Why We Are Not Quitters (Even When January Gets Hard)
- Dayna Player Robinson
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Why We Are Not Quitters
(Even When January Gets Hard)
Every January, I see it happen.
Gyms are packed.
Training plans are printed.
Motivation is high.
And then… life hits.
There’s actually a name for this moment: “Quitter’s Day.” It usually falls on the second Friday in January—the day research suggests most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions.
And honestly? That date makes a lot of sense.
The excitement of “fresh start energy” fades.
The soreness sets in.
Kids get sick. I have felt this a lot this month!
Work ramps back up.
Weather turns ugly. My East coast runners have felt this so much the past week!!
Progress feels slow.
This is usually the point where people decide, “Maybe this goal just isn’t for me.”
But here’s the thing I want to be really clear about:
Most people don’t quit because they’re lazy.
They quit because they’re human.
And the runners and athletes I work with every day?
They are not quitters—even when it feels like they are.
The Problem Isn’t Motivation — It’s Mismatch
One of the most helpful frameworks I’ve ever learned for understanding behavior comes from The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin.
(Yes, I totally geek out on all the personality quizzes and such!)
Her research shows that people respond to expectations differently—and that difference matters a lot when it comes to sticking with goals.
The four tendencies are:
Upholders – meet inner and outer expectations
Questioners – meet expectations that make sense to them
Obligers – meet outer expectations, struggle with inner ones
Rebels – resist both inner and outer expectations
Here’s why this matters so much in January:
Most New Year’s resolutions are built as inner expectations:
“I should run more.”
“I should get stronger.”
“I should be more consistent.”
That works great… if you’re an Upholder.
But if you’re not?
That same goal can quietly collapse without the right support structure.
Why Runners Feel Like They “Quit”
From the outside, it looks like quitting. From the inside, it usually feels more like:
“I fell behind and don’t know how to restart.”
“I missed a week, and now it feels pointless.”
“My body hurts, and I don’t trust it.”
“I don’t know if I’m doing this right.”
“I don’t want to fail again.”
That’s not quitting.
That’s uncertainty + overwhelm + lack of feedback.
As a coach, I see this especially with injured or frustrated runners. They don’t stop because they don’t care. They stop because they’re afraid of making the wrong move.
January Isn’t a Test of Character
Quitter’s Day gets framed like a failure point. I see it differently.
It’s a data point.
January reveals whether your goal:
fits your life
fits your body
fits your personality
has enough support around it
If something fell apart this month, it doesn’t mean you’re a quitter.
It means the strategy needs work, not your commitment.
The Reframe I Want You to Take With You
You don’t need to be tougher.
You don’t need more grit.
You don’t need to “want it more.”
You need:
a plan that adapts
accountability that fits you
and permission to keep going imperfectly
Progress isn’t linear. Consistency isn’t flawless. And the strongest athletes I know are the ones who keep adjusting—not the ones who never struggle.
So, if January has been messy?
Good.
You’re still in the game.
And that means you’re not a quitter.
Happy Running!
from your Favorite Exercise Physiologist
- Dayna
For the early Valentine gift shoppers - Gift Card - give the gift of running to your LOVE this year!!
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