What Is The Best Way To Stay Motivated During The Months Of Training?

Staying motivated throughout your training is not always easy and many people training for half or full marathons go through periods of feeling really deflated and unmotivated to keep up the rigours of the weekly training regime.

Once the novelty of undertaking a very specific training regime has worn off, there are going to be times when you wonder what an earth you have undertaken. As the mileage begins to creep up and the weather begins to turn nasty, training can quickly change from being an enjoyable experience to one that you dread.

The highs and lows throughout your training are all part of the “endurance running” experience and it is important to know that at some stage the pressure of training will feel like it’s getting the better of you. All it takes is the alarm clock going off at six am, a grey rainy day, the prospect of a sixteen mile run and a minor niggle in your knee to make you wonder whether you want to continue with your training.

Lulls in motivation are not uncommon but quitting the challenge is always an option you will live to regret. If the demands of training are getting on top of you, try following a few of the following tips to get you back on track.

REMEMBER THE REASON YOU ARE RUNNING

Whether you are running a half or full marathon, the chances are that you will be running for a charity. Spare a thought for the invaluable use the money you raise could help your chosen charity. By dropping out, just because the going gets tough, you will be depriving your charity of much needed funds. Remember that even though the training is tough, at least you have the physical ability to be able to run – many people don’t.

FIND INSPIRATION

We all have an inspirational figure we look up to and not necessarily in the running world. When the going gets tough, look at your inspirational figure or read their book. What would they do in your situation? How would they deal with a lull in motivation?
Whether your inspiration is Lance Armstrong, Margaret Thatcher, Mohammed Ali or Rodger Banister, think about what they would say to you to keep you going. Would they tell you to quit?

SEE WHAT YOU’VE ALREADY ACHIEVED

Dips in motivation tend to arise once the mileage begins to creep up and you can easily begin to feel daunted by the training that faces you and the training that lies ahead. When times get tough, try looking at what you have already achieved and how far you have come since training began. Chances are that you will look back and be pleasantly surprised at what you have already achieved. Think about what a shame it would be to throw it all in weeks before the end.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF QUITTING

It goes without saying that sometimes it may be necessary to pull out of a race through injury but at other times when the going gets tough, the prospect of quitting seems like the most logical idea. However, have you thought about the consequences that quitting will have? You will not only let your charity down but you will have to live with the decision that you had a chance to complete an endurance event but decided to drop out. Lance Armstrong, the legendary American Cyclist has perhaps the best opinion on quitting. He was quoted as saying, “Pain is temporary, quitting is forever.” Think about it on your next long run.

REWARD YOURSELF

We are all just big kids at heart and our desire for treats and rewards is always there in our subconscious, so why deny yourself a treat just because you are an adult? At times of low motivation, book yourself into a health spa, or a weekend away for a month or so in the future. Knowing that you are working towards a treat will help to motivate you to keep going and really feel like you have deserved that indulgence.

ATTEND A RUNNING EVENT

If you are lucky enough to live near an upcoming running event that you have not entered yourself, why not take a trip down to the finishing line and see the faces of elated runners as they cross the line? Well, sometime they are elated.

The picture to your right may not look like they are particularly happy, but the tears were for the sense of accomplishment at finishing an event they never thought possible. Keep in mind that in a few weeks, you will be wearing a big smile or sheding a few tears at the shear sense of achievement of on your face as you cross the finishing line with a huge sense of accomplishment.

RUNNING FORUMS

Joining a running forum on the internet is a great way to share your motivation issues with fellow runners. Some may even be competing in the same event as you and be in exactly the same state of mind. You will find comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone and that many other runners are going through the same experience. By using other runners as a “sounding board” it will help to offload your worries and help you get back your motivation. An example of a runner’s forum can be found at www.runnersworld.co.uk and www.runnersworld.com

VARIETY

Incorporating changes into your weekly schedule can help greatly in helping you out of a motivation lull. Even small changes such as reversing the direction you run your usual route in can help to break up training monotony. Try visiting a friend a few miles away or in a different town and go for a run in their area. This will provide a change of scenery and add variety to your programme, along with the possibility of enjoying a “post run” beer with a friend.

PUT IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE

Although it may not seem like it at times, the weeks you spend training will be over before you know it. In years to come, you will have forgotten about the hours and miles you put into your legs to prepare for the race but the resounding memory of crossing the finishing line will stay with you forever. When you feel overwhelmed by the training demands, remind yourself that in the grand scheme of things a few weeks left of training is nothing compared to the lifetime memories you will have finishing an endurance event.