Forums > Running 101 > Inspiration?
Ostrich runner
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Boston 2012 Survivor
Hi, everyone. I'm quite new at this. I was wondering if you--the seasoned runners--could share with everyone what motivates/inspires you to complete your long workouts. I can run for about 1/2 hour, before I get distracted, even with music. This is a problem because a large part of running is the mental challenge, I think. When I'm distracted, I begin noticing how tired I am. So I'm curious as to how you guys stay focused... Thank you!
Inspiration? you will find plenty here. Like srlopez, who is a maniac, trent, professer, amores perros and many others who has it within themselves to run beyond their comfort zone. As for me, with just 11 marathons and One 50k under my belt I can say that what helps me the most in my long runs is just to go for the hour and not the pace or the distance. Somehow it is easier for my brain to accept that we will run for 3 hours like I did today instead of the 16 miles my schedule call. . Bored, never...so much to see in route, so many great music to listen to and great thought patterns to follow up later.
Just we calm, embrace the gift of running and enjoy the gift.
Ah Boston. It’s the Carneghie Hall for runners. Mostly because you do get there through “practice, practice, practice” but it also takes some dedication to a goal with lots of pain involved in getting there. C-R
elle aime courir
'No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everyone on the couch'
"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'" - Peter Maher
"Running long and hard is an ideal antidepressant, since it's hard to run and feel sorry for yourself at the same time. Also, there are those hours of clearheadedness that follow a long run." -Monte Davis
It actually may not be as mental as you think. When you are in a good shape, the time is shorter--if you are in a good condition, your 1:30 run would feel more like 1:15. When you're out of shape, you look down on your watch, thinking you've been running for 20 minutes only to find out it's "only" 8 minutes! Then think, "Man, it's gonna be a long 30 minutes run..." It's particularly true on treadmill! ;o)
Be patient and take your time to build up your base. One day you'll look down on your watch and say; "What! Already 45 minutes!? I'd better turn around or I'll miss my dinner..."
Maybe you need to find some place more interesting to run?
I was thinking about this the other day: 30min on tm feels longer than 1.5hr on road feels about like 2+hr on hilly trail. I doubt I could ever do 2 hr on tm because of the repititiveness. And when I first started, running longer than 30min on road or trail was a challenge, but I don't remember getting distracted - at least not distracted enough to stop. (I had done some jogging after work on roads for a number of years before I started more structured running.)
But hang in there, build your base slowly and carefully, and eventually you'll find that time flies when you're having fun.
I do get distracted on some trail runs - the moose that startled me the other day (really have to pay more attention to where I'm going), the beautiful starlit night and my headlamp twinkling off all the frost giving the illusion that I was amongst the stars that had descended into the trees, ducks on a lake (not this time of year), whatever. But I'll pause, watch briefly or longer, then continue my run - gets cold if stop too long at +5F. The run has to be finished or freeze to death.
Now doing some supplemental training when I get home, that's another matter. If aiming for 5 sets of whatever, I usually make 2 or 3 sets before dinner's ready and that's it. With running, there's no options but to finish the run.
I'm not sure I'm seasoned, but I've been doing this a while...anyway, I find music really distracting. Try running without it. I don't aim for focus, I aim for blurriness.
I'd have to agree with this statement. The ONLY time I listen to music is when I'm on a treadmill. I find running outdoors (which I prefer and do the most) is dangerous enough without having something in my ears to block out any traffic noises I may need to hear.
Running different routes helps a lot with boredom and keeping yourself from being distracted.
2012 Goals:
5k = sub 22:00
10k = sub 45:00
HM = sub 1:40:00
Run = 2000 miles
Bike = 3000 miles
Swim = 130 miles
I run in a quiet gated neighborhood but still prefer not to listen to anything because I thing it is dangerous. I believe you need to be aware of your surroundings. Even though I am on a relatively wide and straight road-side path I have had poor bikers come up behind me without warning and come close to clipping me.
To avoid being bored I use running time to think about business issues and financial algorithims I am currently focusing on. I also pray often. Running provides time to get away and just listen to nature and what is around you.
2012 PRs:5Kish: 19:21 (Course probably short)
10K: coming soon
10M: 1:08:50Half Mar.: 1:34:16
Mar.: 3:36:49 (Survivor: Boston Marathon)
Nerd
Everyone has touched on all of my things already.......but to summarize, these are the ones I want to emphasize......
1. Set goals.......I need to have both short-term and long-term goals with my running......making them agressive goals even, has been very motivating and inspirational to me over the last 6 months.
2. NO music.......In addition to believing it is unsafe, why clutter my head with noise when I get so much of that in the rest of my life. Nothing like quiet early morning runs to excape the noise.......my 4:30 run this AM was AWESOME!
3. Find a friend to run with......I didn't believe in this my first several years of running. This last fall I started training with a friend and it has been the best motivation I have had ever with my 5 years of running. I don't want to let him down with our plans and neither does he.
4. Listen to your body.....as someone said, this can be Zen-like. This AM, my short 3.5 miler, the last 1.5 miles I pushed it hard and my mind just kept thinking wow, how can you push like this?!?!?......keep it up.....you're doing it.....WOW.......cathartic, really!
5. Change up your routine.......find a variety of routes at a variety of distances......variety, variety, variety. I have also recently been playing around with fartleks and also some minor speed work and hills.....really has been, well, FUN!
✔ Set 2011 Running Goals, 3/3/2011✔ May 30 - Bolder Boulder 10k ✔ June 5 - Steamboat (CO) HM
Aug13 - Georgetown to Idaho Springs HMAug 26 - Hood to Coast RelayOct. 9 - Denver Rock & Roll HM1000 miles in 2011
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