It is already another year and already the next month at that! Procrastination has seemed to stay with me as I kick off my new year post in February. Let’s get started with what I’m hoping to achieve this year.
2025 Running Goals:
- Complete the Irving Marathon in March in sub 3 hours in 30 minutes
- Complete a 12 hour fundraising event over summer time and cover 60 miles
- Complete an official ultra in the fall
- Break 4:50 in the mile during a training practice
- Hit $5,000 for total amount raised for non profits through running career (Over $2,000 this year)
1. The first goal is a marathon in Irving, Texas on March 30th. Although technically not an ultra, it is always fun to keep tabs on an annual marathon. The dream for me is to one day get to Boston which means I would need to finish in under 3 hours. As for my current goal, I am a wee bit off. The reason for the sub 3:30 hr time finish is that it would be a personal best and I haven’t done much more training to warrant a faster time. Hopefully this blog will hold me more accountable but so far, chips have tasted better than the look of a six pack.
2. The next goal is to complete a 12 hour fundraising event once again for a non profit. Last year, I completed my first 12 hour event with 52.2 miles covered with great, great pain at the tail end. Turns out a Texas summer can burn a Redhead worse than an overcooked brisket. My goal is to complete 60 miles and possible not cry, although that could be a stretch. The route and date has yet to be determined but most likely, it will end through downtown sixth street.
3. The third goal of the series is to complete my first official ultra! I would like to complete the Big Backyard Ultra in Texas. This is one of my favorite goals I am looking forward too! The concept of a Big Backyard Ultra is running a loop (or yard as the ultra community calls it) of just over four miles every hour until there is only one competitor left. Everyone lines up each hour at the same time and the end of the race is whenever one chooses to hang up the shoes. Mentally, I have never attempted anything like it but it sounds like an awesome adventure! My goal will be to try and run for 24 hours, which would be about 100 miles of running. Note to future self, return to this page to reflect on this goal.
4. For goal number four, it will be running my best ever mile. I thought it would be fun to find a point this year, possibly summer time, to try and attempt a mile personal record (PR). I last set this mark over 10 years ago when I came in about last during a cross country mile time trial with my college team. Although this will be a PR for me, I would still not have made the varsity cut on my college team or my high school team. On the other hand, running is just fun to do so may as well enjoy it!
5. The final goal this year will be to fundraise just over $2,000 for charities and non profits to put my career total to $5,000. This one isn’t too complicated and it is just a fun way to contribute something positive to the world through running.
It should be a pretty exciting year! I am looking forward to seeing how the months progress and how big of calluses my big toes can develop. You know, the exciting things in life!
Let me know what goals you are setting up this year and I will be super excited to follow your progress and hopefully give you some encouragement. No matter what your goal is, I am looking forward to hearing about it!
Average Runner Paul 