Time For Your New Years Running Resolution With The @runningproject

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Picture is a little old now, but a picture of my very first trail run.

It’s that time of year again. 2018 is almost over and you are probably reflecting on the year that has just passed, hopefully in a positive light and as a running, you are probably looking through results and remembering races that you ran through the year. Even if your year went well, I’m sure you are still looking for ways to improve your runs, races, time and personal bests. This is where a lot of people turn to a New Years resolution as a goal to have and hopefully improve their running over the coming year.

Personally my racing goals for the year make up a bulk of my New Years running resolutions, but that doesn’t mean have one(or more) is a bad thing. A New Years running resolution is a great way to kick off the year and get you into a positive frame of mind. As with most goals, if you have a clear plan, can be a great way to improve your running over the year.

Running Resolution Ideas

There are lots of ideas out there on what your running resolution could be. This could be anything from a “Couch to 5k” to doing your first Ultra, as long as its personal and relevant to you, it will give you the best opportunity for it to now fall away by the middle of January. If your stuck for ideas, check out the link below from Activ.com as it could give you an idea on what it could be: https://www.active.com/running/articles/what-should-your-running-new-year-s-resolution-be

If your stuck for ideas, here is a quick list that I came up with:

Running your first…(insert distance, you have never run before)
Run at least 50 "Park Runs” in 2019
Run “Park Run” once a month in 2019
Run 5 times a week for the year
Stretch or foam roll after every run for the year
Perform a core work out or strength training twice a week
Stick to your training plan
Get a coach for the year
Run 2019km in 2019
Volunteer at a race this year

Ways To Make Your Resolutions Stick

So, you have an idea on what your New Years running resolutions will be, now the hard work begins and it’s time to do the hard work and build the habit that will hopefully have you running better than ever. So there are a few things you can do when you decide on your resolution, to help you then stick to your resolution as long as possible.

Treat Yourself
How can you achieve you New Years running resolution without having the right gear. An extra incentive to get you out and running could be a new pair of runners you might treat yourself with at the start of your training or after a month of consistent training.
Sign Up For A Race That Supports Your Resolution
Maybe you want to do a Park Run every month, well why not enter a 5km race later in the year. Park Runs are a great way to get you training for a 5km in a friendly setting while getting you race ready for your “A” race.
Make Your Goal Difficult, But Not Impossible
If your New Years resolution is to qualify for the Olympics that is awesome, if you can’t run a marathon under 4 hours, you might want to rethink what you want to achieve with your resolution. Making it too easy might get you to be lazy and forget about it, too difficult and any set backs you might have could be an end to your motivation.
Make A Resolution With A Partner
Training and racing with partners are a great way to keep motivated. If you both share the same resolution, it could help you keep it as once again you are accountable to someone. I’ve also found that its rare for you and your training partner to be unmotivated at the same time, so make a pact to keep each other going as the months go by.
Track Your Progress And Review
It’s not just important to track your progress, if you don’t review where you have come from, how will you be able to keep perspective when things get tough. You might even want to cross days off on an old school calendar to show yourself the progress you’re making.
Commit Your Running Resolution Publicly
Just like having a training partner to keep you accountable, telling your circle of friends can also help. Friends who are generally interesting in the things you're doing are going to be asking about your resolutions.

About the Author
Hey I'm Vince, an Aussie living in New Zealand, trying my best to make the most of the time I have. I work as a Software Engineer but love to run and all aspects of it, including geeking out on the latest science to help get the most out of my body.