Most New Year’s fitness resolutions fail by February. Why? Because they rely on motivation, not systems. In this post, you’ll learn how to build a consistent training habit, avoid common beginner mistakes, and create a sustainable fitness plan that delivers real results—all without burning out. Whether you’re new to working out or starting fresh, this guide will help you train smarter, not harder.

If you think training for a 50K (or any ultra, for that matter) means stacking endless junk miles, running six days a week, and sacrificing your strength training, you’ve already lost. If your foundational programming principle is lower running volume, higher strength volume, you can build durable, powerful, injury-resistant runners who can take a beating and keep moving for the long haul.