Tips to stay Motivated

The other day I was reading an interreseting article on how to stay motivated while running and found the following quote from Fred Lebrow, co-founder of marathon in New York "In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, ‘I have finished.’ There is a lot of satisfaction in that.”

This is so true. When I ran a marathon my satisfaction comes from crossing that finish line which is always my main goal.

The article talks about how to stay motivated and something that is a key facotr in running speciallly for me when training during the winter. I am listing here a few tips from the article:,

Maintain a training schedule and monitor progress:

Having a weekly schedule allows you to closely monitor your running and provides great insight into your overall progress. The best method is to set specific, yet reachable, goals that will keep you focused. After each run, update the schedule and log your total miles and time. With each passing day, you will have the chance to see ongoing progress. .

Run with a group or a friend

The social feature of running is a key reason people begin and keep running. Having a group of people to meet up with each day (knowing that each individual will be doing a similar run) provides encouragement. When you run with a group or a friend, there is a level of commitment and accountability that goes with running. It allows you to a set meeting time and place while ensuring you will not be alone for a run. In addition, running with others allows you to remain relaxed and to enjoy the run.

Set goals and target specific races

Target a few races throughout the year as your ‘it’ races. Whether it’s a 10k or a marathon, make sure to space them out in order to have plenty of time to train properly and to ensure you don’t burnout. It is also helpful to talk about your target races with friends and training partners so you are constantly reminded about your running goals.

Set your own running tradition and remain creative

Training can often get redundant, so it is important to venture out of your comfort zone. While training, pick different routes or areas that are unfamiliar to you.

Have fun and enjoy the run

When all is said and done, running is supposed to be enjoyable. Do not make running stressful or a daily chore. It is important that you remain positive and use running as a catalyst for a healthier lifestyle. If you happen to miss a day of running or have to shorten your workout due to a time restraint, do not beat yourself up. It is okay to take a day off; you will not lose your fitness. Taking a day off will allow your body to heal itself, and it will mentally allow you keep that internal drive going.

My favorit motivation is run with a partner. I have being doing that for the past 2 years. My running partner Marc is my source of strenght, motivation and companionship.