We are sooo close to the end of 2020. But what does that really mean at this point? While we are entering 2021 with optimism, there are still many unknowns. While I don’t feel like I can set very specific goals for 2021 (at least not race/time goals) I am planning for a successful year of running.
That is pretty broad, isn’t it? I would love to have more specific goals and start working on a plan to achieve them but I also don’t want to be frustrated if they don’t work out due to circumstances out of my control. Instead, I’m thinking about short-term goals and other ways that I can have a successful year of running.
Planning For a Successful Year of Running
One of the biggest lessons I learned (or was reminded of) in 2020 is that a successful year of running doesn’t need to mean fast race times or PRs. There are so many other ways to measure success. Successful running can even mean running less, or not running. Or working on other things, like strength, that will make you a better runner.
It can mean building a running community, supporting other runners, and learning from people who know more than you about a certain topic. It can mean trying something new, even if you fail at it. Most of all, a successful year of running is about the happiness that comes with whatever miles you run.
“Goals” for 2021
That being said, I did come up with a few goals that I would like to work towards this year. Without races in 2020 I found it was really helpful to have small challenges to work towards, with breaks in between. This is what I have in mind so far.
Run a faster 5k
Last spring I ran a PR by just a few seconds in a virtual 5k. I didn’t put in training for it, and I’ve never really “trained” for a 5k. I keep saying it’s something I want to do. This winter seems like the perfect time to work on this goal. I won’t be tempted by longer races and I will probably want to keep my mileage lower anyway because of the weather and less daylight.
I’m not sure if I will sign up for a virtual 5k or just run it as a timed trial. If my local running store has any going on around the time I want to do my virtual race then I’d be happy to support them.
Make Strength Training a Priority
I’ve been very consistent with my strength training throughout all of 2020 and I plan to continue that this year. Over the last month as I have been running less I was able to focus more on strength. I want to be more intentional about shifting back and forth between focusing on strength vs running. You can’t prioritize both at the same time, all year long.
My thought is that I will continue focusing on strength until I start working on training for a 5k, at which point I will shift my focus onto running for a few months. Then in the spring I will spend a month focusing on strength and cutting back on running.
Pencil in a fall long-distance race
My fingers are crossed that a fall race could happen. But as we know from 2020, anything can happen in a year. Since the fall is so far away I am leaving my options open, but hoping to do a half or full marathon in September or October. If I’m not comfortable racing in person yet then I may just want to do a virtual race just to give myself something to work towards.
I am very hesitant to plan much beyond the next few months, but having this “penciled in” will help me to structure my year. (Strength, speed, strength, recovery, long-distance training, recovery, strength.) I almost feel like it’s laughable to be making plans for a year from now after everything we went through this year, but we need to stay positive and hopeful, right?
Other Ways to Have a Successful Year of Running
Here are a few other things I want to focus on this year:
- Get enough sleep
- Drink more water (this is hard for me in the winter because I’m not as thirsty!)
- Maybe cut back a little bit on the wine…we’ll see
- Consistent mobility work- I downloaded some 10 minute workouts recently that I’ve started incorporating into my routine so I hope to continue that. Maybe start doing drills too.
- Master some strength moves like the deadlift and chin-up/pull-up
- Run Happy!
Last year I said to be stubborn about your goals, but flexible about your methods. And we surely learned that we need to be flexible about alot of things, including our timelines! Who knows what 2021 will bring but whatever it is, we are ready for it.
If you have a minute and would be willing to share some feedback, I’d love to find out what you enjoyed reading about this year and what you would like to see more of next year! You can fill out a brief survey here.
You may also like:
Running Goals To Keep You Focused Without A Race
5 Strategies for Achieving Your Running Goals this Year
Getting Organized to Achieve your Goals
Are you working towards any goals in 2021?
Would you be willing to do any virtual races next year or are you over them?
What is something you are going to work towards next year to help you be a better runner?
Now it’s time for the Runners’ Roundup! Link up your running and fitness posts below! Join myself, Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Runs with Pugs , and Laura Norris Running to post your favorite running tips, experiences, race and training recaps, workouts, gear, and coaching ideas.
