Tuesday, December 23, 2025 – Holding our goals loosely

Hi Everyone!

Hope you’re all getting all the stuff you need to get done done, and are able to find some relaxation and cheer amidst the busyness! We basically have two weeks until we jump back into our regular schedules and expectations, so this is a good time to slow down, enjoy the moments with friends and family, and allow yourself to reflect on the year behind and think about the one ahead. Sometimes it takes not moving frantically forward in order to actually reflect calmly.

I’ve been thinking about my past year in running. I set some pretty big goals. They seemed possible, but not easy. That’s the motivating thing about goals. I wanted to run under 3hrs in the marathon and I wanted to run under 5 minutes in the 1500. I did not achieve either of them. But when I think about my training and efforts in going for both of those, I have nothing but positive feelings. They were hard, meaningful and fun. For the marathon I was training with a group of similarly motivated, enthusiastic and hardworking friends. We did long workouts on the spit, in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, along Lakeshore, often in the dark. I think back on that time and it gives me confidence that although I’m not always doing those things, I’m capable of it. Then a group of us went to California and raced together. I ran 3:04 – not my goal. But what an entirely great experience. One of those that leaves a lasting footprint in your memory in a positive way. Then I tried to stretch my fitness along as another group of us trained for and ran the Boston Marathon. My goal for that one was to run conservatively, enjoy the process, and run with no pressure. I also failed at that goal! I went out too hard and ended up walking for a bunch of it. But I also had so much fun in that failure! When I reflect on Boston, I don’t think about my time at all (in fact I actually forget what I ran) – I think about being there with my friends and again, working hard together in a communal experience. Then this summer I decided to try another crack at breaking 5 minutes in the 1500 (I’ve run 5:00-something the last two summers). I trained hard, making my way out to the west end on hot summer nights to run with a group of young runners much faster than me. Some of those workouts left me sitting limply by the side of the track by the end, unable to talk or move for 10 minutes. And the races. They were all weeknight evenings, either in Hamilton, at York or here in Toronto, often late into the night. Many were efforts of frustration and humility. Then in one race I ran 5:01:00 and that was the closest I got to my goal. And now I’m looking back at that summer of hot track training and racing with nostalgia. Somehow that was also very fun!! Again, I’m not upset that I didn’t achieve my goal. Having something to shoot for made the whole process meaningful and worthwhile. I guess it’s true what they say – if you can commit to the process, that’s what it’s really all about.

I have a few “likely out of reach” goals I’m going to aim for this year. But now I know I can hold the outcomes of these goals loosely. Success to me isn’t defined by whether I actually achieve them. Of course I will try – I mean, that is what a goal is. It gives structure to the effort. But I will just as likely fail as succeed, and I’m ok with that. My identity and enjoyment don’t depend on the outcomes of my running. But working towards something I care about alongside people I love definitely keeps me happy, grounded and growing as I float along from inconsequential goal to goal.

On to tomorrow’s workout! Yes, we will meet tomorrow but at a WAY more relaxed time of 6:30 am! 6:30 drills, 6:40 GO.

Let’s just do tempo miles. If you’re in the mood to jog and talk, these are a good one for that. 3-5 depending on intensity. If we really keep them tempo, 5 shouldn’t feel like a stretch. It’s when it creeps into threshold land that they get hard. So govern yourselves accordingly. 3 minutes between each.

That is all – see you in the a.m.!

Seanna