I spend a lot of time thinking about health and fitness goals with my clients and since becoming a business owner have leveled up my own goal setting. Since it is that time of year where many people are thinking about who they want to be in 2026, I thought I would share some reflections from looking back at my own goals in 2025. Hopefully, these provide some food for thought beyond the usual SMART goal framework.
Goals should reflect how you want to spend your time
My goal: Run a 55k (34 miles) in 2025
What actually happened: Got married and ran a 55k, 3 weeks apart
As it turned out (predictably) getting married took a huge amount of time and energy in the months leading up to the wedding. I did finish the 55k but training looked remarkably different than I had anticipated. My longest training run was 14.5 miles and I joked that peak week was actually just wedding weekend. Admittedly, throughout the spring I was feeling extremely stretched thin and wondering why I was having a hard time balancing things. I did manage to finish the race with negative splits feeling strong and I attribute that to making the time I did have to put towards it really count.
What would have a goal based in my reality have looked like? Train for a 55k using an extremely minimal approach while I plan a DIY wedding!
Don't skip the smaller goals that help you get to the big one
My Goal: Grow my business
What actually happened: lots of wins, and other places where growth was harder to see
I had a broad goal to ‘grow my business’ with smaller, metric specific goals within that. I met some of the smaller goals, and I missed some. This gives me data about what I can do differently next year. In some cases this points me towards opportunities for growth that I hadn’t seen, and in other cases I may need to buckle down to achieve the goals that I missed.
Was I on the right track? There wasn't anything 'wrong' with the overarching goal but it was amorphous and hard to track. Did I grow it 'enough'? The smaller goals were easier to identify as accomplished or not.
Stretch goals should make you feel a little, but not too uncomfortable
My goal: Write a newsletter 2x a month
What actually happened: I sent out a newsletter every other week this year, and then some
When I set this goal, I was a little worried about the regular schedule - I tend to operate in fits and spurts and having a calendar bound goal over the course of a year felt daunting. I proved something to myself by achieving this goal - that I can stick to a schedule over a long period of time. If I had committed to 1x per week, I’m not sure I would have achieved it. I may have given up, reinforcing my self belief that I don’t follow through on long term scheduled commitments to myself.
Did I achieve it? Nailed it. This goal hit a sweet spot for me.
Adjust or cut bait and run?
My goal: Climb outside 3-4x a month
What actually happened: I climbed significantly less than I ever have in the last 15 years.
This goal came after having a grade based goal the year before that I hadn’t met because I didn’t climb enough. I didn’t make this goal this year because I climbed even less. Next year, I won’t make a climbing based goal at all. I do know I am a climber, climbing is a lifetime sport if there ever was one, and I will climb again.
How did I do? I actually think the goal to climb 3-4x per month was technically a well written goal, but it didn't reflect my priorities so it wasn't a great goal for me. This goal was probably more about proving something to myself, trying to hold onto my identity as a climber than it was about what is supporting me in my life as it is today.
Well I'm off, to write those 2026 goals for myself.
I'd love to hear what your goals are. If you'd like help achieving health, fitness, and sport related goals I have room in my roster for 1 new coaching client in in 2025 (starting December 30th or 31st). It has your name on it, if your goal is related to starting messy (i.e. mid-holiday crazy) instead of waiting for everything to line up just right. Just reply to this email and we can set something up.
Happy holidays!
Katy