Hi everyone! Welcome to the new and improved 2016 version of Run Away With Me! I’ve got a shiny new layout to go with the shiny new year and I hope you like it! And speaking of the new year, now that we’re already almost halfway through January (what!) I’m finally feeling ready to sit down and come up with some goals for 2016. This was actually tougher than I thought it would be. If you want to see how I came up with my goals and why I’m doing goals vs. resolutions, check out this post from earlier this week!
As I was writing my 2016 goals, I was tempted to keep many of my unfinished goals from 2015 on my list. But after thinking about it for a while, I decided to lose some of them. Specifically, I decided that I would NOT include PR-based running goals. Why? Well honestly, I failed at my PR-based goals last year for reasons beyond my control, and felt terrible about it. I ran 3 half marathons and was injured either before or during each one of them, which made chasing my sub-2:30 goal dangerous and stupid. I had fun at each one, but my goal wasn’t fun – it was speed. This totally effected my feelings about each race which upsets me now that I look back on those races. I know it’s a goal of mine, but it might not need to be a goal for 2016 – it will happen when I’m strong and healthy, and if that’s not at a race this year that’s okay with me. I want to fully enjoy each race that I run this year!
I take goal making seriously, and have spent a lot of time thinking about what I want to get out of 2016. So I’m excited to announce my five goals for 2016, starting out with the biggest goal ever:
- Run the Philadelphia Marathon. This is my big, scary, nearly impossible goal that I’ve been thinking about for years now. I said that once I could run a half marathon without wanting to die at the end, I’d feel more ready to sign up for a marathon. And I did that at the Columbia Gorge Half Marathon last October, so I guess I’m ready! I know if I’m going to run a marathon that it’s going to be Philly. So as long as my injury keeps healing and I keep getting stronger, look out for news of my registration in the spring! Ahhhh!
- Run 500 miles. I was so close in 2015 even with my injury, so I know I can do this in 2016 with a marathon in the mix!
- Hike 100 miles. Last year I realized that I was using some of my long hikes as replacements for long runs because they were such high milage, but they weren’t counting towards my running milage goal. This year I want to keep track of my hiking as well. Hiking is my favorite thing ever and I want to explore so many more trails here in Alaska.
- Cross train three times a week. I’m taking my PT’s advice to do more strength training at the gym, and I know my body is happier with yoga and spin class instead of just running. This can only make me stronger and healthier in 2016! Plus, I can use this cross training time to do more fun Alaskan things, like learning how to ski and ice skate.
- Do a 30 day yoga challenge. I’m going to leave this open to any 30 day consecutive period in the year, and it will be either at home or in the studio or a mix of both. I want to get more serious about yoga this year and know this will help!
In addition, I plan on spending time this year figuring out how to best fuel my body (sugar free feels so good!) and creating a mindfulness practice that I can actually stick to. And one last thing that I want to do is create monthly goals. I find that there are a few things that help me grow as a person, stay healthy, and become stress free, and I want to make sure I continue doing those throughout 2016. So each month, I plan to:
- Read one new book
- Cook one new healthy recipe
- Try one new class at the gym (or new teacher)
- Run or hike one new place/trail
- Work on one goal that changes each month
Each month I’ll give an update on what I did! These monthly goals will keep me on track with my big goals for 2016. And finally, I wanted to keep up the “one word” challenge that I started last year! I’ve seen so many amazing words from other bloggers and I’m so excited about mine. My one word that I want to use to describe, motivate, and drive my year forward in 2016 is:
I’ve chosen this word because honestly, I need more of it! I could use more confidence in my daily life, as well as before I do new things or take on big goals. It was a tough call, but when I read the definition of confidence I immediately decided that I had found my word. I’m going to need a lot of belief in my powers and abilities this year if I want to reach all my goals, so I thought it was perfect. I’m looking forward to using this word as my mantra in marathon training this year!
What are your goals for 2016? Anyone else running a marathon this year? If you could choose one word to describe your 2016, what would it be?
Mom in the Mtns 
Great goals and love your word!
Thank you!
SO pretty! Great goals, and I hope that I will get the chance to help you with some of them later on 😀
Thank you! And I’m pretty sure you will. Goal #1 is so terrifying, I’ll need all the help I can get!
These are great goals & a great word to go with it.
I’m trying to think of monthly goals, too (too bad January’s half over already!). And I’m trying to think of process goals, not target goals, if that makes sense.
I feel like it’s okay that January is half over – we can make goals whenever we want! In fact, I feel less pressure to follow them somehow because I waited to do it. I hope you’re able to come up with some cool goals soon!
Still working on them . . .
My word for the year (and I had to post about it too!) was ENJOY! I need to focus on enjoying everything I am doing this year! I like confidence too- I think it would be a good goal to work toward for sure with the racing. Good luck with your goals!
Oh I love that word! I definitely need to enjoy everything that I do more. When I was injured I made a promise to myself that I would enjoy every run once I was feeling better, but I definitely forget that sometimes. Thanks for the reminder! Good luck with your goal word!
