Run Your Best Year Yet: Inspiration, Goal-Setting & Strategies for 2025 Success
Happy (almost) New Year! We hope that you’re going to enjoy the celebrations because soon, it’ll be time to start training again. After the Holidays and, hopefully, lots of good-quality rest and recovery, you might be ready to head out of the door once more. January 1 is also the prime time for New Year resolutions; what will your 2025 look like? Do you want to try some trail running? What about incorporating more cross-training and mental training? Are you not sure how exactly to choose the right goals for yourself? Fear not; once again we’re here with a New Year’s resolutions special to accompany you on your running journey!
Consider this blog post your one-stop place for all things off-season, goal-setting, and motivation. I’m putting this compilation together with the hope that you’ll be able to return to it time and again, drawing on the wisdom and inspiration shared by people who are as passionate about running as you are! Today, we will:
- discover topics like off-season training, rest, and nutrition,
- get motivated by stories of small victories and unbelievable feats,
- learn to reflect on our achievements and set new (year’s) goals, and
- talk about trail and ultra running in case you want to take your running to new places and levels.
1. Running & Rest During the Off-Season
Even if winter is a time of rest for many, it’s crucial to keep the body moving and the mind in shape so you can get back out there once the time comes. How can you do that? Where’s the balance? And what if you want to keep going even when the weather isn’t exactly cooperating?
8 Ways to Conquer Cold Weather And Run Safely Anywhere, Anytime by Pavlína Marek and Lucas Collins
As we head into the second—and definitely colder—half of winter, many runners might be struggling to keep up with their routines. And while a lot of them take the opportunity to enjoy some much-needed deep rest, there are as many of us who want to keep running and enjoy everything the season has to offer; bad weather and all. For those of you who wake up to the sound of “Don’t! Stop. Me. Now,” here are eight ways to not only survive but enjoy cold weather running while staying safe.
Off-Season Fitness: A Simple Guide to the Slower Months of the Year by Coach Karen Peterson
Winter is here, and with it comes some well-deserved rest. Many runners have lowered their weekly mileage while some stopped running completely, focusing instead on other ways to keep fit and giving their bodies some much-needed recovery time. Until race calendars fill up, off-season fitness will be the number one topic for many in the world of running.
Five Simple Ways to Tackle Your Off-Season Nutrition by Nutritionist Becca Blumberg
The off-season is here and many athletes wonder how their day-to-day eating habits should change. There are many ways in which things may shift as you cut down the mileage. Athletes often find eating to become a chore during heavy training; now is the time to find joy in food again. Try some of the suggestions below to enliven that appetite!
2. Get Inspired, Get Motivated
You’ve stayed on top of your training and nutrition—but what’s that good for if you’re not inspired to set New Year goals, plan your running adventures for the year ahead, and start running again once the time comes? In this section, let’s help you want to get out there!
Inspiration from Our Runners: Stories of Resilience, Kindness, and Personal Victory
Build martial arts gyms and run one of the most grueling desert races out there. Run across the entire continent; more than once. Run a marathon on crutches. Be a record-holding athlete, unseen because your achievements are hidden. Travel across half the world to run your dream race. Run as a way to strengthen your mental health. Are you looking for a 2025 goal for yourself? Get inspired by San Francisco Marathon runners’ stories!
Jeremiah Maestre
Jeremiah Maestre is a Filipino-born Orange County runner and martial artist, a father of two, and a man with big dreams and an even bigger heart. He’s helped build boxing gyms across the US and coaches combat sports fighters and runners alike. In 2025, he plans to head back to the Marathon des Sables to push himself further than ever before.
DeadSKOUT
Just this fall, SKOUT has finished a run from California to New York. He did it in 68 days, with a daily average of 43.67 miles. The run was dedicated to spreading awareness about Mental Health & Suicide Prevention. Why did he run in a motorcycle helmet? And why did he run this route again, even if he’d already crossed the States on his own two legs last year?
Alex Parra
Alex Parra, also known on social media as Alex1Leg, is a two-time cancer survivor, an amputee, a disability advocate, and a motivational speaker. In 2023, he ran the San Francisco Marathon on crutches to bring awareness to the cost of running prosthetics. In this Runner Spotlight Q&A, learn about the How and Why of Alex’s experience.
