Top 21 Tips For Running Motivation (Make The Time To Run)
Get inspired by taking time to run
make a plan
Start your week with a plan. On Sunday night, take out your diary and check your running schedule. Work out how you can fit in to run around your daily activities.
Prioritize your running
Your running is important. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that when something else comes up, you can rinse the session. stand firm. Emergencies aside, run your race first.
Run Early
If your family or job is in demand, running early in the day can bring a big change. Children and work can derail even the most committed runner.
Getting fit in your run while everyone else is still in bed can be a good solution.
Look for opportunities
Taking your children to the park? Instead of sitting on a bench while playing, run a loop around the playground.
Ongoing work around the city? Instead of taking the car, go on foot. Adopting an inventive approach to fit your running can make all the difference.
Get a dog
When you are tired, come home late from work, distracted by other events, the dog still needs exercise. That insistent form is telling you that now is the time to go out, it is impossible to ignore.
Go for quality
If your timing is poor, a quality run is often better than a long run at a slower pace. Most people can fit in a 20-minute run.
Warm-up for the first 5 minutes, increase the speed for 10 minutes, then cool down for 5 minutes. More experienced runners may be aiming for increased speed, but as a beginner try to run a little faster than normal.
Another option is to try Fartlek. Warm-up, then alternate short bursts of fast running with a slow recovery section.
Set short term goals
Many new runners start with some big goals. Planning a year to run a marathon is quite difficult.
After a tough race, it is easy to think that your goal is so hard and difficult that you are wasting your time.
Instead, break your plans into 3-week short goals. Initially, it can run 3 times a week for 3 weeks. When you have achieved this goal, make another goal. Your series of small goals will make a larger goal more realistic.
Just show and run
For absolute beginners, just moving on is enough. Speed sessions or long runs are for later when you have built some leg strength.
Run with a friend
If you have someone to run, then it is very easy to get inspiration to run. It is difficult to make excuses when someone is standing at your door waiting to run with you.
Find a partner with a similar fitness level and ongoing goals. You can encourage each other to keep your ongoing plans on track.
Running Motivation Tips to help you get it out the door
Put out your kit
It is very easy to get up and running if you layout your kit the night before. If your kit is ready and waiting, there is no need to make excuses. Going out for a run becomes automatic.
Create a routine
Some people can run empty early in the morning. I would like a cup of tea and some crackers before the short run in the morning.
If it’s a long run, I get up to eat some oatmeal an hour before my run.
Research and find best routine that works best for you. Some people may run empty and burn their way around a race. I think I need to eat some carbs to make sure I don’t run out of puffs halfway.
Dress in your running kit
Of course, it depends on your lifestyle, but if you are working from home and plan to run later, wearing your running kit around the house helps!
If you put on your running kit when you wake up in the morning, you will feel very bad if you change it later without actually running. This is a good reminder to fit your race into your day.
Visualize your run
Remember the last race you ran and imagine how good you felt running. Satisfaction of getting out and exercising. How did it make you feel better for the rest of the days?
Run somewhere inspiring
Find a walking route you are really looking forward to. You want to go somewhere even when you are feeling tired or not in the mood to run.
Tell yourself that you will leave for your run and see how it goes. The path to your favorite wood or canal will inspire you to keep running.
Race day running motivation
Enter the race
If you are aiming for a big race like a marathon, then use the short run to continue your motivation. Race once a month gives you short-term running targets.
It also helps improve your running. Compete against other runners makes you stronger and faster day-by-day. For beginners, look for local fun runs to participate with other novice runners.
Get a fan club
Take your family with you to see. Some sociable faces can make you happy, it can make a lot of difference.
Go with some friends
Races are more fun with a group of running buddies. Joining a running club is the best way to find other people for the race.
Maintaining your running motivation
Be a little selfish
Your running is important to you so make it a priority. Sometimes it can seem a bit selfish.
Just remember, if you are not walking then your physical and emotional health will suffer. Getting fit in runs may seem selfish, but it is your path to achieving your goals and staying healthy.
It helps to be realistic
It is okay to dream big, but make sure that there are some real small steps to get you from the place you want to be as a person.
Realism also applies when life takes over. Sickness, injury, busy work hours, or family drama does not mean that you should quit running. Just do what you can do, modify your schedule, and go through tough times at low mileage.
Flexibility helps
Always try to rework your schedule if something comes up. It is better to delay it than to miss your run completely.
Ron Hill, the great runner, won the race 52 years, breaking it at only 78 years old. He always found a way to run — although some of his ideas, such as running a mile when injured, are not such a good idea.
Remember to have fun
Running has many benefits, from improving your health to improving your mood and adding adventure to your life.
Make sure you enjoy your run by adding to the diversity and running in nature. To quote Dr. Seuss:
You have left for great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So … go on your way!
(Oh, the places you will go!)
