As the new year approaches, a lot of us are focusing on setting new goals, making New Years Resolutions, and creating dream boards. And yet over 75% of people are NOT actually accomplishing their goals.

How will you be the exception this year?

Let’s take a moments and break this down… with seven tips to help you succeed.

1. Goals need to be Specific and Measurable. A goal of running everyday may burn you out, but a goal of running at 5am, 3 times per week can be measured and completed. Saying I want to do this MORE or do that LESS is can not be quantified or measured. Goals need to include details to be specific.

2. Schedule time to accomplish your goals. Block off time in your calendar. Make appointments with yourself. Set the alarm clock for 5am and get to work on yourself. If it’s written on the calendar it’s more likely to happen. Read my previous post about the magic of 5am here. I believe that one simple change that can increase the success rate of any goal, whether you use that time to workout, read, journal, plan, or just meditate and prepare for your day.

3. Break down the goal in to daily, weekly, or monthly tasks. Often we start with a big dream, but fail to break it down to the appropriate size steps to take action. If your goal is to run a marathon, think through what each week will look like, and what each training day will include. What do you need to do to make it happen? Hire a coach, get a training plan, get a training buddy, start strength training, join a running group. Get rid of any distractions. Take those small steps, that include planning and action.

4. Celebrate your victories along the way. Think of rewards for yourself, or your family that will serve as motivation to keep going. Rewards for others may be more motivating than only rewards for yourself. Do not use food or shopping as rewards if those will cause setbacks to your goal. A chart to track progress provides added motivation and a feeling of accomplishment. Every time you color in a box on your chart or check off a workout or task as complete you are one step closer to your goal and can measure your progress.

5. Share your goals with others that will support and encourage you. Use friends, family, or social media for added accountability. Use online groups to connect with others who share your passion or have similar goals. Surround yourself with other motivated and likeminded people.

6. Write down your WHY. Ask yourself why this goal is important to you, and visualize how you will feel when you accomplish this goal. Post this where you will see it, perhaps on your desk or on your refrigerator. A post-it note on your bathroom mirror may be all you need as a visual reminder of your why. Hint: Keep asking WHY until your WHY makes you cry.

7. Start Small. Don’t get overwhelmed with big dreams. Start with one step that is realistically attainable, and use that success as momentum for the next step. Accomplishing even one thing is better than setting too many goals and then abandoning them all.

For further help or accountability please feel free to msg me. I would be honored to help you achieve your goals, create a training plan specifically for you, or provide insight and accountability for you this year. If you are planning to run your first marathon this year please let me know that as well.

As Zig Ziglar said, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”

If this post was helpful, please leave a comment. Thanks!

ORRRC Winter Solstice Half Marathon

December 21, 2019

The Half Marathon started at 8:30 am on the Winter Solstice, on the trails at Bryan State Park. The race also ran through the Clifton Gorge.

Previously this event was 10 miles. But this year the course was changed and increased to a Half Marathon distance.

Finishers received a Christmas Ornament award.

Congratulations Michelle, who celebrated her birthday by running this race.

Dayton Turkey Trot Half Marathon

Sunday December 1, 2019

The Dayton Turkey Trot is part of a series of Thanksgiving races that have joined together to create the World’s Largest Thanksgiving running festival: the American Turkey Tradition, an event sponsored by OhioRuns.com.

The Dayton Turkey Trot race takes place the Sunday after Thanksgiving and includes both a 5k and Half Marathon, with races starting at 8:45 at the UD Stadium.

This is one of just a handful of races I have run 4 years in a row, the last three of those races serving as a race Pacer for the Half Marathon. This year as my first time pacing 2:10 in the Half, along with fellow Pacer Paul Pikman, I finished in 2:09:28.

As a Pacer I had the joy of helping to pace and encourage another fellow runner Lydia to a PR.

This years swag included an amazing soft warm black fleece turkey trot hoodie.

Finishers also received a medal, and Bill’s Donuts at the finish line.

