As 2023 comes to a close, many runners are starting to think about their goals for 2024. If you haven’t started planning out your races for next year, it can be helpful to consider your year as a whole and what you want to accomplish. This can help you to prioritize your races and have a plan in place for your strongest race year. Here are some guidelines to consider as you are planning for next year.
How to Plan Your Strongest Race Year in 2024
Start where you are
It’s important to consider where your current fitness is, and then decide what a realistic goal is for the year.
Decide on your big goal for the year
What is the one thing you want to accomplish in 2024 to make it your strongest race year? There may be several things, but start with your #1 goal and make sure your plans and other goals support that main goal.
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Choose a few fun things throughout the year
Make sure to schedule time for fun! Do some races just for fun if you enjoy that and maybe make some time for a vacation!
Schedule an off-season or two
Don’t plan to train hard and race back to back all year long. After a goal race, take off a few weeks from hard training and give yourself some rest. Then build back with easy running before starting to train again.
Leave room for the unexpected
Remember that unexpected things will come up. These could be injuries, family issues, bad weather, etc. Know that it’s ok to miss some runs. Even with unexpected interruptions it is still possible to have your strongest race year in 2024.
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Sprinkle in some other races
After deciding on 1-2 goals races you can also plan for some other races as training runs (or to run for fun). This really depends on how much you like racing and if you are ok holding back in some of your races!
Consider what kind of support you will need to have your strongest race year
Once you have a plan in place, think about what you will need to reach your goal. These may be things like a running coach, physical therapist, chiropractor, or running group. Figure out how you will access whatever it is you will need to make this your strongest race year!
Have a Plan B or C
While it can be helpful to have one major goal to focus on (usually a certain time at a certain race) it can also be good to have a plan B or C. Maybe you had to take off too much time from training and you won’t be able to run your goal race as fast as you wanted. Or maybe as you started training you realized your goal was going to take longer than expected. It can be helpful to have a couple of other plans in your back pocket.
Write down your goals and your plan for your strongest race year
Finally, write everything down! This will help you stay on track and will also help you reflect on how far you’ve come throughout the year.
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Have you set any race goals for 2024?
How are you going to make 2024 your strongest race year?
I’m looking ahead to 2023 and am shifting my focus to trails. I’ve got a race in January and a few other potential races in mind. I’m also considering working on speed for the 5k. So many options, lol! What are you planning for next year?
It is key to start where you are. Planning out your racing schedule for the year helps to schedule your seasons. I know I run better in the winter so I plan spring races for key races. What do you have on tap for next year?
I already have six events on the calendar (four races, the Fight for Air Climb and a team relay). No specific goals, yet, but I’d really like to snag a 13.1 PR (it’s long overdue).
Great tips! I had such a disappointing 2022 I’m really hoping that 2023 will be better. I have signed up for a couple of half marathons and it feels good to be back to training again.
I have like zero goals. It’s freeing and scary all at once. I have missed the community and companionship of running, and I feel like a lot of my running friends have either quit or moved on. I am fine doing things alone but I am definitely about the experience, and I want that back.
Great advice! After purposefully having no run/racing goals for 2022 I’m looking forward to picking some goal races and really training for them. I’m thinking of leaning into the 10M distance – it’s my favorite.
Planning out your key races and training around them not against them is key. Always have a plan B and C!
Great tips and great minds. 🙂 I don’t currently have any race plans but I think I’m almost ready to start thinking about it.
I thought I had it all planned out for a great 2024…
And then I got injured!!
Plan D is recover and move on and try to salvage the year that you planned.