Focused Footsteps

Sometimes the quiet steps matter more than the miles.

Movement builds capacity not when we push for speed, but when we stay present.

Today, each careful step in the snow is practice for strength, focus, and awareness.

Are you writing running goals for 2026?

Hot take, but goals without systems are just dreams. This is why I prefer process goals versus outcome goals, because process goals lead you to the path of developing systems to support these goals.

Rather than an outcome goal of “run a 23 minute 5K by the end of 2026”, a better goal would be “run consistently 4-5 times a week, ensure at least 80% of my diet consists of real unprocessed foods, sleep 8 hours a night, and focus at least one hour a week on strength and mobility.”

The systems then could become:
✔️ Set an alarm daily to ensure my morning run is easy to do
✔️ Build and stick to a list at the grocery store
✔️ Turn off screens and wind down by 9:00pm every evening
✔️ Schedule strength and mobility into my calendar

Each of these systems and process oriented goals are fully within my control, versus a time on a clock which could be highly variable depending on race or weather conditions.

Maybe 2026 is the year you rethink your goals and instead focus on building your systems. It’s highly empowering to have your goals be fully within your reach.

Happy to represent at the Colorado Springs Turkey Trot today! Started with a plan and stuck to it to execute one of my strongest races all year 💪

Happy Thanksgiving!! 🦃

Well, I didn’t achieve my goal…

YET.

Yeah I’m a little bit bummed that I’m having troubles getting through a 5K without a walk break, but I think my current strategy (go out hot and hold on) is not working for me right now with the low volume I’m running.

I’m going to try to approach the next one more like a half marathon… start comfortably hard and pick it up. That seems to work well for me in the longer distance, and perhaps as I build volume I can go faster in the 5K again.

Despite a rough middle section, I’m also glad I was able to pull myself back together in the last K since somehow I managed to win a nice AG award. 🥇

Happy Octo-barre!! 💪

Love kicking off the month at zero-dark-30 🌙 in my favorite strength training workout (b3 Strength), and this month is the anniversary of making strength training a serious part of my life again one year ago.

Yes - running and walking, sleeping well, and eating healthy are all excellent ways to improve your health and fitness, but if you’re not doing consistent strength training - you’re only robbing your future self of happy and healthy senior years.

And although many days class is a challenge, I find myself learning new movement patterns and discovering muscles I didn’t know I had, and often I’m the oldest person in the class, a saying commonly sticks with me:

“Best to be the oldest person at the gym than the youngest person in the nursing home”

Make it the best day and month, friends!! ♥️