This post is written by Kate Walton, a BAMRbassador who works full-time and has written for us about her hysterectomy, the college drop-off of  her older daughter, and more.

Like so many badass folks, I love chasing a goal. And 2024 has delivered: This year, I crossed the finish line of my seventh marathon and summited Hope Pass near Leadville, Colorado. With the weather turning colder and goal-chasing season behind me for the year, I’m left wondering, “what do I do now?”

I love being on a training schedule, thriving on the routine and discipline of it all. Yet I also know my mind and body can use some rest and a reset before I turn my attention to the next big thing. (Possibly a Mammoth March and/or a multi-day 100-mile ultramarathon in May.) Being a person who needs a plan, even for my downtime, I put pen to paper to lay out what I will prioritize in the last quarter of the year.

Kate, left, at the start of Grandma’s Marathon  

I will hold the time. During training season, I carefully schedule and guard my workout time; I rarely miss a session if I’ve committed to it. For this off-season, I am keeping that commitment and holding that time in my daily schedule—following the principle of reducing my intensity, not my frequency. I’ve found that when I give up that dedicated time, it is much harder to get it back once a new training calendar begins. So I am planning my days accordingly.

I will do different things. I’ve covered a lot of miles this year, on the road and on the trails. Running is my main jam, but I’m already enjoying moving my body differently. I’ve been logging some miles on Peloton bike, taking my golden retriever, Hazelnut, on some extra walks, and reacquainting myself with yoga and Pilates. Opening up that space without the pressure of a weekly mileage goal has been refreshing.

I will focus on strength and mobility. After a prolonged training season, I am noticing a tightness in my right IT band, some stiffness in my lower back. I’m not injured, but I realize I need to heed the signs. How many times do I need to be reminded that I feel better when I am regularly engaged in strength training and tending to mobility and stability? Apparently at least one more time because I already feeling stronger and looser after spending a few weeks with the weights and my yoga mat instead of treating these things as “extras” as I often do when I’m training for a race.

Kate’s strength corner is all set up

I will stay connected. Running is both a solitary endeavor and one of my greatest sources of connection. I cover a lot of miles alone, often early in the morning or squeezing the time in between other commitments. But running also connects me to a broader community, both virtually through AMR and in person with family and friends. I can’t tell you how much I value the shared miles and communal experiences I’ve had this year. Now I am taking opportunities to stay connected, but letting it look a little different. I’m enjoying long walks on Sunday’s catching up with my girlfriends; a Top Golf outing to celebrate family birthdays; and I had my debut pickleball session on Sunday. (So fun!) Less training and more recreation has been restorative.

Kate, far right, on top of the world

I know when the calendar turns to 2025, I will be itching to resume my usual schedule. And I also know I will be stronger—both mentally and physically—for adjusting my approach before I do.