Forums >General Running>Motivation
What percentage of the time do you feel like running? What are you motivated by? The beauty of your surroundings? The solitude (or companionship) that your run provides? The push from your competition? The internal drive for self-improvement? Fitness?
I ran on a couple of teams, but this is my first year running independently. I am trying to learn what I am motivated by, and whether I love running enough to make it a life-long habit.
I would love to hear your thoughts. What do you do to make running a sustainable habit? Do you push yourself to run, or do you just run when you want to?
I would say probably 90% of the time, I don't even think about whether I "feel like" running - I just do it because it's what I do. Occasionally I'm super motivated because it's a beautiful day, or I have an exciting trail run lined up or something like that.
Maybe 5% of the time I'm feeling bored and jaded and do have to kick my own butt a little to get out the door, motivated by the thought of how much better I'll feel when it's done. If it's a really bad day I may also have to bargain with myself: "ok, you just have to run for ten minutes and then you can stop", but I never do, I always keep going and never regret it afterwards.
And then the remaining 5% of the time there is a valid reason for not really feeling like running: no sleep, or coming down with something, or I just did a hard workout or a high-mileage week and am feeling the need for recovery. When that happens, I may take the day off.
I think in order to make it a sustainable habit, you have to push yourself to get out the door at first because you'll be too conscious of whether you "feel like" running. E.g. you get home from work after a long day and all you want to do is sit on the couch, or you wake up super-early to get a run in and just have 0 desire to get out of bed. After a while, though, you'll think about it less and less until it just becomes a part of your day and you can't imagine any other lifestyle.
MTA: Having a goal race - or some sort of goal, even just reaching a certain mileage level - is a good motivator on the days when I just don't feel like it!
What motivates you will change as you become a runner.
When you were a kid you ran for fun, later you run to get in shape and compete, later you run for peace of mind, and finally you become a runner. You run simply because you are a runner. - Scott Jurek
What motivates me is running to the top of every mountain I can see from Jump Off Rock.
Mmmmm...beer
Occasionally I'll have a day where I need to push myself to get out the door, and I'm always glad I did when I get back from my run. Having lost a good amount of weight helps keep my motivated to stay in shape. Racing helps keep me motivated as well, if I ever feel like slacking off, I just remind myself of different goals that I have set for myself at different distances (BQing, etc.) and I know that the only way to get there is through consistent training. It helps that I actually enjoy running.
Having an outstanding trail run like I had yesterday definitely helps too, it's easier to push through the mundane runs in the neighborhood, when I know I have a beautiful trail waiting for me on the weekend.
-Dave
My running blog
Goals | sub-18 5k | sub-3 marathon 2:56:46!!
not bad for mile 25
What are you motivated by? The beauty of your surroundings? The solitude (or companionship) that your run provides? The push from your competition? The internal drive for self-improvement? Fitness?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I like what runharrietrun said: "I just do it because it's what I do." I run every morning, therefore there's no bargaining. I get up, go out the door and run for an hour before I do anything else. It's a lot easier when there's no bargaining involved.
Slower than I look
I would say probably 90% of the time, I don't even think about whether I "feel like" running - I just do it because it's what I do. Occasionally I'm super motivated because it's a beautiful day, or I have an exciting trail run lined up or something like that. Maybe 5% of the time I'm feeling bored and jaded and do have to kick my own butt a little to get out the door, motivated by the thought of how much better I'll feel when it's done. If it's a really bad day I may also have to bargain with myself: "ok, you just have to run for ten minutes and then you can stop", but I never do, I always keep going and never regret it afterwards. And then the remaining 5% of the time there is a valid reason for not really feeling like running: no sleep, or coming down with something, or I just did a hard workout or a high-mileage week and am feeling the need for recovery. When that happens, I may take the day off. I think in order to make it a sustainable habit, you have to push yourself to get out the door at first because you'll be too conscious of whether you "feel like" running. E.g. you get home from work after a long day and all you want to do is sit on the couch, or you wake up super-early to get a run in and just have 0 desire to get out of bed. After a while, though, you'll think about it less and less until it just becomes a part of your day and you can't imagine any other lifestyle. MTA: Having a goal race - or some sort of goal, even just reaching a certain mileage level - is a good motivator on the days when I just don't feel like it!
I couldn't have said it better myself. There is only one other thing to add for myself. There was a period in my life where I allowed myself to become grossly out of shape and overweight. I tried to break my habits 3 times and failed before finally succeeding (at least for the last 3 years - with 1 year of running). So the one underlying theme for me is a simple but resolute statement - I will not fail.
Running Chick
i really just run. i have never thought about being motivated or not - regarding running. it's just something i do (like singing to my children or eating or breathing). but other things in my life DO require motivation (like starting new projects at work or at home) And for those, I use the vision of the end result as my motivation....... a goal. Like a published article or a finished room as my motivation. love.
Half Fanatic 12680
Why I run has been different at different times in my life. I first started running at the same time that I started graduate school. The goal of earning a Ph.D. seemed very daunting and would require a huge investment of effort for many years. I decided to run a marathon almost to see if I was capable of sustained effort over a long period of time with a goal of achieving something big. My success in sticking to a training plan, pushing myself to do more daily and weekly, and finally, to do something that I had never attempted before -- and succeed by finishing the distance -- gave me confidence that I could achieve big things through consistent hard work.
I've since undertaken many more challenges and running means something different to me. For many years, it was an activity that I enjoyed sharing with my DH that got us outside regularly and was good for our health. More recently, I've enjoyed being more competitive and I enjoy selecting goal races, fine-tuning training plans, evaluating my performance, and working towards improvement.
But ultimately, running has become so much of what I do and what I enjoy, that my day does not feel complete if I have not run. I've expanded and also enjoy cycling and swimming, but running still feels like "what I do."
Funky Kicks 2019
My dog motivates me. He needs his run. And I would feel like I were letting him down if I denied him his weekday morning run. Plus I would feel bad about myself if I skipped. Even when I am hurt, I still go out and just walk if I can't run. It is just what I do every morning M-F and there is never the question of "will I or won't I," I just do it no matter what. I don't know how I got to this mindset. I probably am a little obsessive and not in a good way.
Leah, mother of dogs
Latent Runner
I saw another "Motivation" thread a few weeks back, may have been here, may have been elsewhere. Regardless, I responded that I park my car at the local trail-head, and start running; as I turn around I remind myself there are not one but two ice cream parlors within a few hundred yards of where my car is parked. All the motivation I need to make a quick return.
Fat old man PRs:
Ultimately, I run to race. So whether it is easy, tempo, or intervals, I know those runs will put me in position to achieve my race day goals. I thus do them dutifully.