As a runner myself, it may seem like a different story. But I’m here to tell you it’s not. It is incredibly easy for me to stay motivated and keep my eye on the prize. Why? Because that’s my personality. I’m a very driven, focused, goal-oriented person. But again, there needs to be an end-goal. Of course there are some days that I’m just flat out exhausted and have no interest in running or putting in a solid workout. But I know if I don’t roll out of bed or if I don’t put in the time and effort, I’m not hurting anyone but myself.
What are my current fitness and healthy living goals? Well number one, I’m in training for two fall half marathons. In order to achieve my half marathon goals, I need to be in tip-top shape or my performance will suffer. As such, that means eating a well-balanced diet (I try to to eat across the rainbow as much as possible), getting ample sleep (which, let’s face it, is not happening during this move), managing stress (again, totally out the window for the next week), and putting in the miles.
I usually follow a training plan, and this training cycle is no different. This go around I’m using a coach, which has been extremely helpful and beneficial. I can already see improvements without having raced yet. Having a training plan is one of the key components to staying on target.
So the real question is how do I keep up my motivation? Well it all started after the birth of my son… I was overweight and unhappy. I turned to running and healthy eating — and voila! — turned my life around. I feel better than ever, and to be perfectly honest, I never want to feel like that again. So that in and of itself is my motivation to stay healthy and fit. I’ve never hit a mental wall, and I’m grateful for that, but I attribute it to knowing what can will happen once I stop taking care of myself.
When I’m not in training, I tend to keep myself in “training mode” because I know sooner or later I’ll want to train again. It’s easier to stay fit than to start from scratch every time I want to tackle a new distance or activity.
Look, nobody’s perfect. I don’t eat like a saint (hello, ice cream?), and I don’t follow my training regimen to a T. But I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle the best way I know how without limiting myself. So far, so good.
How does this affect you? If you’re struggling with motivation, or achieving a goal, you should reevaluate what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Maybe you signed up for a marathon because your friend did so your heart really isn’t in it. Perhaps you’d like to tackle a triathlon but you’re afraid because you’ve never done it before. It’s okay to switch gears and do what’s right for you. But no matter what, keep your eye on the prize! Better yet, hire a coach and they will provide you with tips and tricks to keep you motivated along the way. 🙂
