Simple Tips for Running Lifestyles

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links. Thank you for supporting this content!

There’s something surprisingly motivating about turning your goals into a game and that’s exactly what a bingo card does. When I created my first goal bingo card in 2024, I had no idea how fun it would be! It’s so satisfying to cross off each square and I love the adventure of it all.

As the year wraps up, I’m taking time to celebrate what I’ve checked off and share some ideas and tips so you can make your own 2026 bingo card that’s fun, flexible, and actually helps you do more of what you love: running, traveling, and enjoying life on your terms.

Why Use a Bingo Card for Your Yearly Goals?

A bingo card makes goal-setting or creating New Year’s resolutions less rigid and more playful. You don’t have to stick to a strict timeline or stress over perfection. And it becomes a fun way to explore new experiences, travel adventures, fitness wins, and personal growth.

If you’re a busy woman juggling work, family, and training for races, the bingo card goals method permits you to dream without the burnout.

2025 Bingo Card Wins: What I Checked Off

This year wasn’t about perfection, it was about momentum. Here’s what I crossed off my 2025 bingo card. Feel free to use these ideas for your bingo card!

• Run a Race in a Costume – I ran a 5K dressed as a pirate in sunny Florida.
• Visit a new MLB stadium – Brian has been working on his goal of checking off every MLB stadium and we visited both Kansas City and Boston this year.
• Try 4 New Restaurants – Part of my bingo card goals was to explore more local spots. We discovered some favorites like Girl and the Goat, Frankie Francois, The Churro Waffle, and TAK Korean Bistro.
• Run 5 Races – I ran five really memorable races! The distances I included were a 5K (in a pirate costume) to earning my 4th World Major star at the London Marathon.
• Publish 50 New Blog Posts – Thank you for reading and cheering me on. I appreciate all of the incredible growth this year!
• Listen to 4 Audiobooks – Highlights: Let Them and It Runs in the Family (Sarah Spain).
• Go on a Lakefront Bar Crawl – This one was so fun and adventurous (and incredibly hot). Find out what the Chicago Lakefront bar crawl is here.
• See a New Band Live – I usually check off at least one band I’ve always wanted to see a year. This year I saw Kids That Fly, Tom Morello, Cake, Yellowcard and Third Eye Blind.
• Try a New Mocktail – I’ve started adding more mocktails to my social life and I loved the options at Volo Wine Bar.
• Get a New Passport Stamp – This was more of a “visit a new country” because more customs checks are becoming automated. This year brought me to London and Aruba.
• Travel for a Race – I wouldn’t be “Run. wander. wear.” without the wander! This year I ran races in Florida and London.

This bingo card tradition has become one of my favorite ways to set realistic and joyful goals each year. I don’t feel confined to a strict process and it encourages me to try experiences I’m curious about.

How to Make Your 2026 Bingo Card

Want to create your first bingo card? Let’s get started! 

Creating a 2026 bingo card is less about resolutions and more about inspiration. Think about what lit you up this year and lean in.

Step 1: Pick Your Bingo Card Categories 

Start by choosing a few core categories to structure your goals. Examples that might help inspire you could be:

• Fitness/Races: Think about running firsts you’d like to experience. Things like running a race in a new state, trying trail running, and hitting a new distance are examples.
• Travel: What new travel visits are you hoping for? Consider visiting a new country, booking a solo trip, or planning a race in another city with friends.
• Food & Drink: This one can be so fun. Think about things like cooking one new recipe/month, finding the best iced latte in town or trying a mocktail.
• Personal Growth: Read 6 books, journal weekly, unplug for a weekend, try audiobooks.
• Fun/Just Because: Get inspired by going to a concert, visiting a new concert venue, taking a dance class, say “yes” to a random invite.

Step 2: Narrow Down Your Bingo Card Goals

Write down 25+ goal ideas and write them on scraps of paper.. Keep it light, mix big dreams with easy wins. I like to put more than 25 ideas on paper to see which ones stick and which ideas I can try for the next year.

Step 3: Design Your Bingo Card Template

You can use Canva, a Google Sheet, or even go old school with markers and paper. Make it visually appealing so you stay motivated to complete it. Pull each idea (25 total) out of a hat for random placement on the board.

Step 4: Display Your Bingo Card Where You’ll See It

Stick it on your fridge, inside your planner, save the Canva template on your phone, or use it as your phone wallpaper. That visual reminder keeps you engaged all year.

Step 5: Share your Bingo Card

Sharing my card with other people has been a source of accountability. I also love how it connects me with my friends. I like to invite my friends to join me in creating a bingo card or I love it when people offer to support my goals. It is a great way to get to know my friends even better.

Related Post: If you’d like to create a card that’s focused on running goals specifically, check out this running bingo card guide.

Related Post: Want more details for creating your bingo board? Check out this post with more inspiration and ideas. Honestly, this post was so popular, it was #1 on my best of 2025!

2026 Bingo Card Ideas to Inspire You

Need a few more ideas to create your bingo card? Try adding these to your list:

• Run a race in another country (need tips for Global Entry? Read this post)
• Try 3 new mocktails
• Visit a national park
• Take a solo staycation in your town
• Learn a new cross-training workout
• Read 5 books by women authors
• Make a new running playlist
• Try a podcast from this blog post
• Try a new running group
• Try 4 new audiobooks 
• Run in the rain on purpose
• Host a brunch after a long run
• Try a recovery tool you’ve never used (check out my list of favorite recovery tools here on Amazon).

When you create your bingo card, tag me @runwanderwear on Instagram so I can see your goals for 2026!

Let’s Make 2026 Your Most Intentional (and Fun) Year Yet

I didn’t check off every single square this year and that’s the point. The bingo card kept me curious, moving, and motivated, without the guilt of unfinished to-do lists. And yes, I got a bingo. I loved every square I checked off, regardless if I “won the game.”

If you’re already dreaming about where running (and life) will take you in 2026, now’s the perfect time to start building your bingo card goals. I’ll be working on mine with a mocktail in hand—and maybe a race entry tab open in the next window.

If you’ve made a bingo card before or want to create one together, drop a comment or tag me on Instagram—I’d love to cheer you on.

Follow the run! Keep up to the latest updates on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest. And never miss a post by subscribing to my newsletter.