Without question it is difficult to stay motivated training for a race. The momentum and excitement of starting a training plan can quickly fade as the weeks start to add up. We’ll cover a few creative ideas to keep that motivation.
Motivated Training
Let’s be real. The best part of training is usually the first few minutes after you are done. Or maybe the rest of the day after you’re done. The miles could start to add up and you need some motivation to hit the goal. Getting up early when the weather may not be great or trying to get a run in before work can be challenging.
Here are some ideas to stay motivated throughout your training plan:
- Find a bigger “why”: This was a big one for me, but your reasons will vary. It’s also the same reason to stay motivated to reach a goal. A bigger why can be really powerful. Signing up to race for charity, cause, or a cure can go a long way to help you remember why you got up so early.
- Join a running group: Accountability is the best medicine for getting out of bed when you don’t want to. Join a running group or find a training program with a set schedule that will prevent you from missing it.
- Buy gear for hitting goals: Hit a goal, buy a new running shirt, shorts, or even socks. It’s simple and an easy type of motivation. It doesn’t have to be expensive either (unless you really need the motivation).
- Build a routine and change it: Set a routine, write out the goals, and cross off the mileage goals when you achieve them. Feel burnt-out? Take a day off, try cross training, or push out a long run to another day. Routines are great, but they can also accelerate burn out.
- Find a buddy: Race with a friend, train with a friend, find a friend to track your progress, or do all three. Knowing someone else may be asking you if you ran or will get you out of bed in the morning can be motivating. If your friend is far away and unable to race with you, you can keep your training schedule in a shared calendar to keep dibs on each other.
- Buy gear at the start of training: If you know you are training for any race, get a brand new pair of shoes. You want to feel confident when training. A new pair of shoes may not keep you motivated for the entirety of training, but it can sure get things off on the right foot.
Staying Motivated will Strengthen your Mind
Whether you’re running a 5K, half marathon, or full marathon, it can get fairly intense. These ideas are really a way to trick your mind to get through a program. It’s the same game you will need to play while you are running your race.
When racing, the mind can start to play tricks on you. You can feel great one mile and all of a sudden feel like your legs cannot go any further. Being mentally strong can get you through the race. Get your miles in, lift weights, and have a strong mind to ensure you are motivated training for a race. It will not only keep you going during those early mornings, but it will help you on race day when you don’t think you can go any further. Good luck in your next race!