New Year’s Running Resolution: Focus on Experience and Consistency

Author: Alex Hetherington, MCMO Race Director

As the New Year begins, many runners set ambitious goals: hitting personal bests, increasing mileage, or chasing new achievements. While these objectives can be motivating, this year, consider a different approach—focusing more on the experience and consistency of running, and less on the comparables and data points. By doing so, you’ll not only enhance your enjoyment of the sport but also unlock your true potential over the long term.

Running, like any worthwhile pursuit, is a journey best approached with sustainability in mind. The long-term value lies in its ability to create a personal sense of history—vivid memories of being fully present, whether during a lighthearted training run with friends or while pushing yourself to meet a challenging goal. These moments are more than benchmarks; they’re reflections of growth, resilience, and self-discovery.

While wearable tech and apps offer a wealth of metrics, the most transformative aspects of running go beyond what’s measurable. The unexpected sights, fleeting epiphanies, and deep connections to people and places are what stay with us. Some of my most cherished running memories involve witnessing something extraordinary I’d never have encountered otherwise or experiencing a profound sense of synchronicity with others in pursuit of a shared goal.

Running has also been a vehicle for small acts of perseverance—overcoming tough weather, fatigue, or self-doubt—that translate into confidence and resilience in other areas of life.

As you set your resolutions this year, think of running not just as a means to an end but as a practice of presence, consistency, and connection. By letting go of constant comparisons and embracing the process, you might just find that the joy and growth running offers are the most fulfilling rewards of all.

Photo courtesy: COMMSTRAT, MCB-Quantico