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Motivation |  |
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See the Index for more topics, information, hints and tips.
"A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."
Sometimes it's hard to get going. We all have a million excuses for not running: tired, too busy, it's hot, cold, or wet. But is it your body telling you it needs time to recover or is it your mind telling you to be lazy? Do you want to take off or do you need to take off?
There are people more tired, busier, fatter, slower, in worse conditions than you who are making the time and putting out the effort to get out there and run.
Deep down you know you should get out for a run to keep up with your training plan. You know you want to reach your goal at the end of your training. And you don't want to enter a zero in your training log for the day.
The future you will be grateful even proud of your decision to run.
You may want to review your Goals and Reasons for Running.
But if you really need the day off, missing an occasional day is not going to kill you as long as it doesn't get any worse than missing a day every couple of weeks. In order to have your body and mind ready for your goal race or time, you have to do the training. The closer you can stick to your training plan the better.
Remember you don't "have" to run you "get" to run!
The hardest thing is taking that first step. So my advice is to get ready for a run and just get off the starting line. Take that first step - it's the hardest thing to do. But anything you do is better than nothing. Go out and run for just ten minutes. If after ten minutes you really can’t do it, then turn around and run back for ten minutes. At least you will have gotten a 20 minute run in.
Just start walking at first and get your body moving. Take it slow and make progress. If later your body feels like running then go for it. If not then enjoy the walk. Maybe your body needed a break. And walking does do you a lot of good.
After that first step, the next hardest thing is the first two miles. When you start to run it takes a little while for your body to warm up and get into its rhythm. If it still feels hard, do some walking. Whenever you feel like it, pick up your pace.
On days like this for me, I frequently start feeling much better after I get into running and I can usually finish strong.
I've never finished a run and been sorry that I did it. I am always happy with myself and proud that I completed one more day of my training schedule.
Consider how far you have come from a year ago, two years, five years, when you started running. Remember the struggles you have overcome on your journey.
Remember that today you are not running for your health today, but what you want to be in five or ten years.
Whatever you do you are NOT a failure. Maybe you didn’t come in first, maybe you came in last, but you are SO much better off for even participating.
If you try your hardest and give it your best, then no matter how good or bad you do, you can be proud and satisfied with your effort.
Always remember that no matter how bad you ran or raced, how disappointed or discouraged you are, there is someone who would be delighted to have done that! No matter how badly you think you did, you did something very special in someone’s eyes.
If you run, then you are a runner!
Celebrate just what your body can do!
Someday you won’t be able to run. Don’t let today be that day.
Watch a running movie either fact or fiction. Read a book about running. Books tend to be biographies or technical technique/training.
There are hundreds of inspirational stories that involve runners. Here are ones that I find motivating:
Watch this excellent video Jocko Motivation "GOOD".