Turkey Prediction Run

November 24, 2019

The ORRRC Turkey Prediction Run is unlike any other other race. The goal is to accurately predict how long the run will take you without the use of a watch or phone or any other timing devices. The runners finishing closest to their predictions win a turkey.

This race is a lot of fun, and is the only race I have run all four years since joining ORRRC. It’s time to predict how fast can I run 3.15 miles.

Unfortunately I am still recovering from have a bad cold and runny nose, therefore my predicted time was too fast and I could not keep the pace I had hoped. However, despite not wearing a watch, I was well aware that I was off pace.

3rd Annual MTA Virtual Half Marathon

November 14, 2019

I ran the MTA Virtual Half Marathon on my birthday, covering 13.1 miles on the track, to support one of my favorite podcasts, Marathon Training Academy.

A virtual race allows participants to run or walk in any location, at their preferred time and pace. Participants can choose a favorite route, run on trails or a track, use a treadmill, or complete this run as part of another race. The options are open, as long the distance is completed.

I decided to run on the track to avoid any potential ice, as well as an opportunity to complete an entire Half Marathon on a track for the first time.

Although there are no official results for this virtual race, I completed my run in 2:03:17.

This was my 33rd Half Marathon and 3rd time participating in the MTA Virtual Race. Finishers of this year’s virtual half received an awesome “I Eat Hills Like Candy” medal and blue MTA trucker hat in the mail after the race. Swag was shipped in early December.

Thank you MTA for telling me I have what it takes to run a Marathon. I also proved that I have what it takes to run a Half Marathon on a track.

Columbus Marathon

October 21, 2019

RunBuzz pre-race meet up

MMRT Moms Run This Town photo

This is an amazing race to support the Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

I finished my 31st Half Marathon today in 1:57:48.

Xenia YMCA Hospitality Half

The inaugural Xenia YMCA Hospitality Half Marathon was October 27th at 8am. Same day pre-race registration was $50 at the Xenia YMCA. The race started at the YMCA and continued along the bike path.

Finishers received a medal.

I considered running a 2:00 half to match my bib, instead I finished in 1:56:04. This was my completion of three halfs in three weeks.

Garmin Forerunner 45 vs 645

I recently bought my daughter the Garmin Forerunner 45S GPS running watch. This model is sleek and small and considered one of the entry level Garmin watches, but in fact it is packed with all the metrics the average runner needs in a very fashionable modern design.

I currently wear the Garmin 645 model, but the Garmin 45 is such an amazing and cute watch I have considered downsizing to the sleeker smaller 40mm watch instead.

While these are both great watches, here are some of the main differences between the two. The Garmin 645 includes a few extra features that the basic Garmin 45 does not, such as Garmin Pay, optional music storage, and an altimeter and barometer. The 645 watch also has the silver bezel design for a slightly dressier look and interchangeable watch bands to easily swap to a different color watch strap.

Personally I have never used Garmin pay. I do not listen to music from my watch so I own the 645 model not the 645M (Music option).

The silver bezel on this watch was one of the features that originally attracted me to this specific model for a dressier watch to wear to work. However after just a year of owning the watch the bezel is covered in scratches and scuff marks from daily wear. The Garmin 45 has a slightly smaller watch face, but without the bezel looks much sleeker, and so cute on the wrist.

I like the option to swap the watch bands to different colors, but I mainly just wear the black band that came with the watch. Extra Garmin watch bands tend to run $29 which makes it a bit costly to own a variety of colors. Numerous cheaper off brand watch straps can be purchased from Amazon. I own a red, teal, as well as the Turquoise Garmin strap that is standard in the Garmin 245 watch model.

I prefer to switch the watch face than to change the watch band. Both watches can easily change the watch face through the Garmin App.

I like the neutral look of the black watch strap, or in the case of the new Garmin 45, the white watch band.

I would definitely recommend the Garmin 45 watch. I would buy one for myself, but I don’t think my fourteen year old daughter is interested in twinning with her mom.