At the start of 2017 I decided to not set any goals for the year. I felt like in the past years I had set goals, gotten hurt, and then gotten frustrated when the year didn’t go as planned. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I really like having goals to work towards. This year, I have set some realistic, (mostly) measurable, long-term goals for 2018. These are things I want to be able to say I did when I look back on the year. I think what makes these goals appropriate is that for each of them I have a plan to achieve them.
Last year I set “intentions” around taking a more laid-back approach to training. I think I actually did pretty well with that this year! The races I did (only two at the end of the year: a half and a 5k) were without specific training and therefore I didn’t put any pressure on myself. I will be doing a more in-depth post about my year in running, so I’ll just leave it at that for now.
At the end of this post I am going to talk about my “dream goals”. I realized this year that just because things aren’t going as planned you don’t need to completely give up on the things you want to one day achieve. It just may take longer than you hoped.
Goals for 2018
PR in “something”
It’s been a long time since I set a new PR (June 2016) and I would like to get one in 2018. I haven’t decided what distance I want to focus on this year. I don’t think I will run a full marathon, but definitely some shorter distances. I’m leaning towards chasing that 5k PR because that one has been hanging over my head since 2013. Plus it will require less mileage in training.
Track my shoe mileage
This one should be easy, but just requires remembering to actually do it. I rotate my shoes which makes it difficult to keep track of mileage. Last week, I downloaded an app to help me with this. I tried using Garmin but I think it only tracks one pair at a time, so that won’t work since I rotate so much.
Get rid of back issue
For years I have had this annoying tightness in my back that comes and goes. It started when I had piriformis syndrome in 2013, and then become more of an SI joint issue. For awhile it was better, and now it will flare up every once in a while. I actually don’t think it is because of running. (But who knows.) I have been using a standing desk at work now for a little over 2 months, and it’s not helping as much as I thought it would. Between working with Drew, addressing core stability and running form, I hope to clear this up once and for all. I have also been seeing a massage therapist at my chiropractor’s office (it’s hard to get appointments so I go like once every 6 weeks) and he has noted that I have a huge knot in the back of my shoulder. He has been working on it, but we are wondering if that could be the culprit.
No injuries
This one is on my list every year and I think I have had an injury almost every year since 2012. It still needs to be a goal, although I am recognizing that as hard as I may work to try to prevent injuries, my body is very confusing and things will happen even if I do everything right. My plan for this is to keep up the work with Drew, continue seeing my chiro every month or so, and listen to my body. Fingers crossed this is my year of healthy running.
Improve Running Form
Maybe this one will help with the injury piece? Drew has given me some exercises to help with form and I would like to start adding some drills back in. I actually think my form is better when I run fast, so it’s tricky when you want to keep your runs easy and then you find that your form falls apart. One thing I have noticed from some of the exercises I have done with Drew is that my left hip does not move well. It is much harder to bring my hip into flexion on that side and I also notice that side is much more unstable when I do dead bugs (if I’m not careful I hear a “clicking”.) This maybe very likely be due to my surgery on that side. Going along with all of this, I have also been working on breathing properly when running and lifting and need to continue to focus on that.
Be more strategic about saving money
I decided to include a couple of non-running goals. I do pretty well with saving but not with investing. Rob is really good with this stuff but we still have separate accounts for our pay-checks/daily spending and then a joint account for bigger things. I am going to have him help me to look at my monthly spending and put remaining money into savings or my investment accounts.
Read at least 6 books throughout the year
I have a bad habit of starting a book and never finishing it. Most of my reading happens when I am on vacation but since that’s only like once or twice a year I’d like to read more often at home. 6 is pretty low for the year so if I can do more that’s even better.
Set at least one monthly goal
These goals were chosen specially because they can be worked on over the course of the year. Each month I hope to set at least one short-term goal that may be a little more challenging. I already do month in-review posts so I will also plan to include my monthly goal and progress on goals for the year.
