I've had a dislike of New Years resolutions as long as I can remember. It probably started back when I used to spend a lot of time training in commercial gyms where crowds would swell for the first 4 to 6 weeks of every year until said new gym goers would see their newfound dedication wane, and those of us who trained year around would breathe a sigh of relief as normal access to gym equipment returned.
Don’t get me wrong: I truly applaud anyone who sets a goal to improve their fitness. But tying that goal to a single date on the calendar has always felt a bit hollow to me. Unless the inspiration hits you specifically on December 31st, why wait until January 1st to begin? If you’re ready to change, you’re ready, no holiday required.
In fact, I’ve always seen the holiday season as the best time to ramp things up. With extra time off work and a natural break in routine, it’s the perfect window to increase training volume, get outside more, or experiment with a new plan. Popular trends like the Festive 500 try to tap into that downtime, but even those feel limited in scope.
If anything, the stretch between Christmas and New Years is a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t need a resolution: it needs intention, consistency, and a willingness to start when you’re ready, not when the calendar tells you to.
Will I be climbing Cole Grade Again in 2025? Time will tell!
As I’m writing this, there are 31 days left in 2025, and I plan to make every one of them count. My goal is to ride every day I can (outdoors when the weather cooperates, indoors when it doesn’t) while keeping up my weekly strength sessions and on-bike intensity work. With a bit of holiday downtime and (hopefully!) some decent weather, I’m aiming to stack in more long, steady endurance rides whenever possible.
Maybe more Snowclines are in store for 2025!
I’m also aiming to get leaner, since my body-fat percentage has crept up over the past six months. That means focusing on portion control; this is always my biggest challenge during a season overflowing with rich, calorie-dense foods. Thanksgiving was a good reminder that I didn’t exactly stick the landing, and I’d prefer not to repeat that performance. I have to keep reminding myself that I can enjoy great food without finishing all of it in one sitting (a definite weakness of mine). I've begun incorporating intermittent fasting (IF) on recovery days to assist with fat loss as it's worked for me previously. You can find my prior post on IF here.
How you are going to maximize the rest of 2025 to get a jumpstart on 2026 season? Please let me know in the comments section below. We can hold each other accountable.
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