Parisa Arab
“I am an Iranian runner holding 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000-meter national records yet hardly anyone knows me due to public media policies hiding women’s achievements in Iran,” wrote Parisa Arab in her reply to the SFM Runner Spotlight Series questionnaire. Now, it’s time for the world to get to know this multi-record-breaking Iranian athlete.
Lucie Nestrasilova
When Lucie Nestrasilova was 45 years old, she decided she wanted to do something big for her 50th birthday. Inspired by a book and her wish to run across the Golden Gate Bridge, she said she’d run a half marathon in San Francisco. Eventually, she traveled across half of the globe to do run her dream race.
Tommy He
Tommy He is a student, a dad to an adorable pet lion, and an autistic runner. He came to the Bay Area nine years ago, not knowing he’d become a passionate runner, a friend to many within the running community, and a Boston marathon finisher. This year, he joined the 52 Club after completing the three-year challenge.
Travel Time! Here are the Hottest Running Destinations for 2025.
Destination races are a great way to see the world, offering a unique opportunity to combine running and travel. Sometimes, signing up for a race can even help you finally make those plans and book those flights. If you’re still unsure about your 2025 travel plans, here are 12 hand-picked running destinations eagerly awaiting your arrival! Whether you’re drawn to the stunning trails of Patagonia or the vibrant streets of Tokyo, these spots promise a perfect mix of breathtaking scenery, rich culture, and thrilling races that will ignite your passion for running.
Stay Motivated, Have Fun, and Rely on Accountability by Running with Family and Friends!
It should come as no surprise that running with other people will help you get out there even if you’d rather stay in bed; it’s called accountability. It’s easy to say you don’t want to run if it’s only yourself you’re letting down; it’s another thing completely if other people are there, waiting for you to join in on the fun. Running with friends and family will help you stay motivated and on track, and it will significantly increase the fun factor.
No Running Friends? No Problem! Join a Running Club in 2025.
Running can often be a solitary sport, comprised of chasing individual goals and following your own schedule. However, running clubs can quickly transform it into a communal and social experience. For many people, a running club offers more than just a group of people to run with; it becomes a source of motivation on good days and one of accountability on bad ones—so put joining a run club on your New Year’s goal list!
View this post on Instagram
3. Reflect
The slower winter months offer much-needed time for retrospection; did you achieve your 2024 goals? How did it go? What strategies worked and what could you improve on? And, most importantly, did you give yourself enough credit for what you’ve already achieved?
What We Forget: How to Reflect on Your Running Journey and Celebrate Your Progress!
Today, I want you to take a moment and reflect on the journey that got you where you are. You didn’t simply wake up one day, miraculously ready to tackle a half marathon. Heck, you didn’t wake up one day ready to run your first 5k. You made a conscious choice to begin training to reach a goal. Today, let’s do one crucial thing many forget: reflect on your running journey and celebrate your progress!
4. Set Your 2025 Goals!
How to Set Your Next Running Goal by The Running Mate
How to Set and Go After “Crazy-Ass” Goals
Do you want to know a secret? The crazier the goal, the more fun you’ll have working for it, and the more excited you’ll feel once you reach it. Runners are a funny group of people–crazy, inspiring, driven, motivated, stubborn, type A, and maybe even a little selfish. That’s quite a list, but I honestly think it’s to our advantage that we have these characteristics, especially when it comes to improving ourselves as runners, on our quests to get fitter, faster, and stronger over time. It’s time to set some crazy-ass goals!
Full-Year Commitment: The Bay Area Challenge
Are you looking for a long-term challenge to help you stay active all year long? There are many races and marathons you can sign up for throughout the year; take on the Bay Area Challenge! It offers a unique challenge for both seasoned athletes and first-time runners. Run at the San Francisco Marathon, Giant Race, Berkeley Half Marathon, Oakland Marathon, and the San Jose 8K & Half Marathon. You can join anytime to complete the five consecutive events challenge.
5. Trail & Ultra Running
Have you never tried trail running? Then you should add it to your New Year goals list! Trails aren’t anything if not a great way to spice up your training—or to dedicate your running career to. Running trails is a great way to keep the training fun and engaging. Whether you’re a seasoned trail runner or you’ve never even considered leaving the pavement, getting out there on (more) trails is a great New Year resolution.
