My plans for 2025

Since I started this blog, I’ve always posted a list of goals at the beginning of the year.  This year, I’m not doing that.

I almost always set goals for individual races, but I’ve also been chasing longer term goal.  Over the years, those goals have included things like marathons in every state, the World Marathon Majors, marathons on every continent, or reaching certain lifetime milestones like 500 marathons or 100 Minnesota marathons.

At this point in my life, I’ve pretty much done all those things.  I’ll keep running marathons, but I no longer have a number I’m trying to hit.  Instead of having a list of goals for the year, I’m going to have something more like a mission statement.

So here’s my mission:  To explore strange to worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Wait, that’s Star Trek’s mission.  Actually, my mission is similar.  It has three parts.

First, I’m going to run marathons in places I’ve never been to before, whether they’re new countries, new cities, or new places in the great outdoors.

Second, I’m to do some races I’ve never done before.  I’m particularly interested in doing a few races that offer unique race experiences.

Finally, I want to challenge myself in new ways.

I won’t have to wait long for my first new challenge.  Tomorrow, I’ll be starting a 48-hour race.  I’ve made two previous attempts at 48-hour races, but both of these attempts ended early.  I still don’t know what it’s like to be on my feet for 48 hours or to go for two nights without sleep during a race.  Hopefully, I’ll find out soon.