I need motivation tips (Read 1021 times)

Of course, you know, this made me just HAVE to go and take a look at your log... Looks like you've got a lot of variety going on there. Looks good. And wow... can I count a 1 hr massage as a workout too? Sounds nice...

Ha, that was actually the massage therapist beating the crap out of the Evil Knot in My Calf, which enabled me to run again. Deep tissue massage is actually great for recovery and whatnot, and if done right you will feel like you were run over by a truck, but in a good way! But that's another thread. Logs are great for training groups and accountability though. They're also nice to keep track of your progress (improved pace times and distances), which are a great motivation factor in themselves.

When I was married, I would set the alarm for 4 AM to run and after I snoozed it for the 5th time, my wife would say, "WTF?! Are you going to get up or not?" Then I would lie there for another five minutes whining about how tired I was until we got into a fight. THEN, I would get up and run because I didn't want to be yelled at anymore. Eighty percent of the time, it worked every time. Now that I am divorced, I am forced to argue with myself. Doesn't work as well. Oh well, hope that helped. Let me know if you would like my ex's number. :-)

I realize marathon is a very lofty goal but this is the only thing that seems to spark my enthusiasm. SKB

If the prospect of a marathon "sparks your enthusiam" I would bet having a 10K or half mary on your schedule in the more immediate future would keep you motivated!! I have to have an event on my calendar, no further than 12 weeks away, to keep me on task. Go out a set some personal records at shorter distances to keep you in the moment.

You can always run in the Virtual races...

What a great idea. I'm in Florida- would anyone out there like to join me as an early AM running buddy, and keep each other accountable? (this sounds like a single's add). I like long walks on the beach and am a social drinker. Just kidding. But really, I have yet to find an early bird runner in my area and could use the motivation/encouragement.

Well, how would we track this? By posting to our logs, I would assume. I don't run every morning, though. I am one of the lucky few who gets to run at lunch since we have a shower and locker room here.

You can always run in the Virtual races...

Oh, I definitely plan to do that...though it seems like the last few have fallen on weekends that weren't conducive to running a "race." Though the next couple of months should be pretty quiet. k

As I lie there in bed, I tell myself that I should just go for a couple miles and then I can get back in bed for a few minutes when I get back. Invariably, once I'm dressed, fed, and out there running I feel pretty good and awake and I end up doing the full amount on my running plan. Occasionally, however, I really do only go a couple miles, though, and I figure if I feel that lousy on those days then it's probably better not to push it anyways.

I've said this before - but when it comes to motivation, something like what VincenteFrijole wrote has always worked best for me. Just to GO. Out the door. Put on the shoes and say I'm walking to the end of the street. 95% of the time, that turns into a nice 4 or 5 or 7 mile run, even if I didn't want to take the first step. For me, a more critical kind of motivation was the kind to do it *consistently.* And that took time to make happen, and I don't know how it did. Some strange magic. One day I just realized that ... I wanted to run. And again the next day. And that it was taking days off that was the part I really didn't want to do. Not sure how to get there exactly. It took 5 or 6 periods of running over 25 years for it to stick. But now, motivation is rarely an issue. I wouldn't willingly skip running any more than I'd skip sleeping. I think the biggest thing was making it fun ... and then seeing some improvements, and running some really fun races. After my first marathon, I swore I'd never run again, and didn't for years. But the second (Huntsville) was so fun that ... I dunno. I just run now. Can't help it. I think getting there just takes sticking with it for a while. I wish everyone who says that they "hate" running would do it long enough to give it a chance. Same with other kinds of working out, for that matter. Once you're happily addicted, motivation isn't much of a problem. And running was supposed to be nothing but cardio cross training!