One of the most difficult things about being a runner is staying motivated. Whether it’s waking up long before the sun and the rest of the world. Or putting in the extra hours after work just to get your miles in. While everyone else is comfortable in their beds or in front of their TVs we are out there struggling. Embracing the suck. And working on getting better. But inevitably, there are times, days, weeks, and longer that we don’t feel like putting in the effort. And that’s when we need some help, and why I’ve written the list below. With 4 tips on how to get motivated to run. So let’s get to it, and get you back on the road / trail and running.
How to Get Motivated to Run – Tips That Will Work
Sign Up For a Race
No matter if you’re coming off the couch or a former college athlete. This is one of the most popular and effective methods to get motivated to run. By signing up to a race you are committing to something. And I recommend once you sign up for a race, telling a few people close to you for accountability. There are lots of ways to find a race. Depending on the distance you are looking for, you can just Google your city name and race distance to pull up local events.
Bonus Tip: Pick a destination race. There are races held at some of the most beautiful places on earth. From running through Greece or Disneyland. Having that extra motivation may help you get excited for the race.
Join a Local Running Group
This is one of my favorite tips for getting people out and running. Joining a local running club is a great way to meet new people and to get out for a run. And there is a safer feeling of running in groups while in the city. Typically most local running stores will do a scheduled run once or twice a week. Some breweries offer running groups. And there are a ton of local running groups on Facebook groups. I know in my area there are a few that are very active.
Embrace the “I’m Different” Mindset
This will be the most difficult tip on the list. But once you get this one down, you’ll always have a bit of a burning fire lit inside. Wheat embracing the “I’m different” mindset means that you understand that you are built differently mentally than other people. That you embrace the silence, the ability to go further, and find comfort in the suffering. You’re not normal. And that’s the greatest thing ever. Use this to push yourself. Be different. BE the one that people talk about. Let everyone you’re different through your hard work. And get out there and show them with some miles.
Sign Up For a Running Challenge
If you’re not ready to sign up for a race or just want something that you can start right now. Then doing a running challenge is a great idea. There are a lot of ways to do a running challenge. It can be a certain amount of miles per week, months, or any time period. Or can just be completing a certain distance. One of the best places to find a running challenge is through your run tracking app. I use Strava for example. And they have a way to search for challenges. I know the other big apps have these too. So you can sign up for the challenge and have the app track your progress, for free. With virtual running challenges in these apps there is no excuse to get started.