I Missed 75% of My 2025 Running Goals

It was January 1, 2025. I saw everyone meeting their 2024 running goals and setting their goals for 2025. And I convinced myself that the reason my accomplishments didn’t look the same as everyone else’s was because I simply hadn’t tried hard enough in 2024.

I had skipped too many training runs.

I had neglected strength training.

I had basically not pushed myself hard enough to be “as good” as everyone else.

So when I set my 2025 running goals, I went HARD.

For context, my marathon PR at the time was 6:27, my annual mileage in 2024 totaled about 300, and I was basically doing no strength training at the time (I was at least on a steady sober streak). I was convinced that pure force of will and putting these goals out into the universe was enough to make these things achievable. And, again, I just wasn’t trying hard enough.

I’m sure you’ve now seen that everyone (from runners to Spotify) is now “wrapping up” 2025. Lots of posts about how great 2025 was, how many obstacles people overcame to meet their goals, how they did incredible things in the last 365 days…and I debated not even bothering to resurface these goals that I didn’t even get a passing grade on; after all, no one really cares about my own, individual goals, right?

But I figured honesty was the best policy, particularly as I’m sure I’m not the only person who felt like thy were on top of the world on January 1 and this is going to be the year I turn everything around…and then life happened.

So no, I didn’t meet the majority of my 2025 running goals. But I am choosing to be ok with that. This time of year, I always think about this quote: “It’s ok if the only thing you did this year was get through it.”

Give yourself grace if you didn’t crush every goal you put out into the world this year. The point of goals is to give you something to work towards, something to keep you motivated and getting out of bed, but if you only set goals you knew you could meet, how long would the motivation really last?

The thing I love most about running is that every single runner I’ve met is striving to be a better version of themselves than they were the day before - whatever that means to them. Runners love to set goals and we love to meet those goals, and we often don’t like to talk about it when we fail.

And the thing is, I didn’t meet every goal I set at January 1, 2025, but I accomplished so much more this year that I wasn’t even contemplating when I put this list together. Things that aren’t as shiny as stats in a Strava Wrapped, but that honestly made more of a difference in my running and in my life than hitting 1,000 miles or cutting an hour-plus off my marathon PR during the hottest Berlin Marathon on record.

1. I didn’t run a five-hour marathon, but I did PR my marathon (by six minutes) , even though the race conditions were less than ideal.

2. I didn’t run 1,000 miles, but I ran 60% more miles this year than I did last year.

3. I didn’t strength train two days a week every week, but I incorporated more strength training than I ever have before.

4. I did, proudly, celebrate one year of being alcohol free, and will hit 500 days before the end of the year.

But beyond that, I:

• Completed my running coach certification.

• Started my own business.

• Ran with other runners - regularly - when I used to be crippled with fear and anxiety running with anyone but my own thoughts.

• Recovered from a foot injury without making it worse first.

I don’t think we should ever lose sight of where we started. In December three years ago, I was still trying to run one mile without stopping on the treadmill. I had never run a race, I hadn’t run outside in 20 years, and I couldn’t run consistently without hurting myself. I’ve come a long way. And I still have room to grow! What’s the fun in being perfect, anyways?

So if you, like me, didn’t hit all of your goals this year, or hit none of your goals this year, I encourage you to frame things a little differently. What did you accomplish this year, even if you didn’t have it on your list? What did you survive this year that you didn’t think you could? And what would the you from a year ago think about the you right now?

Progress, not perfection.