The Motivation Thread?

G-Money

I was thinking perhaps we should start a motivation thread. Something where we can come and post if we're not feeling particularly motivated for some reason. Be it through injury, illness, laziness, apathy, whatever. We could post when we're feeling de-motivated and when we ARE feeling motivated. That way those who are finding it tough can perhaps see something that will help them.

I suppose I thought of this as I'm struggling a bit with motivation and consistency myself at the moment. I still talk myself out of going for a training run far too often. And usually, for no reason either. I just let the negative talk start in my head or I just kind of let it go and then don't bother going out.

For some reason I seem to find it a bit easier to make myself go for a run at weekend mornings. I'm not quite sure why that is. Perhaps it's because I can just get out of bed, sort of sit around and watch TV for an hour until I'm fully awake and been to the little boys room. Then I can head out for a run, no time constraints.

With work, it's more difficult to do that during the week as I normally start work early as I like to finish early.

Anyway, just thought we might want to start a thread where you can post if your motivated or if you are de-motivated and hopefully it will help.

Perhaps the mods might disagree though

RayCun

Plan your runs for the week in advance.

If you're always coming home from work thinking "will I go for a run... I should go for a run... maybe I'll go in half an hour..." you will never get off your arse.

Decide now when you are going to run.
Have your gear ready and waiting.
Don't think about it, do it.

couerdelion

RayCun wrote: »

Plan your runs for the week in advance.

If you're always coming home from work thinking "will I go for a run... I should go for a run... maybe I'll go in half an hour..." you will never get off your arse.

Decide now when you are going to run.
Have your gear ready and waiting.
Don't think about it, do it.

+1

On top of that if you train after work plan your meals in advance and write them down too. If yo uknow what you're eating that evening it makes it all a lot easier rather than getting home and trying to think about those kind of things before you go running.

I guess a lot of it is down to establishing a schedule and sticking with it long enough for it to become a habit.

menoscemo

RayCun wrote: »

Plan your runs for the week in advance.

If you're always coming home from work thinking "will I go for a run... I should go for a run... maybe I'll go in half an hour..." you will never get off your arse.

Decide now when you are going to run.
Have your gear ready and waiting.
Don't think about it, do it.

Even better, bring your gear to work, change into it beore leaving and don't go home till your finished.

groovyg

It’s normal to feel like crap after a long day in work but as soon as you start thinking aaah I think I'll give it a miss and I'll go tmw then go put your gear on and get outside. Realistically if you keep putting it off its never gonna happen. Start off by walking and then run if you are feeling tired or really unmotivated. Or as this poster said

menoscemo wrote: »

Even better, bring your gear to work, change into it beore leaving and don't go home till your finished.

you have no excuses then. Do you do any other sports or team sports that would give you the incentive to get you out in the evening?

G-Money

Good replies so far, although I wasn't aiming this as a thread about myself. I was thinking anyone could post here if they are feeling unmotivated and others could post tips to get out a slump.

RayCun

It applies to anyone finding it hard to get out and run.

If people aren't enjoying their running so much, they could change things around. Get off a training programme, and run easy for a while - or stop the aimless running and work to a clear goal. Go trail running or hill running instead of road running. Stop the marathon training and do speedwork. Join a club and run with other people - or stop running with other people all the time and enjoy some quiet runs.

Oryx

G-money, this is not aimed at you but anyone. I get days when I faff around and put off training, but Ive learned over time what tricks to do to fool your brain into getting on with it.

When youre feeling unmotivated, play fast music that catches your heart. Read someone elses log. Read back on your own log. Remind yourself why you do this.

And then, just start. Whatever youre meant to do, begin. Dont tell yourself it will be 1 mile or 2, or ten. Just get to the end of the road and then keep going. Or if its weights, do the first set. Or do your warm up of whatever. Dont wait till youve had that coffee, or put on washing or scratched your nose. If youve a run or bike planned in the morning, get up, get dressed, get out, before your brain knows what youre up to. Plan ahead, have everything from shorts to food, ready so you cant waste time.

Planning is key, so your prepared in your head for what you want to do.

--amadeus--

STFU and HTFU to paraphrase someone!

You won't get motivation from a thread on a website, you're either motivated to train and hit your goals or you're not. If you are then training is a habit and you do it without external pressure. If you don't have that internal drive then no amount of feel good rocky style motivational quotes or speeches will work.

The only way to stay motivated in the long term is to pick a goal that really ticks your boxes (running a marathon, doing a tri, hitting a given time, doing an adventure race, learning to ski, whatever). Then work out how you will get there. If it's a goal you believe in and an activity you enjoy (or don't dislike!) then motivation takes care of itself.

tunney

--amadeus-- wrote: »

STFU and HTFU to paraphrase someone!

You won't get motivation from a thread on a website, you're either motivated to train and hit your goals or you're not. If you are then training is a habit and you do it without external pressure. If you don't have that internal drive then no amount of feel good rocky style motivational quotes or speeches will work.

