As I step into 2025, I want to make sure I have a clear focus with my goals: consistency, growth, and connection. The year ahead isn’t just about personal milestones; it’s about laying down a solid foundation for long-term success while sharing the journey with others. Here’s how I’m breaking it down:
Consistency: 2,000 Miles in 2025
Consistency is king in endurance sports, and one key metric for the year will be to build on my first 1,000 mile year in 2024 by logging 2,000 miles in 2025. This goal is not truly about the number of miles; it’s about maintaining momentum and discipline throughout the year. In 2024, I laid the foundational bricks, and now it’s time to build on that base, targeting my long-term improvement in aerobic endurance.
Approach:
My training will be centered around three primary blocks leading up to my A races—Antelope Canyon, Kettle Moraine, and Grindstone. When there is additional time between these blocks, I’ll maintain fitness with base-building work.
Cross-training will play a key role during post-race recovery weeks. Cycling, hiking, rowing, and functional fitness will keep me active and engaged while allowing my body to recover.
By focusing on consistency, I’m not just preparing for races but creating sustainable habits that will carry me through future seasons in life.
UESCA Ultra Marathon Coaching Certification
Another cornerstone of 2025 is completing the UESCA Ultra Marathon Coaching Certification. This isn’t just about adding credentials; it’s about deepening my understanding of the sport I love and using that knowledge to positively impact others.
Why: Coaching offers a chance to help others achieve their goals and discover their potential. It’s a way to give back to the ultra-running community and inspire others to dream big.
How:
I’ll dedicate weekly time to coursework, balancing it with my training schedule.
Lessons from the certification will directly inform my own race strategies and future coaching plans.
Races like Antelope Canyon, Kettle Moraine, and Grindstone will serve as real-world case studies, helping me refine my approach to pacing, fueling, and mental resilience.
This certification isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a step toward sharing the transformative power of running with others. I believe that we can find a passion and pursue it with relentless forward progress at any time in life. I want to be an example of that and use the experiences to help others transform themselves as well.
2025 A-Races
Antelope Canyon 50 Mile (March 2025)
Focus: My first 50-mile race will be an adventure through the stunning slot canyons of Navajo Nation. This race is about testing new limits and embracing the beauty of the journey.
Preparation:
The training block will emphasize fatigue resistance with steady state intervals and back-to-back long runs.
I’ll simulate desert terrain and conditions in training, focusing on hydration and fueling strategies.
The goal is to finish strong and savor the experience.
Kettle Moraine 100 km (June 2025)
Focus: Progressing to the 100 km distance, this race builds on the lessons learned at Antelope Canyon.
Preparation:
Training will target flat to rolling terrain, incorporating focused speedwork.
I’ll refine pacing strategies to handle the extended distance and duration.
This race is about testing pacing limits and building confidence for Grindstone later in the year.
Grindstone 100 km (September 2025)
Focus: The ultimate test of endurance and grit for 2025.
Preparation:
This training block will focus on technical trails, climbing, and night running.
I’ll apply cumulative knowledge from Antelope Canyon and Kettle Moraine to tackle Grindstone’s challenges.
Mental resilience strategies will be key to overcoming the tough terrain and long hours.
Building Community Through Volunteering, Pacing, and Crewing
Running has given me so much, and one of my goals for 2025 is to give back. Volunteering, pacing, and crewing offer a chance to strengthen my ties to the ultra-running community and support others in their journeys.
Why: These roles allow me to connect with runners on a deeper level, experience races from a new perspective, and share in the joy of helping others achieve their goals.
How:
I’ll volunteer at local events, helping at aid stations or with logistics to give back to the community.
Pacing and crewing will give me the opportunity to support runners during their toughest moments, building camaraderie and sharing in their successes.
Through these experiences, I’ll gain valuable insights into race dynamics and teamwork, which will inform my own racing and coaching.
Sharing and Coaching Through Substack
In 2025, I have renewed my focus on sharing experiences on Substack. I believe this is an important aspect of my growth through the creation of a space for sharing experiences, lessons learned, and inspiration. My goal is to show that anyone can find their passion and achieve great things at any season in life.
Content Focus:
Training insights, including monthly recaps.
Nutrition and gear testing, with practical advice for other runners.
Honest reflections on race experiences, from triumphs to challenges.
By sharing my journey, I hope to inspire others to chase their goals, embrace the process, and discover the joy of running. Whether through writing or coaching, 2025 is about building connections and spreading the belief that we are all capable of more than we imagine.
Looking Ahead
2025 is about more than miles or medals—it’s about growth, consistency, and giving back. Through training, racing, volunteering, and writing, I’ll work to make this a year of progress and connection, both for myself and for the community I’m honored to be part of. Here’s to the journey ahead!
- Sam