Below is a list of ways to stay motivated when you are training for a race or just want to run more often:
- Don’t give yourself time to think. If you think about waking up in the morning and having to run, and how cold it is outside you won’t want to do it. My suggestion: just do it. Yup, just like Nike’s slogan, now I kinda realized where that slogan comes in handy. Just get up and do it. Trust me, you’d be glad you did.
- My boyfriend laughs at me for this one, but I like to pick out my running outfits the night before. Listen, if you look good, you feel good and you’ll have a really great run.
- Good running music is a must. Lately I’ve been listening to the radio and picking out songs that I think are good running songs. I create a list and add them to my playlist. An awesome playlist, loaded with good running music will get you to your destination and back, and you won’t be bored. I’ve also been using Pandora and Songza to listen to music while I run.
- Run Solo. Someone mentioned this to me the other day and I didn’t realize how true this is. “Running is a solo sport.” I conquered some of my longest distance, running/jogging solo. So don’t be afraid to put on your running outfit, pop in your headphones and conquer some miles, alone. It’s a great feeling and very relaxing.
- Find a running partner or running club. Yes, running solo is great, but so is running with a group or a partner. To me the benefit of running with someone is not so you have someone to talk to, talking while running seems a bit distracting to me, but to get a feeling of what it would be like to run with others during race day.
- Walk/Jog/Run. Don’t be afraid to not go running because you can’t run all the way. If you get tired, JOG. If you get tired from jogging, WALK. It’s nothing to be ashamed off. Keep moving, stay active. I’ve recently read a line on an article that made me laugh, it said something about remember when you thought 3 miles was hard. I remember those days, I also remember when I couldn’t jog longer than 10 minutes and I hated running. I can laugh about it now because I know I can, and I did.
I made it past 3 miles and past 10 mins, and now I’m seeking more, even if at the moment I can’t picture myself running double digits. I don’t let that discourage me because I know it’s possible.
I’m possible and so are you. So get out there and prove it to yourself.