A Month of Breaking Barriers and Building Momentum

September was a month of breakthroughs. I surpassed my goals in reading, fitness, and habit tracking, seeing the rewards of months of hard work. That feeling of pushing toward a goal and watching it come to life is electrifying—it fuels momentum for even bigger wins. Here’s how I exceeded my goals this month and how you can harness that same energy for your own.

Reading: Surpassing 100 Books and Aiming Higher

Coming off last year’s record of 116 books, I set a modest reading goal for 2025 of 50, unsure if I could hit 100 again. However, by September’s end, I’d read 122 books, thanks to having a solid reading habit daily. Fantasy and self-improvement books kept me hooked, and I’ve now adjusted my goal to 150 by the end of the year.

This progress didn’t happen by accident. I find time every day using different mediums: audio, eBook, and paper while reading multiple books at the same time. If you want to read more, try starting with just 10 minutes a day—it compounds faster than you think.

Fitness: Hitting 100 Miles and Running Strong

For years, my Strava goal was to run 100 miles in a month, but it always felt out of reach. Earlier this year, I scaled back to a more realistic goal of 30 miles. September changed everything—I logged 103.9 miles, driven by the half-marathon training, hitting bike rides and seeing that I was almost there I pushed to make it a reality.

Breaking the 100-mile barrier was a huge milestone, especially while staying injury-free. I also hit my longest run ever: 10.12 miles in 2 hours and 18 minutes. Crossing that 10-mile mark felt physically and mentally empowering. To stay safe, I took a recovery week afterward, prioritizing rest to maintain my injury-free streak, I really don’t want to set myself back by pushing too hard.

Additionally, my 5K times also improved dramatically. I went from 37:08 in February to three new personal records in September: 36:39, 35:05, and a best of 34:26. Training smarter—focusing on steady pacing and interval runs—made the difference. Finally, I ran 3.9 miles without stopping, a big leap from alternating run-walk intervals just months ago.

Consistency and realistic goals were key. If you’re chasing fitness milestones, start small and build gradually—your body will thank you. Push yourself but listen to your body.

Habit Tracking: Gamifying Progress

One of the best changes I made this year was tracking habits in a simple table. Each day, I mark off habits like reading, running, and meditating. Checking those boxes feels like a win, turning consistency into a game. Seeing a month of progress on paper reinforces the effort and keeps me motivated to do more and find the time to cross things off.

This method has been a game-changer. For example, tracking my habits has shown me during the week my days that are more difficult to do things or I can see when I am more tired by getting less completed. If you’re struggling to stay consistent, try habit tracking—it’s a simple way to visualize your wins and stay accountable.

Reflecting on September

Sitting down to review September showed me how far I’ve come—and how much further I can go. Adjusting goals as you grow is crucial. Scaling my Strava target to 30 miles set me up for success, and surpassing it felt incredible. But it’s also important to be realistic—setting unattainable goals can lead to frustration, not progress.

Three lessons from September:

1. Start small, then scale: Realistic goals build confidence and momentum.
2. Track your habits: A simple tracker can make consistency fun and rewarding.
3. Celebrate wins: Small victories snowball into bigger successes.

Take a moment to reflect on your own month—what goals did you achieve, where can, and what’s next for you?

What’s Next?

With momentum on my side, I’m gearing up for a half-marathon on December 6. Linking my 5K and 10-mile progress will get me there. Looking further ahead, I’m eyeing a 37-mile ultra-marathon in March, so expect more running and training content to come.

I’m also committed to keeping my reading and habit-tracking streaks alive. Balancing these goals keeps me on track and focused. With October underway, I’m excited to see how far this momentum will take me—and I hope you’re inspired to chase your own goals, too!