Confidence is my word too! Well sort of. I am giving each of my training seasons their own word. My spring training’s word will be confidence. I’ll be trying to get a new 5k PR and maybe, just maybe break 20 minutes, but that is kind of a long shot! Either way I am going to need confidence to get me through training and through the races.
Can’t wait to follow your marathon training! Good luck!
Yay for matching words! I love your idea for having different words for different times of the year. Your goal sounds awesome. Good luck this year!
I love the shiny new look! 🙂 I’m not setting goals this year because I got way too disappointed with my failure of a year in 2015 thanks to all the injuries, so I’m taking a year to try to get healthy so I can just enjoy running. I guess that’s kind of a goal…? My word for 2016 is hopeful… hopeful for no more injuries!
Thank you! And I’m so with you on that word. I’m constantly holding my breath hoping I won’t get injured again. I’m literally nervous before each run! I’m easing back into running and it’s going okay, but I feel like once you’ve been injured it’s hard to be confident again. Good luck this year! Hopefully we’ll both get to run lots of races while staying injury free! 🙂
So excited for you and your goal to go after running a marathon. You’ve got this, Kristen!
Thank you! I’m terrified but I know that I’m mentally ready for this! I’m also so glad that it’s so far away 🙂
Great word and great goals, Kristen! You can SO run that marathon. Believe it!
Thank you! I’m definitely nervous but I’m also hoping I’ll have lots of confidence by then 🙂
Not a runner but my word of the year is happiness.
Awesome! That’s such a good word for your year. Good luck!
Great goal, very productive and challenging! Definitely a fan of number 3 (one of my goals this year is to do a ton more hiking than normal! I’ve seen a few people do “work of the year” which I think is a really neat way to pave the road to achieving goals. I don’t really have a word, but I phrase: No Excuses! 🙂 Cheers to a great year!
Hiking is the best! I hope we both get to do a lot of it this year. And I love “No Excuses!”. Good luck in 2016!
Great goals! Excited you will be tackling the marathon this year! Fun, I know Jenn from Running on Lentils and Janelle Run with No Regrets also picked Philly for their first full 🙂 Will be nice to follow you three.
No way! I need to go check them out now! I’m hoping I can get the chance to meet a few running bloggers there – and maybe even run a little bit with some of them!
Mine word would be motivation because I think that is what directly goes with my consistency.
I love this! I think we could all use a little bit more motivation 🙂
I love your goals and they’re so well thought out! I like the idea of starting fresh in 2016 with new goals. My word for 2016 is ‘renew’. 2015 was a tough year and so I am looking forward with a fresh start! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! And I love your word! It makes your year sound so full of possibilities 🙂 Good luck this year!
Your goals sound great! I know it’s hard to modify racing goals/plans, but you did the smart thing! There will be more races when you’re ready 🙂 Blessings on rockin’ it in 2016!
Thank you! Yeah it was tough, especially since I had to modify a goal at mile 9.5 of a half, but I know I’ll get there someday!
I do have a goal post on my blog. I have chosen the word Patience for 2016. Great post 🙂
That’s such a good word! Good luck on that, I know it’s a tough one 🙂
I love your word! I might steal it! I feel like lack of confidence holds me back so much when it comes to running. I also need help with my diet and I lack confidence in my cooking abilities. Looking forward to following your confidence building journey! ❤
Do it! I think we all need a little bit more confidence this year. I’m the worst at believing in myself when I run. Good luck this year!
Great goals!! Good luck 🙂 no marathons for me but maybe a half! 13.1 is enough miles at one for me for now. 🙂
Haha I’m normally with you on the 13.1, but for some crazy reason I’m going big this year! Good luck with any half marathons you have this year!
Awesome goals. And many are the same as mine! I think my word is going to be growth. I’d love to grow a business of my very own, grow in my running and yoga skills and grow in finding happiness in my every day life. Too corny????
Awesome! I’ve been thinking about growing in literally all of the same ways! Looks like we have a lot in common 🙂 Good luck with everything! It’s definitely not corny at all!
Love Love LOVE the new look of your blog!! 🙂 and awesome goals. I think I would probably pick ‘confidence’ as my word for 2016 too. I’m hoping to grow my confidence at my job and in my training this year. It’s not always easy, so definitely something worth working on. 🙂
Thank you! And I love that we have the same word. I think we all could use a little more of it!
Love the new look of the blog.
You’ve got some great goals for the year. This year and last I had a mixture of time related goals and fun running goals. I think it’s important to have a mixture of the two. If you just have the time goals the fun of running can disappear as you chase the seconds!
I’m also trying to read at least one book a month.
Thank you! And you are so right about time goals. They seem great in theory but they take all the fun out of training for me.
Hi Kristen, I love your new look! And I think you made the right choice by removing your P.R goals, if they are taking the fun out of things! Last year I had P.R’s on my list, but since I’m a newbie, it’s was easy to P.R, this year, I’ve removed them as well! Good luck on achieving your goals.