Staying motivated
Tips for staying motivated throughout the year!
When you are are starting out on your running journey or whether you have run for many years or you are competing for a race and finding the schedule challenging there are many ways to keep you on track.
Focus on enjoyment! Enjoyment is the key to many things in life and I am lucky that I have run for years and still enjoy it. Find your motivation, it might be being as fit as you can be, or to lose weight or to train for a race. If enjoyment is your goal make sure you take in your surroundings, find somewhere interesting to run which may mean jumping in the car or taking a bus and running home.
Hit the trails Run somehwere beautiful. For me this goes hand in hand with enjoyment. It is my top tip for running enjoyment. Get outside, find somewhere beautiful and go running. If you take in your surroundings the miles will pass quickly and your will experience the changing of the season, trees, plants and wildlife that you may not have noticed before. The benefits of running on trails will be witnessed over time in your fitness and body and the inclines and undulating ground will build up muscle groups and make you fitter and more resililant.
Don’t become a slave to running apps Running apps are great for tracking your progress, finding new routes and enjoying a social network but just worry about yourself. If you become obsessive about your times or keeping up with your mates enjoyment of running can disappear, you can risk injury by running too fast. Focus on your personal enjoyment!
Take your time I will run at a speed where I can hold a conversation, often known as ‘Zone 2’ running. The heart beat is low and this is a terrific way for building core stamina. I will run a 10km at the same speed as a 20km. Speed work is an important part of training but by taking your time running can become less of a slog.
Get up early I am definitely a lark so being up early and on the trails is a privilege and with few people around and the sound of the birds waking up it is a pleasure. If you factor in a run while most people are sleeping your run will not impact on your day or get in the way of family life
Reward yourself Buy some new kit which will make you excited to go and try out or perhaps factor in a cafe at the end of a route to treat yourself to a relaxing coffee.
Run with friends or join a running group Having been a solitary runner for most of my life I was surprised by how much running with others has helped me. I had a feeling that I just wanted to go at my own pace. There are plenty of running groups or Clubs at the tap of a search engine. I have made some amazing friends through running groups, you will be surprised how quickly the run will go when you are chatting. You will pick up tips to help your journey, you will be offered opportunities and invitations and often become part of a special community.
Avoid injury Easier said than done. ‘Run slow & strong’. Take your time, listen to your body. Strengthen your glute muscles, they are the key to keeping you away from injury especially as you get older.
Vary your routes Mix things up to keep you interested and maybe have a special go to shorter route you will do if you are low on motivation.
Run commute A great way to factor running into your day. If you have a shower at work you can organise yourself to run from home or travel to a convenient place to then run the final part of your journey or vice versa on the way home.
Take some time off! Rest is important so have a goal of a few days off to give your body a rest.
