Top 10 Running Motivators

Where do you get your running Mojo?

I had a great time speaking to the Running Room Marathon Clinic last week about Motivation. Do we look motivated or what?! We had a great chat and lots of fun and in this post I’m going to share what we talked about.

 

There’s motivation to get you up off your butt and out the door to train. There’s motivation during your race when you’re going to need to pull from within yourself in order to push yourself through it. And then there’s after your race, when life gets back to normal and you find yourself feeling down, and like you’re floating around with no direction. Eventually running becomes so much a part of you it’s like brushing your teeth, you just do it without even thinking about it. But we all need motivation at times. Here are my favourite running Mojovation boosters.

Top 10 Running Motivators:

10. Resources

Music, mantras, running groups, social media groups like I <3 to Run, John Stanton Facebook and Twitter for daily inspiration, Nike+, Garmin, Strava, etc. All these things and more work so well to get you going!

9. Me Time

It’s okay to put yourself first sometimes. Life is busy and filled with responsibilities, but you matter too. So take some time for yourself. Enjoy some solitude. You will be a better you because of it, and you deserve it!

8. Talk to Other Runners

Ask questions. You are not alone in feeling unmotivated from time to time. Talking to other runners is always a boost.

7. Set New Goals

Keep your training fresh by setting new goals and working towards them.

6. Try New Things

Try new things, like trail races, duathlons, triathlons, cycling, cross-training, join a running group like the Running Room and the PEI Road Runners, etc.

5. Always Remember that Running is a Gift

Don’t keep wishing your run away. Enjoy every step. Concentrate on every breath. Get in the zone. Think of all the people who can’t do what you’re doing and run with gratitude.

4. Shared Human Experience

Runners champion one another. Don’t you love that? Runners shout out encouragement as they run by one another. It’s very motivating and connects us.

3. Friendship

Friendship and a sense of belonging are the most effective catalysts for happiness. I love my running buddies. Running buddies go beyond friendship, it’s fellowship. A running buddy keeps you accountable, keeps it fun, and keeps you moving forward. A running buddy is a great way to stay motivated before, during, and after race day.

2. Mental Strength

Running makes you feel like you can handle anything. Running will make you so mentally strong. You are so much stronger than you think you are.

1. Pure Joy

Running fills me with joy. I run for the joy running gives me.

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I asked the question ‘What is your ultimate running motivation?’ and here’s what you said:

“I run for the peace it gives me both during and after my run. I love the social aspect of running too. When I was injured last year I really missed running with other runners.”
~ Jenn Nicholson

“My running motivation is the sense of freedom and empowerment I feel when I put my headphones in and sneakers on and just run!! I haven’t really found anything else that gives me that awesome feeling.”
~ Kelly Gail MacWilliams

“Keeping my blood pressure in check has always been the reason I run and the healthy lifestyle is an added bonus!”
~ Dave Gaudet

“My motivation is having a great group of people to run with knowing that I will accomplish what I want with the support and have an awesome time doing it at the same time.”
~ Vanessa Foster

“Dedicate to those who, for what ever reason, cannot run and would change places with me for just one run.”
~ Michael Gaudet

“My motivation is the reward of knowing how great I will feel about myself and life in general, when I’ve completed my run. It doesn’t matter how far or how fast my run was. For me it can’t get any better than that!”
~ Christine Martins

“Being chased by an ax wielding maniac.”
~ Barry Greenberg (Non-runner)

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Volunteering can be a great motivator

Volunteered with Jenn Nicholson, Mike Murrins, and Mitchell Chaisson at the 30th Annual ADL Golden Mile on Saturday organized by Ewan Stewart and Stan Chaisson. The run goes up North River Road to Queen Charlotte School. It was the biggest turn out ever. I loved the families running with little children. There were really little children running the whole mile! And it was incredible to see so many young people running. PEI has a very strong group of up-and-coming young runners! Wow. Volunteering can be a great motivator. It’s a great way to champion fellow runners, keep it fresh, try new things, socialize and make new friends. And nothing will make you want to run more, then standing there watching other people run!

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Training Update: Only five weeks to go to the PEI Marathon!

How’s it going? Are you still motivated? You should be because you are going to LOVE the PEI Marathon! I hope you haven’t let the rain stop your training. Keep getting out there. Running in the rain can be some crazy fun. I was drenched a few times this week but I didn’t let that stop me and nor should you. Love every step!

This week I passed the 3,000 km milestone since joining the Running Room 19 months ago. Watching the mileage build is very motivating and will give you a fun sense of accomplishment. Give yourself a Woot! for all the distance you have run so far in your training and before. It’s awesome and you should be really proud of yourselves. Keep going!

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You don’t run for the running, you run because the running gives you something. Find out what that thing is. That’s your ultimate motivation.

 

 

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Heather Ogg
Photographer, Designer, Social Media Hound, WordPress Lover, Happiness Bully, Creative Junkie, Runner, Hobby Farmer, Blogger. Not necessarily in that order ; )

Live Happy ; )

Originally posted for Maritime Family Magazine and the Prince Edward Island Marathon.