I couldn’t have said the above quote better myself… Of course I couldn’t have; Mr. Burfoot is a running legend, the winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon, and is an editor-at-large at Runner’s World.
There are many reasons my clients hire me to help them get fit and learn how to live a healthier lifestyle. Two of the biggest reasons I hear are that they need to be held accountable and they need to be motivated to workout. Today we’ll talk about the motivational side of things and I’ll reference everything to running. Of course these tips apply to any type of exercise.
One of the first things I tell my clients is to find a training partner. If running the first thing in the morning is the plan, you may find that it’s just too easy to stay in bed. Knowing that someone else is counting on you to meet them for a run on a cold winter morning at 6 AM will help you get up and get outside!
Next I tell my clients to put their run on their calendar just like all of their other appointments. Obviously they put our appointment time on there so that they don’t schedule something else during that hour, so why not schedule their run so that it doesn’t get ignored or forgotten.
When my clients start training with me we set goals. Goals for my clients range from losing weight and inches to eating healthy to working out five days a week. For a runner it might include signing up for an upcoming race to have something specific to train for.
I don’t listen to music when I run outside, because I prefer to listen to the birds and for bikers calling out that they are passing me. For some runners, listening to music is a great way to stay motivated during a run. When I had to do many of my long runs on a treadmill during 2010’s snowy winter, I couldn’t have done it without my iPod Shuffle.
Of course I would rather have listened to Mr. Bluebird! Sorry, I’m shamelessly using this as an excuse to post a picture Bill took yesterday!
- Questions:
- How do you stay motivated?
- Do you schedule your workouts on your calendar?
- Are you a list maker?
Unfortunately (perhaps fortunately?) I do not need motivation to run. I do, however, need motivation for most other things in my life (ha!) and lists help me tremendously do that. Running is my reward after I do all the stuff I do not like doing.
I love that you say, “Running is my reward.” 🙂
On Sundays for my long run I run with 2 other ladies and we car pool together, so I know I have to get up when my alarm goes off because they will be at my house to pick me up or I have to be at their houses to pick them up. It really helps me on my long runs that I run with my running buddies even though we don’t have the same paces, but we do start off together and we motivate each other. I don’t schedule my runs on my phone, but that is actually a good idea! I am a total list maker, even when I was little I would make lists. Right now on my dining table I have 3 different notepads going. It drives my hubby crazy.
This is so true…
I remember that last year, as the school year was getting underway, I had a weekly schedule printed with my classes, meetings, GOTR practices and my running plans on it. When I went to meetings with groups that I knew would be wanting to schedule regular meeting times, it was nice to have a reminder that I had more just work to “fit into” my schedule. Sure, there were times that I had to change the workout time, but if I hadn’t brought the calendar it wouldn’t have been scheduled or rescheduled!! I would have let it go!
My post is all about that first quote today! I love the idea of scheduling runs… too many people say they don’t have enough time… well MAKE TIME!
We find time to do what is important to us!
I love a good list 🙂 I can’t operate without them!
My motivation to run/ workout is knowing how good I will feel when I’m done and actually seeing results- getting faster/ stronger!
Great list and I love that quote! Honestly, the best way I stay motivated is to have a race on the calendar. I have a running buddy that I meet up with on most weekends for long runs, so that helps me get my bum out of bed earlier than I do during the week for work 🙂 Making long term and short term goals is also a must. Your need a purpose that drives you, or it’ll be too easy to quit your exercise routine.
[…] my client left, I ran with my BRF before my next client got to my house. And yes, in case you saw Monday’s post, I had it on my calendar! Susan was doing hill repeats while she waited for me to meet […]