Ok, now on to the fun stuff. As I was planning this post I asked myself the question “If you could achieve any goals this year, what would they be?” Even if injury and time were not issues, I definitely don’t think I would ever try to do all of these things in one year. But hey, they’re my dream goals! If I can stick to my 2018 goals then I will be taking a step towards achieving them one day.
Dream goals:
- Sub 1:40 half (PR is 1:41:58 from 2015)
- BQ (I turn 35 this year so I will need a 3:40, but probably 3:35 to actually be able to run Boston- PR is 3:41:46 from 2015)
- Get back to running 40-50 mpw, 5-6 days per week
- Sub 20 minute 5k (PR is 21:38 from 2013)
- Run an ultra
These are actually pretty reasonable goals IF I could run consistently without risking injury.
[Tweet “Check out my goals for 2018 plus a few “dream goals” via @milebymilerun #tuesdaysontherun #coachescorner”]
Have you set any goals for 2018?
What is one dream goal you hope to achieve one day?
Does anyone have any secrets to help me stay injury free this year?! 😀
I’m linking up with No Guilt Life, MCM Mama Runs, and Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Tuesdays on the Run and Rachel, Lora, and Debbie for the Coaches’ Corner!
I wish I knew the secret to staying injury free! I think keeping your body strong and balanced is a good start, and not ramping up mileage too quickly. I agree that running fast helps good running form/efficiency. All the best with your 2018 goals!
Those are definitely good places to start! Thank you!
Please don’t laugh but when I was training for Big Sur and doing all the pool running, I found that once I got back on the road, my running form had changed–for the better! I believe that my posture in the pool really helped me reset. Anyways, food for thought.
You’ve got great goals and yep, staying injury free is always a goal!
That’s so interesting that the pool running helped your form! I always feel like my form in the pool is terrible, so who knows. Then again my pool is also too shallow for doing it correctly so maybe that’s the problem!
Those sounds like some great goals! I hope 2018 will be our year for running after all the frustrations we faced this year.
Adam and I separate our finances the same. We have a joint account for the big stuff and then separate accounts for daily spending. He is also so much better at investing then I am, especially since he started seeing a financial advisor. I saw a financial advisor a couple of years ago but haven’t gone back since. I think we are going to go together soon!
It’s hard to figure out all the investing stuff! Part of me just wants Rob to do it all but it would probably be good for me to learn to do it on my own.
What is the app that you downloaded to track you mileage for your shoes? I am the same way with rotating and then I can never remember what I ran on each pair. I am so bad at reading. This year I wanted to read 4 books, one for each quarter of the year and couldn’t even manage that. I only did one.
The app is just called “ShoeTracker”. It’s simple but seems to do what I need it to do!
I am so bad at reading, which is really embarrassing since I studied English and used to read multiple books per week. Reading more is a goal of mine also! It sounds like you have some great goals for 2018. You are so close to a BQ! And I bet all that strength training will pay off when you train for a 5K PR.
I was so close to that BQ time 2 years ago, but I’m really far off from being in that kind of shape at this point. Lots of work to be done!
I love the variety of your goals for next year. I think that you’ll definitely be able to PR a race distance next year – your comeback to running has been super impressive!
Thanks! It would be nice to PR and I don’t feel like I want to be picky about it!
Injury free is always on my goal list. After making so much progress this year, I hope to continue next year. I love the 10k distance, but I noticed this fall the thought of a 10-miler popped in my head. I don’t know if I’m ready to do that.
I definitely think you could take on a 10 miler! But I agree, injury free is the priority.
I want to be more strategic about saving money too. We save some but could do so much more…
It’s hard! Especially to do it really efficiently.
I love that you have a plan in mind for how to accomplish each of these goals and dream goals! Good luck with them all this coming year 🙂 I think my dream goal at the moment is to be able to graduate from nursing school early and get accepted into the type of nursing I want to do!
That is a great dream goal, and one I am sure you can achieve! Good luck!
