You vs. You: A Fresh Take on Goal-Setting

This article is by Roberto Mandje, NYRR’s Senior Advisor of Engagement and Training. We’ll continue to bring you advice and tips from Coach Roberto in the months ahead.





Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Nowhere is this more apparent than with running, where it can seem like everyone out there is hitting their race goals and participating in the world’s biggest races, except for you.

As 2025 gets underway, let’s consider a small change in perspective to truly enjoy and reach our potential in the coming year and beyond.

Write Down and Celebrate Your Achievements

For 2024, jot down your achievements, new races or distances, personal bests, and other fitness milestones. Use these to celebrate YOU! If you faced setbacks (and we all do at some point in time) like injuries or missing out on races, view these as learning opportunities heading into 2025. Evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and what you can learn from this in order to avoid it happening again in the new year. This approach will help you appreciate your wins while reflecting on valuable lessons learned along the way.

Concentrate on What You Can Control

Think of the things you can control, such as your training (consider hiring a coach, training for different or longer/shorter races), your “WHY” (reassess your motivation and reason for running), making healthy choices (enjoy the mental and physical benefits of running), and strengthening your social connections within the running community (like joining a run club or supporting charitable causes).

Some things will always be beyond your control, like getting into certain races through a drawing or achieving a qualifying time that’s perhaps still a bit out of reach. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t aim for these goals; it’s more about being aware of how much your happiness in running depends on these outcomes versus your own journey of self-discovery and improvement.

If you’ve been running for over a year, you likely have a 2024 (or 2023) version of yourself to reflect on. And, if you’re new to running, welcome! You can start by focusing on what you can control and what you want to gain from running, without getting too sidetracked by things outside your influence. Use the tools at your disposal (social media, coaches, running groups and organizations) to enhance your running and help make you a better runner, not take away from your joy of running.

Don’t Get Sidetracked by Things Outside Your Influence

In essence, make 2025 about YOU. Embrace self-growth, improvement, and challenge your current self vs. your future self. By assessing your current self, future self, and past versions of yourself, you’ll be more aware and present in your running, and therefore likely enjoy it more than ever. This way, you can stay present while working toward the future self you truly deserve.

Finally, be kind to yourself and others. You’re on your own journey, at your own pace, and that’s perfectly fine. Happy running in 2025 and beyond!