10 New Year's Resolutions For Runners

By: James McLean

Runners are a tortured bunch. In an effort to set our minds right for 2022, we have compiled a list of New Year's Resolutions we encourage all runners to take into consideration. 

1. Make sure rest days are rest days and not days where you "slowly" run for 8 miles, only to feel the urge to push the pace the last two miles and ultimately average a sub-7 minute pace for the entire run.

2. When warming up for a race, try to survey the area around you before you snot-rocket to clear the nostrils. We're still in a pandemic and that has always been a gross thing to see.

3. When we return to above freezing temperatures, wear your winter clothes one day longer than you think you should. That 39 degree day, which you think is basically in the 40s which is practically 50s is still in fact 39 degrees, and so just be smart and dress accordingly.

4. Run a race without 5 excuses in your back pocket for if things go wrong.

5. Avoid using these excuses to explain poor performance: too hot, too cold, too humid, too windy, not windy enough, I thought there was wind, but it turns out there wasn't wind so I was confused which took me out of the race. We have weather apps, weather is not a reason you went out in :55 and came back in 1:18.

6. Stop wearing sunglasses when it's overcast

7. Buy shoes before you've surpassed their recommended miles by over 200 miles

8. Don't cut over immediately in the open 800.

9. Remember that not everyone is a runner, some people in your life truly will not care how fast you are, and that's okay (because you're probably faster than them anyway).

10. Marathons are 26.2 miles, if someone asks how long the marathon you're training for is, relax, and kindly remind them a marathon is a distance not a title.