running goal #1 – Run four days a week
I’ve always found it hard to stick to a regular running routine. Unless I was training for a race and using a specific training plan (i.e. Runkeeper) I’d usually just run when I felt like it – which is not ideal for building good habits.
The winter is also hit-and-miss because I much prefer running outside to running on the treadmill.
That said, this year I have committed to running four days a week, and here’s how I’m going to do it:
It starts with my morning routine. I get up at 5:45am and hit the treadmill at 6:00am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Tuesday and Thursday I mix-in a weight-training routine and usually walk for 30 minutes to boost my step-count. Saturday is a day-off, and Sunday I do my long run for the week.
I’m three-weeks into this routine and I’m really pleased with how well I’ve been able to stick to it.
Running Goal #2 – Complete my first half-marathon
My wife inspired me last year when she completed her first half-marathon at the Calgary Marathon in May. I’m going to attempt to do the same thing this year in Calgary.
The longest race I’ve competed in so far is a 10K, but in training for that race I completed a 16.27K run – the longest of my running career. While 21.1K sounds daunting, I’m feeling confident that with a solid 12-16 weeks of training I can achieve this goal.
Will I beat my wife’s time of 2:02:46? We shall see.
Running Goal #3 – Compete in three races this year
Last year I competed in three races. A 6K at the Moonlight Run in Lethbridge (March), a 10K at the Calgary Marathon (May) and a 10K at the Police Half-Marathon in Lethbridge (September).
The Moonlight Run featured a brutal 1K hill-climb, the 10K in Calgary got delayed and so we ran it just before noon in the heat, and the Police Half-Marathon was a nice, mostly downhill, course where I achieved a personal best time of 49:39.
This year I’m going to enter the 10K at the Moonlight Run, the half-marathon at the Calgary Marathon, and the half-marathon at the Police Half-Marathon. There may be one or two shorter ‘fun’ races throughout the year, but these three are the biggies.
Final thoughts
Achieving these goals will require continued good health. That’s why I’ve incorporated more weight-training into my routine. I’m not the most limber guy, so I need to keep up with my stretching. And I’ll continue doing planks and other core exercises to ward off potential back trouble.
I stopped short of listing any race time specific goals. Since I’m upping my distance in every race I want to use this year as a baseline to build off of in the future.
What are your running goals for 2018?