I love these goals and even implemented three of them!
I trained 14 weeks with the Garmin virtual coach for a 5k PR, while focusing on strength and mobility. It was a great goal because it was independent of any virtual or in-person race.
I have now signed up for a longer distance race in March 2021. Regardless of whether it happens or not, it’s a great goal to train for.
Watching you train for and race the 5k definitely gave me inspiration to work on that distance next! I look forward to seeing how your next race goes!
For me, a successful year of running will be to stay injury free. It becomes harder to do this every year but that is my plan. I am putting off race goals for the second half of the year
That’s a great goal! I hope it goes well!
all great tips.
Last year I had the grandiose goal of one half a month.
This year – nope. It’s wait and see and just continue what I did this year – run 1000 miles, 10 on the weekend, lots of hiking and run HAPPY. If there are races, I’m there.
I signed up for a virtual 5k and 15k for January but no more virtual halfs. I have a real one in April and hopefully more in the fall. Having decided about a Florida trip yet.
It seems like alot of us are taking the “wait and see” approach. It’s so hard to plan at this point!
I always said I was going to try training for a 5k at some point, but somehow it never happened. At least this year I tried the Peloton training, but I also knew I just had no desire to really push this year.
I was kind of choosy about my virtuals, so no, not completely over them. It helps me to continue to challenge myself. I don’t see a live race in my future for a long, long time!
Happy New Year, Lisa!
I also think it helped to be picky about virtual races. I’m willing to do some more in 2021 as long as they are spread out.
I agree, we need to stay positive and hopeful 😉 I’d like get back to weekly 10-milers (on the weekends), but I’m holding off on that for awhile since there are no long-distance races/events happening anytime soon anyways. Also, after five weeks of run streaking, I’m going to use January as a brief recharge month before I start adding more to my “long” runs. I do have a virtual 5K happening at the end of January, but I have zero plans of “racing” it.
Sounds like a good plan! January is the perfect time to back off a bit and recharge before building mileage.
I love the way you have approached your goals for 2021! I had such big plans at the start of this year, mostly race-focused which obviously didn’t pan out. Like you, I’ll be looking at things differently in the upcoming year and keeping my fingers crossed for a fall race.
I think we learned alot in 2020, so we are ready to take on whatever 2021 brings!
I love your goals and I am in the process of setting goals myself. Let’s hope that 2021 gets to be a bit back to normal and really looking forward to in-person races again!!!
Good luck with your goals next year! Hopefully there will be some real races at some point.
We’re on the same page about running goals. It really is hard to know what to plan but it feels good to plan something!
Exactly! I can’t go into the new year without anything to work towards!
This is great.
I definitely need to prioritize strength, stretching, and hydration. I also want to introduce a fourth day of running per week. We will see how races and events shake out.
That sounds like a great plan!
I’m training for an ultra marathon in March. It’s a destination race (in South Africa) but right now I’m not feeling safe at all about crossing the border. Our cases are far fewer than those in SA so that makes me very nervous. But I will keep training and book everything with some easy get-out clauses where possible. But beyond that I think I will focus on things that I tend to avoid like strength training, proper stretching, sleeping and my water intake. And better nutrition. If there is anything 2020 taught us it’s how to adapt… and be flexible. So I think we are armed with better tools to take on 2021. Having said that I really want a smooth, boring even, year!
Totally agree! That’s so exciting that you are training for an ultra. I hope that the numbers improve and you feel safe traveling!
Your goals are very similar to mine–open, flexible, and broad. I’ll continue to work on strength because it seems to be insurance from injury! After dropping back on miles in January, I’ll build my base back up in case any races open up. I won’t trail for anything specifically, tho. We’ll see how the year unfolds!
Happy New Year, Lisa!
That sounds great! Hopefully we will have more options later in the year. Happy new year!
Wonderful tips for making the most of 2021. I have one actual race that I registered for and leaving my options open for a fall race that I have my eye on, but nothing has been updated yet. Fingers crossed! Happy 2021!
It’s tough to plan for those fall races, but hopefully we will have more options for live races by then! Happy new year!