Staying motivated

IrishKnight

I've tried in the past some programs, like the couch to 5k, but after about the first week or two, I just lose motivation. Yesterday I started a 16 week program to get fit over the summer and I really want to see it out to the end. So my question, how do ye keep yourselves motivated when training?

floggg

IrishKnight wrote: »

I've tried in the past some programs, like the couch to 5k, but after about the first week or two, I just lose motivation. Yesterday I started a 16 week program to get fit over the summer and I really want to see it out to the end. So my question, how do ye keep yourselves motivated when training?

I just enjoy it to be honest. its the only way you will stick withi it, unless you are very disciplined. the thing is, there is so many ways of keeping fit, that you don't necessarily need to force yourself to stick with something you don't enjoy - try something different that you might enjoy.

i think taking up a sport is a great way of going about it myself, even if its just 5 a side or something. it will help you train if you have something to work towards.

Also, set goals for yourself to achieve. like saying i want to do a 10k race by Sept (just to finish), and then a sub 50 min 10k race by Deceember etc.

But just doing it for the sake of doing it will drive you demented!

--amadeus--

Excellent advice from Flogg.

We are all motivated by different things. Personally I'm target and goal motivated so I set myself a training program that builds to a given challenge (something hard but achievable, in my own case its running a race under a certain time). Knowing that I have teh race booked and paid for and that I'll feel like a muppet if I flop gets me out the door to do the work.

Other people enjoy company so clubs work for them. Others just find an activity that they like (kyaking, surfing, mountain biking) so it's less like work. Others keep training logs on here so that people can join in and comment.

At the end of the day though what works for me might not work for you - work out *why* you stopped last time and what you can do differently this time and you're half way there.

Roper

You should consider joining a running club if that's your goal. The company of others is great for training and motivation. You'll get real face to face tips and hints from fellow runners. If running isn't really what you want to do then join a football team, a rowing club, anything that gives you structure and goals.

liamo

Great advice in the previous posts.

I've been in the same place as you and found it very difficult to stay motivated without objectives. I kept starting and stopping and getting annoyed with myself for not sticking at it.

I don't think there's any point in doing a couch-to-5k programme simply for its own sake. And "to get fit" isn't really an objective - it's too abstract and fuzzy. Set yourself a target such as a 5k race and do the couch-to-5k programme with the objective of completing that 5k race. After that you may very well want to improve your time or enter a longer distance race. Then you can adjust/tweak your training to take in these new objectives.

Here's how I keep myself motivated : I have a primary race for the year (in August) which I am training towards. I don't stand a chance of finishing anywhere near the leaders but I intend to finish and I've set myself a challenging but achievable finish time (it's important that your objectives are actually achieveable). And then there are a few intermediate races which provide additional incentive between now and my main race.

Keep a training diary. You can look back on your week's training and give yourself a pat on the back. After a number of weeks you can see how you are progressing which is really encouraging.

If you can, find a training partner at a similar level of fitness with similar initial objectives. It's easier to stay on the couch when you haven't made arrangements to meet up with a mate for a training session.

Best of luck with it.

IrishKnight

Hey, thanks for all that guys. I do have a goal in sight, passing the army fitness tests, so it just isn't a case of getting fit for the the sake of getting fit. I think I might get into it more after a week or so, I do get an odd pleasure the day after when I can "feel" the work out.

Re goals, I would like to do some race/marathon, any recommendation for one for a complete novice?

Thanks again, must say this is a great part of boards.