Most beginning runners have a reason to start to run. Often that reason centers around health, feeling and looking better and getting out more. These goals provide inspiration needed to get out the door for the first few weeks of a running program. Some new runners may be vague or undecided about their goals at the beginning of their running program. It’s OK to simply want to “feel better”, but to stick with it, it helps to establish some concrete, specific goals. Here are some examples of goals to suggest to beginning runners:

• I want to run for 20 minutes without stopping.
• I want to complete a 5k race.
• I’d like to be able to play actively with my kids for 30 minutes without getting winded.