Most runners love to train for races. It’s a great way to stay focused and work towards a goal! But there are also plenty of reasons not to run a race. If you are looking to work towards a goal right now, you can still be creative and find something to focus on even without a real race in the near future! Let’s talk about some running goals to keep you focused without a race.
Here are some ideas for how to work towards a running goal without a race coming up.
Set a Mileage Goal
Maybe you want to try to run more consistently or run more miles than you do during training. If you keep your runs easy and make sure you recover well, you should be able to increase your mileage safely. You could try running one extra day per week or just add a little bit onto your long run each week.
Run a Time Trial as a Running Goal
Have you ever run an all-out mile? You could really focus on speed work and test out your mile time, or another short distance. Maybe do this every few weeks to measure your progress.
Complete a Running Streak
Another idea is to do a running streak. If you’re not injury prone, have a good base, and have enough time, this could be a fun way to get in some miles every day. If also ensures that you are active every day. (Just be careful with this one, and don’t do it for too long. Rest days are important!)
Participate in a Challenge
There are often challenges available that can be completed virtually, such as on Strava. You can connect with other runners, work towards a goal, and maybe even win a prize.
You may also like: The 9 Best Running Challenges for Your Strongest Year of Running
Run a Virtual Race
Many races now have virtual race options. You could either do a virtual race of a familiar distance or try something new. It’s a great way to challenge yourself as well as connect with other runners who are doing the same races.
Work On Form
This is also a good time to work on your running form. Maybe add in some drills, mobility work, or strides at the end of your run. Maybe you have more time to work on the little things if you aren’t training for a race!
Of course, there are plenty of other goals you can work towards that are not running goals. You could try a different kind of workout, do another fitness challenge, or just try to be active every day. If nothing else, taking time away from racing can give you the opportunity to try things that you normally wouldn’t do.
You may also like:
Be Stubborn About Your Goals, But Flexible About Your Methods
Running For Stress Relief During Times of Uncertainty
Are you working towards any running goals right now?
Ever run a 1 mile race or timed trial?
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, and Runs with Pugs to post your favorite running tips, experiences, race and training recaps, workouts, gear, and coaching ideas.
Love this list!!! I am currently doing 3 of these:
1. I plan to run 2’600km this year. So far, I’m at 895km, so it’s looking good.
2. I’m also working on my form.
3. I’m participating in virtual races, which I have never done before.
To do: a time trial would be good. I need some speed work!
Those are great! I love your yearly mileage goal. Ive tried setting those in the past but then ended up injured and couldn’t run enough to meet my goal.
Virtual racing doesn’t appeal to me, and I actually think right now is a great time to slow down & give your body a rest (without stopping moving altogether, of course!). That’s why I chose now to explore the nose breathing — since it literally slows me down (while keeping my HR up, which is odd).
I get that people deal with the stress of these times differently — even if I think everyone should take some time to examine what’s working for them — so it’s a great list, Lisa!
Totally agree that everyone should figure out what they need right now! Some days I just want to run alot, others I don’t want to leave the couch. This is a great time to work on your nose breathing!
All great ideas! I’m currently focusing on mileage and plan to do a monthly time trial (probably in the form of a virtual race) to assess fitness.
That’s great! I like the idea of doing a time trial monthly. I think thats often enough to always have something to be working towards but it still allows for enough recovery in between.
This has really been a shift for so many of us goal oriented runners, hasn’t it? Great ideas here–personally, I’ve been enjoying my virtual races. Who would ever have thought I’d say that?
Same here! I was so hesitant to try them but Im glad I did.
A 1-mile timed trial is a great suggestion to gauge one’s progress. I’d planned on doing a 1-mile race later this month (and that got axed LOL), but I’m still going to do a 1-mile trial on that date anyways.
That should be fun (but challenging!) I honestly dont know if I would be able to run 1 mile at a pace that’s faster than my 5k pace.
I would really encourage anyone who races to try a virtual race at least once. I never expected to like it so much. Last summer I did the 10 week speed program that’s on the Women’s Running site, and something like that would be great to do now as well, it’s not race specific and having a 10 week goal is a good way to distract yourself from “we’ve been at home from 3 weeks are we ever going to be able to leave home again”.
Yes that sounds like a great distraction! And I agree, the virtual races are more fun than I expected!
The virtual races are keeping me motivated for sure. My goal right now is to stick to my schedule of running 3x per week and just run. Not trying to push my pace or distance right now. Crazy times indeed!
Thats a good goal! And its nice to have the virtual races for motivation.
These are all great ideas! Right now I’m just focusing on consistency. I was running 1 day a week for so long, then no running after giving birth, so I just want to have short, quality runs as best as I can! Maintaining your base or working on/focusing on speed are great things to do right now without the pressure of training.
This is a great time for you to be working on consistency! I think thats one of the hardest things about getting back into running after having a baby.
These are great tips and it can be the perfect time to lock everything down with form and technique.
I am built for distance, not speed. I hate the one mile distance with the fire of a thousand suns. We have a mile “sizzler” here – it’s part of the Tour De Pain race series (a 4 mile beach run on an August Friday night, a 5K road race the next morning and the mile sizzler that afternoon) and it SUCKS. I’m sure the afternoon summer heat doesn’t help, but that is most definitely my worst race of the series LOL.
Oh wow that sounds really challenging! I definitely think the 1 mile would be the hardest part of that series.
I am doing virtual races and challenges to keep things interesting but I don’t think I have ever run an all-out mile either. Maybe I will do that too. I did a virtual 1K with my 6-year-old grandson last week – his first race! So much fun. Thanks for the good suggestions.
Thats so awesome that you could do a virtual race with your grandson! As challenging as these times are its nice that we have so many virtual options to keep us connected.
I’ve just been running to rebuild and maintain my base. I may have to try a virtual race. They’re so popular right now.
They really are. I was surprised that I enjoyed mine as much as I did. I think many of us just need a distraction/motivation/social connection right now and thats one way to get those things.
These are great! When my marathon was cancelled, I completely changed things up – added lots of challenges including a 40 day running streak that I’ve long wanted to do but couldn’t when I was training for a race. I’m stuck in the yard at the moment but hopefully if we are allowed out in May I’ll do a virtual Half Marathon that I’ve signed up for.
That sounds great! I hope you can get out to do some virtual races soon!
All great ideas.Ii am sure every runner can find one that works for them.
I personally have been pretending that my big races are still happening so I am doing the long runs and running the distance on the original date. Of course, not fun alone and with no crowd support but ldo no pressure to finish at a goal time. Just enjoy running.
With no traffic because everyone is working from home, I have been driving to different places to run. Normally after a long work day and traffic, I would stick close to home – boring!
No traffic is one good thing about all of this! At least it gives you the opportunity to change up your running route. I feel like I run the same routes all the time now!
Great ideas, Lisa!
I’m on a Strava challenge with a team of 20 other runners. They have challenges, like walking 10’000 steps or running for 30 minutes. It’s great fun and gets quite competitive! If I haven’t completed a challenge, I would often go out and get some more steps.
My current goal is to just get running again without pain. I’m close. I haven’t done many races in the last year but I do have a mileage goal for the year, which I hope I haven’t blown already by being injured for several weeks.
I always like to keep one race in my back pocket for motivation. We always have something going on here so it’s easy to do.
Working on form and speed is a great idea.