The only way to stay motivated in the long term is to pick a goal that really ticks your boxes (running a marathon, doing a tri, hitting a given time, doing an adventure race, learning to ski, whatever). Then work out how you will get there. If it's a goal you believe in and an activity you enjoy (or don't dislike!) then motivation takes care of itself.

I'm not that long gone from here and it makes me said that it took this long from some to break out the *TFUs. My legacy had nearly died. Good job I came on to see what too much inappropriate HTFU, SFTU and SIU can do to someone.

I you don't have the motivation internally then you don't have it and expecting aload of people you don't know to motivate you is pathetic really.

If you are having motivation problems then you need to assess why you don't want to train/race and go from there.

I'm a big fan of the *TFUs but sometimes motivation is just not there for good reason and if that is the case then chillax and accept you are where you are.

But in general, HTFU, STFU, take some SIU pills and wash them down with a glass of hard.

Oryx

Ah, I remember the first time I got told to HTFU. Happy memories

aero2k

tunney wrote: »

I you don't have the motivation internally then you don't have it and expecting aload of people you don't know to motivate you is pathetic really.

I take it you don't find any of Mark Allen's achievements inspiring?:pac:

I've deliberately used the word inspiring rather than motivational. I agree with the concept of motivation for running being internal, at least for those of us who aren't in line for appearance money or course record bonuses. However just because you're not feeling motivated now, doesn't mean you won't feel motivated next week, tomorrow, or even in one hour's time. Personally I find motivation can be retrospective, in that I don't feel like running, go out for a run anyway, enjoy the sun / rain / scenery or whatever, and come back home barely able to wait until tomorrow so I can go out again.

Sometimes a short youtube video, a few pages of Lore of Running, or a browse through the training logs or race reports on here can be just the inspiration to go out for the run that re-kindles the motivation.

Now, that may be pathetic, but it works for me and, I suspect, many others on here.

Slightly off topic but I'm currently reading "Drive" by Daniel Pink (seriously!) all about what motivates people. Mainly focused on the world of work, but worth a look nonetheless.

maria74

aero2k wrote: »

I take it you don't find any of Mark Allen's achievements inspiring?:pac:

I've deliberately used the word inspiring rather than motivational. I agree with the concept of motivation for running being internal, at least for those of us who aren't in line for appearance money or course record bonuses. However just because you're not feeling motivated now, doesn't mean you won't feel motivated next week, tomorrow, or even in one hour's time. Personally I find motivation can be retrospective, in that I don't feel like running, go out for a run anyway, enjoy the sun / rain / scenery or whatever, and come back home barely able to wait until tomorrow so I can go out again.

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+1

We all need a little push now and again
....unless we are perfect???:rolleyes:

tang1

No problem motivation wise, bad dose of shin splints is stopping me running. Was working yesterday evening and looking at all the people running up and down the Clontarf Rd/James Larkin Rd wanting to do the same myself. Hopefully i mite be o.k to give the Kildare 10km a go on Sunday morning, all depends on the shins. Damned things:mad::mad:

BeepBeep67

I'm in menoscemo's camp, I always have a basic set of gear in the car and always bring my gear to work and train primarily on the way home.
I've been known to stop the car in a side road at the weekends get changed quickly and then run home letting the OH drive or disappear for an hour while the family are mall crawling.
It's all about preparation, identify things that can change your mind an work around them. For example if I go home 1st and walk into the kitchen I start snacking, so I go straight upstairs and the kids will follow me up as I get ready and then straight out the door.
Also think how you will feel after you don't run - that works for me.

maria74

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BeepBeep67 wrote: »

I'm in menoscemo's camp, I always have a basic set of gear in the car and always bring my gear to work and train primarily on the way home.
.

Read that initally as ...change on the train on way home from work!!:eek:

Krusty_Clown

Had a very tough training session yesterday. Was kind of nervous about it beforehand. It hurt a lot. But the sense of achievement of having completed the session without giving up has been a real boost (though I don't generally give up). Though the next session will be tougher, I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Sometimes the motivation comes from completing a tough session that is a bit of a stretch. if motivation is lacking, it may be time to turn up the heat a little and push yourself a little harder.

shotgunmcos

Tip: My mouse pad is a Pic of Chrissie Wellington crushing a water cup at an aid station mid Marathon on her way to 8:19 at Roth last year...

Aside from HTFU...

I often read Tunney's 2009 Austria report, then his 2010 Austria report in the same sitting. Linky

I keep a log and revisit any post on a day where I felt really good about myself.

I promise myself a reward for hitting my main goal.

I set my plan out in advance by 1-2 weeks so that if my motivation dips I just follow the plan and and do one or more of the above until the fire burns again...

If nothing is lifting me, I ditch a session, do something fun and sleep on it. E.G recently I was lamenting some poor form and had less than zero motivation for a run. Instead I dusted off my old poker set, ordered a pizza and tought my OH how to play. Twas a hoot!

When all else fails take a time out. Absence makes the heart grow fonder...