2026 Fitness Goals
As we approach the end of 2025, I’ve been spending some time reflecting on the past year—what went right, what could be improved, what can be ditched, and what I want the next year to look like. I tend to do this across a few areas of my life, but here I want to focus specifically on fitness.
Assessing 2025
Looking back, it’s not a stretch to say that 2025 was the most successful fitness year I’ve had in over a decade.
Using Strava’s fitness graph, I can see that my fitness score climbed from 8 on January 1, 2025, to a high of 45 on November 22. December has been more of an off-season and recovery period, so that score has dipped back down to around 31. That’s completely expected—and more importantly, it means I’ll be starting 2026 with a much higher base than I did last year. From there, I build.
I’ve already written about my FTP progress, increasing from 98 watts in November of last year to 144 watts today. Along with that, my VO₂ max—a metric I’ve come to care a lot about—improved from 19.1 to 24.1 ml/kg/min.
Weight loss was another big win this year. I went from 356 lbs to 325 lbs, a loss of 31 pounds in 2025, and 73 pounds down from my high point a few years ago. That’s progress I’m proud of.
That said, if there’s one area where I know I could have done better, it’s weight loss. I’ve been sitting on a plateau for a couple of months now. And if I’m being honest with myself, I haven’t made the kinds of changes that would lead to further weight loss. So that’s clearly an area to focus on heading into 2026.
Fitness Goals for 2026
Here’s what I’m aiming for in the year ahead:
Increase my FTP to at least 175 watts by December 2026
Increase my VO₂ max into the 25–37 ml/kg/min range by December 2026
Complete a metric century (62 miles) at a 15 mph average pace by November 2026
Weigh between 250 and 270 lbs by December 31, 2026
Integrate more gravel riding into my training
That might look like a long list, but all of these goals are interconnected. I briefly considered making my goal something vague like “increase my fitness in 2026,” but that doesn’t really help guide day-to-day decisions.
Training consistently—on the bike and in the gym—will build strength. Increasing my FTP will support improvements in VO₂ max. Losing weight will make everything easier and more efficient. And all of that together makes me a faster, stronger cyclist.
Why These Goals?
I’ll start with VO₂ max. There’s a growing body of research showing that VO₂ max—essentially the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise—is one of the strongest predictors of longevity and overall health. According to Dr. Peter Attia and many others, it’s a critical marker for long-term healthspan. I’ll dive deeper into this in a future post, but that’s the main reason this continues to be a priority for me in 2026.
(If you want a quick overview, the video below does a good job explaining why VO₂ max matters—not just for performance, but for longevity.)
FTP, or Functional Threshold Power, is the highest power output (measured in watts) that an athlete can sustain for about an hour. I won’t go too deep into the science, but FTP is useful because it establishes training zones. Those zones allow you to follow a structured plan that makes steady, measurable improvement possible over time.
The weight goal is pretty straightforward. Obesity shortens lifespan. Because I ignored it for far too long, I’m now managing Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Both are currently under control with medication, but my goal is to eventually reduce—or eliminate— the need for some of those meds if possible.
As for the 15 mph metric century, that’s really a marker of strength and durability. One of the hardest parts of attempting El Tour de Tucson last November was the seven-plus hours on the bike. I want to become a stronger cyclist so that these big rides take less time and leave me with more in the tank.
As I’ve said before, the cycling goals are a means to an end. I’m not chasing a specific finish time just for bragging rights. What I’m really after is improved health and a longer, better-quality life. Cycling just happens to be the thing that makes that pursuit fun—and sustainable—for me.
Next Steps
My next step is to take these year long-term goals and break them down into quarterly goals. Losing 50lb for the year, while it’s specific, for me the time frame is too far out and I tend to procrastinate. So, my goal might be to lose 12 lb for the first quarter of the year. Then on a weekly basis my goal might be to lose 1 lb. This makes the goals not only manageable but it shortens the time frame so that there is a sense of immediacy.
I’ll be doing some holiday travel in the coming days, so I probably won’t be posting or riding much. So let me take this opportunity to wish you a happy holiday season, whichever one you celebrate. I hope you get to spend time with people you care about and take a moment to recharge before the next trip around the sun.
And as always…
Enjoy the ride.
