Rethinking Running Goals for a More Fulfilled Year

What if your running goals this year weren’t about distances, medals, or finish lines, but about something a little bit different? As we move into a new year of trails, challenges, and discoveries, Harrier freelance coach Ronnie Staton invites us to zoom out and reimagine what a running goal can truly be…

Recently, I encouraged a broader way to reflect upon your running, to look beyond race results in isolation and instead view with depth the quality and experiences running offered you. In essence, I was attempting to shine a light on the myriad benefits of running, in addition to how fast you run at an event (that can also be important).

Setting Intentions, Not Just Targets

If we are going to reflect with a wider perspective, does it not make sense to set goals with this same viewpoint in the first place? To set perhaps not only (event) goals but rather more healthy intentions around our running, which may lack clear (numeric) targets but pack a much more holistic punch. 

Hence, as we enter 2026, could we think a little more out of the box with our running goals? Could we ask ourselves meaningful questions such as ‘How does running help me? Or is there somewhere I’d love to explore with my running?’

The Value of Adventure

We all witnessed a spark in self-organised adventure during the pandemic when events were off, and I feel it’s been a shame to see this vastly reduced in my coaching today. My point being, despite no medal, there’s huge value in doing your own thing (with friends) from time to time, perhaps alongside events. Go explore on your own terms!

Consider how much you want to run week to week; this may vary hugely throughout the year due to your events or other commitments, which is ok. How might you add that strength session you’ve been meaning to add for years now?! Do you have some of those standard distance or time goals? What keeps you well and running? What’s that look like to you on a weekly basis? It is possible you might not need any goals or events to enjoy your running! Where do you love to run? Where have you been and where are you going!?

One last consideration in the mix is to avoid putting running in a box without viewing it as part of all your other roles and responsibilities, potentially of work and parenting, to demand too much of yourself. I've gotten this very wrong in the past. Balance has been a long time coming for me, but thankfully, with no real harm done, ultra running can surely pull you out of balance better than most things!

The Gift of the Journey

Finally, if I’m going to use a cliche, I may as well use two. Running truly is a gift, and it really is about the journey! Over many years of coaching, I’ve seen too many fail to grasp this despite my best efforts to develop such an attitude - and at times I fully confess I’ve also lost it myself, so here’s a reminder to me too.

I wish you a fulfilled running year, and I know that will look different for every trail runner out there. May you be fast, may you be slow, run short or run long - the trail does not discriminate. Above all, may you enjoy what you do. Run Free.

Ronnie