Great goals! I would love to PR in something this year…it’s been a while for me too! Keeping track of running shoe mileage is so important and it really helps keep injuries away!
I hope we both get PRs next year!
These sound like excellent goals to me! And, I like your dream goals. That’s an interesting idea. I’ve set my goals for 2018 but maybe they need a little tweaking? Hmmm…..
I just felt like I wanted to put them out there. I won’t feel bad if I don’t achieve them in the next year or two, I just don’t want to lose sight of the big goals.
Your goals are smart and very attainable. I have not really thought about any goals for 2018 for myself. I know I really should focus on one specific distance, but I like variety! Basically, I want it ALL LOL
I feel like now that I have the bigger goals I can start breaking them down a bit more. I guess I’m just ready to move on to 2018!
What a wonderful set of goals and I may steal some for myself if you don’t mind! My biggest goal for 2018 is to run my first Half Marathon. But to do that I also need to work on my form. That is still something I struggle with – there has been improvement, but a lot more work is needed. Looking forward to seeing you tackle each of these goals in 2018!
I don’t mind at all! Running your first half is a great goal. Good luck to you!
Love this! Love the idea of setting “intentions” too. I think the goal to not get injured throughout the year is an important one, a good reminder to stick with strength training!
I’ve written a couple of posts about it, but I am in love with YNAB! It’s a budgeting tool I started using almost two years ago, and it completely changes your perception about money (basically, every dollar has a “job” — it sounds simple, but really does change how you think about things). I would definitely recommend checking it out to hit your budget/money goal!
I will definitely look into that! Thanks for sharing!
Staying injury free is going to be my biggest goal and biggest struggle. As you said, you can do everything right and still get injured. Ah runner probs!
Hopefully we can both stay injury-free next year!
I’m with you on practical vs dream goals. You and I both have bodies that are capable of so much, but just don’t seem to want to allow us to realize those accomplishments, which is humbling and FRUSTRATING. But I think we both have managed to weather the storm as much as one could.
But yes–I want each of your dream goals. Yes please indeed.
You said it so well! I just can’t give up on those dream goals, at least for now. I know better than to expect them to happen right away but a few years down the road? Who knows…
These are great goals! I like how you can easily give yourself grace with some of them – like “PR in Something” so you can adapt them to your life and still accomplish them. Awesome!
Thanks! Yea, I didn’t want to be too specific especially since I’m not sure exactly what races I will do next year!
I love your goals! It’s always fun to lay out the ideal year… I’m starting to think about mine, too. Excited for you to get a running pr this year, you are ready!
Thanks! I hope it happens. I’m excited to see what goals you decide to go for next year.
Your goals are so great and very inspiring, Lisa. I hope you get to achieve even more than you plan for next year. Fingers crossed! 😉
Thanks so much! I wanted them to be challenging but achievable, so I guess we’ll see what happens!
I think these are great goals, and very reasonable. For form — Can you run more hills? Then you won’t have to run as fast but it will certainly help your form. My form totally falls apart when I run LSD. It’s no good!
That’s a good idea. Although I still struggle with form on hills! I think I need to do hill repeats that involve recovery intervals so I can really focus on using good form uphill for shorter periods of time.
Staying injury free is an important goal and one I share. My injuries are not usually caused by running, though, unless you call falling on my knee a “running injury.” Or falling on my shoulder. I guess one of my 2018 goals should be to stop falling!
I set all my PRs and qualified for Boston multiple times in my 40s, so you definitely can do it. Finding the right mix of training without injury is key (duh).
I am very hopeful that I still have some of my faster times ahead of me! My biggest setback has been injuries so once I can get that under control I think I will able to train better and run faster.
I love that you want to run an ultra – I find that setting goals does help keep me more focused. I’m working on setting professional, blogging and running goals for next year.
I really love the long distances, so if my body could handle an ultra I think I would really enjoy it.
Those are great goals for the next year! I hope, most of all, that you’re able to stay healthy!
Thank you!! Me too:)