Running Motivation

[aw1912]

Hiya, does anyone have any advice to keep running? Whenever I’m out I always stop or do a short route instead of challenging myself. Thank you

[ju-ju- Graduate]

What do you want to achieve from your running?

[aw1912 in reply to ju-ju-]

I want to get fitter as I’m really unfit, I’ve got a goal of a 10k next May so I’m hoping I can do it

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to aw1912]

Perhaps start a 10k training plan? I’m doing a 6 week plan starting on the 1st December over on bridge to 10k that you can sign up for? It’s on the pinned posts.

[aw1912 in reply to ju-ju-]

Thank you, I will have a look now

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

There needs to be some internal motivation to push through but some tricks/tips to help include:

* slowing down instead of stopping to "see" if you can actually continue a little further - it may feel like you're barely moving, but you are and you're still running, even if it is only a shuffle 😉

* using landmarks to push yourself (ie, I'll run to the next lamp post, and see how I feel, then try the next lamp post, etc)

* make a playlist full of favourite songs to help distract you from your breathing, tiredness, heavy legs or whatever is stopping you. Just be careful to not let the beat of the music have you run too fast

* sing out loud while running, enjoy the run for what it is. I do this often and I find by singing while I run, it forces me to stay at a comfortable or conversational pace which will allow you to run further or longer. Don't worry about your neighbours or pedestrians judging your singing, because you're a beast - singing and running whoop whoop 😁

* get lost in your thoughts. Often if I have a lot on my mind and try to solve my woes, time can fly by and I don't often notice what my legs feel like. I've missed a few turns on these types of runs though and have had to amend my route on the fly. Fortunately I run in my neighbourhood that I know very well so I don't get lost, but can get further distracted trying to determine where best to go to end in the right spot for a good cool down

* create a mantra - something you say to yourself when the going gets tough to spur you to keep going. For myself, I tell myself, out loud, "Come on Allie, You've got this, you can do it, keep going". Sometimes there's a few more expletives in there if I'm having an especially tough time of it. When I do finish the run, I'm like Rocky at the top of the stairs with my arms up in the air hopping around, over the moon or will let out a loud Ya! With a fist pump! I'm an expressive runner, but it makes it more fun and empowering!

Just some ideas. I hope they help. In the end, it comes back to you wanting to push yourself and not giving up.

[Gaspode1 Graduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Great advice - it’s given me some ideas and I didn’t think I needed any lol.

I must admit I do keep telling myself out loud “you’ve got this, keep going”. I’m glad I’m not alone in that 😉

[aw1912 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you! That is a great help, I’ve never thought of some of those so they’ll be a great help!

I’ve got a playlist ready to go, I always sing or hum them. Sometimes I have a new route so I can look at something different, my neighbourhood gets boring as I’ve run it so much!

[Whatsapp Graduate]

Get yourself a goal to work towards. Then your running will have more focus. For instance, I am training for a HM nect March. So I have between now and then to increase my distance and bank as many miles as possible so I can acheive my goal.

[aw1912 in reply to Whatsapp]

I’ve got goal of 10k for next May and 5k for January, I can’t seem to focus on it though!

[Midriff_Crisis Graduate]

Have a word with yourself.

If what is stopping you isn't pain or (at the very least) major discomfort, you probably just need to get yourself mentally prepared for that tendency to want to stop and make a decision that you won't do it. Not everything can be conquered with a positive attitude, but it makes life alot easier.

One of the motivating factors for me was wanting to get better at running and the feeling that seasoned runners seem to have found some sort of happy nirvana on the other side of the uncomfortable, difficult to run, hill that us new runners find ourselves the wrong side of ... I wanted to get to that place and I do feel that I've made alot of progress in achieving that. It did require quite alot of not stopping, to the extent now that I do find it hard to stop at all ...

[aw1912 in reply to Midriff_Crisis]

I’ve got a back problem so I’m worried if I push myself then I’ll make it worse

[Hidden]

Use a programme like C25K

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I think he already has started?

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Ah I think you are right, in that case; stick to a programme like C25K...Don't ask yourself whether you 'feel' like going for the run- don't give yourself a choice. I would almost always choose not to go out. I just tell myself I have to and I had to follow the programme, no option. Once you start running regularly and experiencing the buzz that comes with small successes, the running will become reinforcing in itself. You will begin to know that you are unlikely to ever regret a run, but you will probably regret not running.