The Basics: Six Simple Things You Need to Know About Trail Running
At its core, trail running is simple. You just put on your shoes and go out there, as fast or slow as you want, for as long as you feel like, with as many or as few people as you enjoy. I believe that no checklists are needed in order for you to enjoy trail running. However, here are a few trail running basics for those of you who want to be more prepared.
Trail Running: from Inspiration to Know-How
Are you already curious about trail running? If you’ve ever tried it, you probably know it’s a completely different beast, as they say. However, there’s no need to be daunted by it! Find everything you need in our complete guide to trail running.
View this post on Instagram
Let’s Go Ultra: Beginner’s Guide to Ultra Running by INOV8
“Once upon a time, the goal for any long-distance runner was to complete a road marathon, all of which measure exactly 26.2 miles. These days 26.2 miles is not enough for many runners, who seek to push their bodies further with the goal of completing a trail ultramarathon.” But what exactly are ultramarathons? How to get into them? And what are some essential items you should add to your kit collection?
How to Run 100 Miles by Brendan Leonard
“In September 2017, I stepped up to the starting line of the Run Rabbit Run 100 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, alongside my friend Jayson Sime… Jayson had talked me into it, and if I were to be completely honest, I’d say we were there to test out his life philosophy, which is basically that you can do anything you dream up, as long as you put in the work and refuse to quit… So we ran 50- to 70-mile weeks all summer, and went through a full range of feelings: fear, regret, sadness, FOMO, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, pain, and joy.”
Breaking the Dragon’s Back by Cwmni Da
Over in Europe, our running brothers and sisters have been taking on their own challenges. Among the famous races, there’s the folk-hero Bob Graham Round or the aptly named Tor des Géants. A few of my British friends ran the Dragon’s Back this past summer, making the 300-mile journey from Conwy Castle to Cardiff Castle through the incredible, rugged Welsh landscape. In their own words, it was the best and worst experience of their lives. See what the Euro trail races are made of in this awesome film by Cwmni Da!
Beyond Ultra, Beyond Resilience, Beyond Belief: Running Across Continents
Before I leave you to your fate, let’s go beyond the typical experience. There are those among us for whom nothing is enough, not even a five-day ultramarathon. These modern-day folk heroes of the running world cross whole continents on their own two feet, going beyond what many think possible.
“This Will Be A Chance To Test Myself In A Way I Haven’t Done Before:” Mike Wardian Runs Across The Continent
In 2022 ultrarunner, Guinness World Record holder, and bee-keeper Mike Wardian started—and successfully finished—a run from San Francisco to Dewey Beach in Delaware. Wardian’s arguably long journey has taken him through serious snowstorms as well as scorching sunshine and miles upon miles of fun and fellowship with runners who joined him along the way. (Wardian has run with an estimated 500 runners!)
Rickey Gates Running 3700 miles Across America
“In a time of uncertain politics and a crescendo of differences, American Ultra-Runner Rickey Gates sets off on foot across America. In the midst of the 2016 National Elections, which saw Republican candidate Donald Trump win the presidential elections, Gates realized that the America he knew wasn’t necessarily the America that was… What begins as a search for the true America, during a period of political turmoil, ultimately becomes a story of identity as Gates begins to find clarity and meaning in his own life.”
West to the Sea – Running 8100 km across Canada
“In 2013 Dave Chamberlain became the first person to run unsupported across Canada, from Cape Spear, Newfoundland to Toffino, BC. He covered the 8100 km in a remarkable 5 months and 1 day. West to the Sea examines the driving force behind this project, and the ideas of possibility and what people perceive to be achievable.”
Running Across Africa: Hardest Geezer’s Incredible Superpower
“Russ Cook AKA Hardest Geezer has made headline news across the globe. Why? Because he’s just completed the equivalent of 385 marathons in 352 days, running across the entire length of Africa. On his epic journey, Russ took on some of the toughest environmental conditions, including the world’s largest hot desert, the Sahara… Russ also came face to face with robbing, kidnapping, life-threatening illness, and extreme injuries. It’s no wonder most people know him better by his nickname, Hardest Geezer.”