Motivation

[AngieSAustin]

Morning all, so my running mojo has left me and I'm struggling to get back in the game. I have restarted C25K at week 4 as do cardio 3 x a week and have signed up to 2 virtual runs in December.

How do you get motivated to get out?

Angie

[Brandywell]

Hi Angie! We’ve all been where you are now. I know, because I am too! I try to visualise finishing a run. I think about how I feel afterwards and how running in general makes me feel.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Why did you start in the first place?

Have those reasons changed?

If you want to maintain the fitness gained from running, you need to maintain the habit.

Having some targets immediately post graduation is useful to help you formulate what sort of training is appropriate for you, but getting too hung up on performance can be counterproductive. You need to establish running as part of your life, just like cleaning your teeth, so run for fun, run somewhere beautiful and inspiring until the idea of a week passing without you running is unimaginable.

Why you do this....... motivation.........is purely personal, but take it from me, having good basic fitness doesn't just make daily life easier and better but it holds you in good stead should critical illness strike you from the the blue and you will handle any illness more readily if you do not have pre existing conditions associated with inactivity.

[Lizcanrun Graduate]

The worst thing is deciding to do it! I find once I've persuaded myself to change into my running stuff I'm more in the mood to go out. Once you get that first run done, it will be better...

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

It's very personal. What's clear from forums like this is that motivation comes and goes for everyone. What's more important is building the habit of getting out there even when you're not feeling great about it.

If you do other cardio 3x/week, then you're obviously motivated to do *that* ... you're clearly prioritising it over running, which is fine! Ask yourself how important running is to *you* and why you started doing it.

It seems you've written the answer to your own question.

"... and have signed up to 2 virtual runs in December.

How do you get motivated to get out?"

Looks like you have your motivation ...

[nowster Graduate]

Just getting out again that first time is the hardest part. Do that and you'll be back on the horse, figuratively speaking.

[Ian5K Graduate]

I think it’s mostly about getting out the door to begin with; once out, it ain’t too bad. Get yourself a running buddy!

If you can’t do it with a physical presence, there must be virtual buddies about. And we must be in the right place right here for that.

Arrange a time to set out together and don’t let your buddy down.

Just a thought... 🙂