When it comes to running, inspiration is what gets you started but discipline and continuous motivation is what keeps you going. Today I am going to share tips on how to stay motivated with your running – mainly because discipline is such a boring word. These tips will help you whether you run by yourself or with a running partner. Here are tips on how to stay motivated once you start running…
Mindset Change. Change the way you think about running. Stop thinking of it as something you have to do but as something you get to do.
Have fun. There is no point in doing something you don’t enjoy. Get your favourite music, enjoy the air and your surroundings, change your route regularly etc
Do things that will make your run enjoyable. I sometimes do what I call a run-dance when I am on the road and I also smile and wave at other runners.
Avoid aimless running. Set goals. If you are working towards something e.g training for a race or running a certain number of kilometres per month etc. Setting goals will keep you focused and will get you out of the house during those days when you don’t feel like it. But remember to set realistic goals please! Setting a goal to run 500km per month when you are a beginner is a little absurd.
No slacking! Have a set time to run – and stick to it. Mornings are usually the best time to schedule runs because life, with all its un-predictableness, would not yet have begun.
You should be patient. Most people get demotivated if they are unable to reach a PR of 4mins/KM after their first week! It takes months and sometimes years to build up speed so be patient with yourself.
Always smile and wave at other runners! That is the Golden Rule of Mhanya Dot Com – Smile and Wave….