January 9th is not just the second Friday of the year. According to data from Strava, it's statistically when most people quit their New Year's resolutions. Why do we abandon our goals so quickly? And more importantly, what can we do to actually stay on track? We sat down with Nashville-based coach and ultra runner Cody Taggart to find out how he stays the course.

Cody’s personal philosophy starts with understanding that progress is about long term results. For him, improvement isn’t about constantly raising the bar, it’s about raising the ground under your feet. The work isn’t chasing a single personal best. It’s waking up early, running daily, and showing up again tomorrow. Cody developed this mindset by going through hardships and struggles in life and finding an outlet in health and wellness.

There was a version of Cody who weighed 320 pounds. A version without direction, who at 21 hit rock bottom. Two weeks before his birthday, his father passed away, and grief left him more lost than ever. He began rebuilding his body first, chasing a healthier version of himself. But his motivation was rooted in outside validation. He trained to prove something, to be seen, to show others he could change. As his physical strength grew, his mindset lagged behind. He was fit, disciplined, and driven; yet still learning how to align his mental and physical health.

That's when he decided to do something the 320-pound version of himself would have never imagined: running a marathon. He started with a half, then committed to the full 26.2 miles.

A journey to feeling present

After completing five marathons, he wanted more. Googling "what's harder than a marathon" led him to ultra marathons. Now he's tackled 100-mile races and even ran 300 miles from LA to Vegas. It wasn't in one race that he figured out his mindset, but in the process that he found meaning.

For a long time, Cody was trying to outrun his past self. It's something we all do when setting resolutions. We want a picture-perfect version of ourselves to magically appear in 365 days. But changing habits we've held for years can't be treated like a sprint, but more of an ultra. The only way to achieve personal goals is one step at a time.

What helped Cody shift his perspective was the Nashville running community. Being part of something bigger than himself helped him embrace who he is instead of running away from it. By staying present, he realized that positive change isn't about walking away from who you used to be. Coming to terms with all the past versions of yourself and rolling with it is what makes evolution possible.

His current mindset

Now, Cody runs to be present. Not for achievement, but for the calm that comes from running. He finds fulfillment in good conversations during long runs and high-fives after hard workouts. There's no box to check, no pace to prove.

What’s next?

Cody is preparing for a Last Man Standing race, approaching it the same way he approaches everything else: one loop at a time.

That's Cody's path. Parts of it may feel familiar. Or maybe your story looks nothing like his. That's the beauty of endurance sports... they hold space for all of it.

Whatever you're working toward this year, showing up day after day has a way of changing you. Not fixated on the finish, but committed to the process, and finding meaning in it along the way.

Let's stay the course.