Have you started to “lock in?” Are you getting ready for your “winter arc?’
Runner’s World is here to support your running, fitness, and health goals whether you want to run more consistently, choose an effective strength training routine or set a PR. Our plans and advice will make the next three or four months (or any dedicated period of training) successful. To do this, we’re going to break apart some of TikTok’s favorite, dare we say it, often random challenges and explain how to to put them back together with expert running advice.
Lock In and Winter Arc TikTok Challenges
While fun and inspiring, many TikTok trends aren’t always based on solid health and science research. As we all learned from 2019’s 75 Hard, a “mental toughness” challenge is not the same as building reliable and effective run, strength, mobility, and flexibility routines that will help you reach your racing goals, not to mention helping to create lifelong health habits.
What Is the ‘Lock In’ Challenge? How to Approach the TikTok Trend, Carly Berges posted about her “Winter Arc,” which she began on October 1 of that year. As she explained, rather than slowing down and waiting for January 1, 2025 to start a New Year resolution fitness routine, you could instead use the 90-day autumn period to set and reach any specific goal of your choosing. That’s a great idea, and, as we’ll explain later, that might work particularly well for runners.
Meanwhile, this year, a similar trend began on September 1. Called the “Lock In” challenge, TikTokkers started to post about how they plan to spend the last four months of the year focusing on personal health goals, such as getting more sleep and running every day. Do this now, and you will reach January 1, 2026 with some new habits already in place with which to begin the new year.
Not surprisingly, many of those who start a Winter Arc or Lock In challenge include a running goal or habit on their to-do list. Whether it’s running a mile or training to run a bucket list race, people who love fitness often want running to be part of their lives.
Day Cross-Training Challenge New York City Marathon, on the calendar this fall, it’s likely that at some point in these few months you will start to think about a 2026 goal. This means you might need to “Lock In” your health and fitness routine.
To help you reach a variety of goals, we have multiple programs that have already led runners to success. Find a challenge that works for you, and then carry it through until 2026 starts.
- Senior Health and Fitness Editor 12-Week Run/Walk Program
- Day Core Challenge 28-DAA Industry Opt Out
- When Your Big Goal Doesn’t Live up to the Hype 28-Day Workout Challenge
- Build a strong foundation using this 30-Day Core Challenge
- We have plans and advice for runners who want to focus on a run goal 4-Week Speed Challenge
- However, some recent crazes have been more personal and well thought out. For example, in 2024 1-Month Treadmill Challenge
- Don’t give up! Read our Ten Long Run Workouts
For Real Success, Personalize TikTok Challenges
Ready to set some goals? To reach success, be sure your goals are “SMART,” Roxana Ehsani, Week Run/Walk Program Runner’s World. Ready to set some goals? To reach success, be sure your goals are “SMART,&rdquo.
All Runner’s World training plans follow Ehsani’s advice, of course. They are designed to build healthy habits so that you can not only reach your race goal, but also become (and remain) a healthy and fit runner for life.
Here are some Runner’s World+ members favorite training plans, and each plan has suggestions on how to succeed—starting right now!
The Fatigue Resistance Tip Runners Often Overlook
Recommended Experience: Members Only: Latest News from RW+ Membership Club.
The Fatigue Resistance Tip Runners Often Overlook
Recommended Experience: Races - Places.
The Fatigue Resistance Tip Runners Often Overlook
Recommended Experience: For a new runner who has been exercising regularly for at least a year, or someone who has completed a few 5Ks or 10Ks and can complete 6 miles in one workout. This plan peaks at 28 miles in a week with a 12-mile long run.
The Fatigue Resistance Tip Runners Often Overlook
Recommended Experience: For runners comfortable exercising for at least an hour at a moderate effort. This plan peaks at 32 miles in a week with a 14-mile long run.
The Fatigue Resistance Tip Runners Often Overlook
Recommended Experience: For a consistent runner used to regularly working out four to five times a week. The plan starts with a 10-mile long run and peaks at 44 to 47 miles a week with a 22-mile long run, helping you average under a 9:10 per mile come race day.
Donna Raskin has had a long career as a health and fitness writer and editor of books and magazine articles. A certified run coach who has practiced yoga for many years, she also loves to lift weights, dance, and go for long walks with her hound dog, Dolly.