[aw1912 in reply to Hidden]

I’ve just finished week 2 of C25K but when I’m out I want to stop. I’m awful for that, I give up too easily! I forced myself to go out last week, I didn’t regret it but it was hard to force myself to go

[Hidden in reply to aw1912]

Just no choice! Go Go Go

I can talk myself out of it any time, so now I don't get into the debate. It goes like this in my head:

"I don't want to run today"

"who said there was a choice"

"oh yeah, I'll be off then"

[DawnRun]

Yes, come on here and post every run you do, sounds flippant but it works. Other than that you can set proper targets of what you want to achieve and you can note times in excel or on paper or an app or whatever. Registering for park run/fun run is another one , you don't have to commit yourself to a date.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Set some short, mid and long term targets for your running, then you can keep the buzz of C25k going by constantly achieving new feats, whether they are performance, pace, distance or venue based.

This can help motivation, but you have to want to become a more accomplished runner and accept that it doesn't just happen without the hard work being put in. My favourite part of running is doing longer runs, 10 miles or more in beautiful surroundings, and to enable those runs my usual routine, when fit, is 2 x 5k runs per week, which I consider to be maintenance runs and a longer 10-16k run which is my weekly highlight. I can't have one without the other.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Which week are you on ?

Weren't you on Week 2 a few weeks back and struggling with motivation... ?

If you want to do this.. do you ? Then ,maybe persevere ..and as the runs get longer you may find more to interest you ?

If the health benefits are not enough to motivate you.. and they really are benefits that are both mental and physical..then try strategies...make a plan to go alongside the programme..

Lay your stuff out the night before

Run early

Plan three different routes

Keep a log of your runs

Take a bus and get off how ever far from home you need to be for the week's run and then run home ( do not take cash for the return trip by bus ) !

Pretend we are all there with you, at the side of you...telling you to get on with it

Post every single run on here.

[aw1912 in reply to Oldfloss]

I’m just onto week 3, but my last run was last week. Whenever I can’t go, I want to go and when I can go I don’t really want to.

My goal is to do a 10k in May next year under the hour so I’ve got a goal set.

I’m awful for planning routes, I never know which way to go and I change my mind when I go

I’ve got a log of my runs, it’s all logged on Strava. I feel like I’m bombarding people if I keep posting on here though.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to aw1912]

Right.. well loads of us are on Strava.. we encourage and support each other... and if you post here..it helps.. we can shove you along ( okay that would be me)!

You are awful at planning routes... but just do it!!! Choose different ones and stick to them...

Say on here, which day you are going to run and then do it and post.. someone will run with you

The forum is here to support... so if you want to run,, then run!

[aw1912 in reply to Oldfloss]

I plan to go tomorrow and Sunday so let’s hope I stick to it!

There are loads of routes that I could run so I have loads of options, I go where the wind takes me.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to aw1912]

Me too.. so! I will be out there, and you had better be!!!

Choose a route.. and stick to it... ! The wind is a tricky devil..so far, it has taken you on short routes or made you stop!

" Kites rise highest against the wind... not with it " !

[aw1912 in reply to Oldfloss]

I plan to be, I’ve got uni tomorrow so I plan to do it on my break!

I’ve got a route in mind but I’m worried I won’t be able to do the distance

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to aw1912]

Distance does not come into it... just run for the time needed by the run

[Hidden in reply to aw1912]

Listen Adam, we don't mind being bombarded if you have some success- and you can you know... Keep posting and we can encourage you (and give you the occasional hard word!)

[Hidden in reply to aw1912]

We are a running forum here to encourage and help if we can, so don’t worry about bombarding us with posts. We love seeing how folk progress and for lots of us, knowing there’s about 30000 folk potentially checking up on our progress is a big spur to run. I like many others posted each and every run (oh and one random ones also...)

To add to Oldfloss suggestions, why not ask a fellow W3er to buddy up with you, so you motivate each other? I did that and it worked for me, I wanted to continue because I wanted to keep my commitment to my virtual run buddy.

There are loads of hints and tips, save £1 for every km you run and either donate the Run kitty to charity or buy new running kit, buy a music download for every run you do etc., etc., etc.,

Make running something you commit to like brushing your teeth, so you always run on a Monday for example, I found by scheduling it in my diary and getting a diary reminder every run day, I never questioned whether I should run, I just did because my diary told me I had to!

[aw1912 in reply to Hidden]

I’ve never thought on it like that, 30,000 is a lot of encouragement!

That’s a great idea, it’d be good to have someone I can share a journey with. My friends are much better runners than me so it a bit pointless doing it with them

I love that idea! It’s definitely something I’ll plan to do.

I always said I’d run Monday, Thursday and once at the weekend but it never really happens, I sent to be rubbish at sticking to things!