It's not unusual for distance runners to make big goals for an upcoming year. There are a variety of ways to set goals. It can be a matter of wanting to lose some weight, maybe you had a good year, but want to make this one better. Maybe you need to get fast enough for colleges to notice you during spring track or cross country season in the fall.

Goals are a part of everyday life for runners. Goals can vary from completing a certain amount of miles for a run, or a week, or a year. Or maybe setting a goal-time for a big race, like the Broad Street Run in Philly in early May, or a 3,200-meter time in the spring, or even a 3.1-mile time for cross country.

It's important to set primary and secondary goals. For example, if you set just one goal and don't get it, you might be trapped into the thought of being failure, and that's not good. So, you may set a goal of running 2,500 miles this year, just a little under 50 per week. But, so many things can happen, setting a secondary goal of 2,000 is good as well.

Or if you haven't made it out the door to run in a few weeks, and you want to start back, don't be too bold too soon. It's important to build gradually, so you may want to start at 10-15 miles a week, then go to 15-20 miles and so on.

So, with goals in mind, here's a quote from T. Alan Armstrong that might help you stay motivated in the winter months.
"Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character."