12 Top Tips to Stay Motivated

All of us suffer from lack of motivation from time to time, for some it is results in discontinuing running for good, for others it can mean a break in their training and then the struggle to get back to fitness.

So here are some Tips to help you get through the dark times and back into the rhythm of training without too much loss of fitness:

1. Goal Setting: This is one of the most important strategies and simply means choosing something that you want to achieve and then breaking it down into small steps that will enable you to achieve your Goal.
2. Tell your family and friends what your goals are! This will make it very difficult for you to watch TV instead of going for your run!
3. Reward: Promise yourself a reward for reaching each of your mini goals on route to your main goal. Make it something you will really look forward to.
4. Start a Training Diary: This is really important! This is the only way you can measure your improvement or otherwise. Most of our members have their training diary in the Forum and you can also download your own free, by signing up to our Newsletter in the box on the top right of this page.
5. Try and train at the same time very day, I know this can be difficult, but this way your body will get into the habit and it will get easier.
6. If you really don’t feel like doing the session that is in your programme just go for a walk / jog; it won’t hurt to do a little less at times; but make sure you do something.
7. Change your route: Sometimes you can get bored running the same route time after time; have a change.
8. Vary the type of sessions you do: try Fartlek running or other types of speed work. I used to imagine lamp posts were other runners and every now and again during a run I would sprint from one lamp post to another.
9. Remind yourself that the most difficult thing to do is to step through the door and out onto the road; once you are out it is easy! Just get through that door.
10. Make a list of all the benefits running brings to you: a better body, increased energy, that sense of achievement. Then make a list of the reasons not to run: something on TV, can’t find time, just can’t be bothered, too tired. Which will be the most compelling?
11. Find a training partner: This will make your running so much easier, you do not have to do every session in a group but every now and again it can be a great tonic.
12. Sign up for a Race!