I was motivated to do plenty of things over Thanksgiving: I was motivated to get a second helping of dessert… I was motivated to fill up my wine glass… I was motivated to sneak in one last slice of pie for the road. Needless to say I did plenty of eating, but not a lot of running—and the Rock N Roll is less than 2 months away. Yikes!
Between now and New Year’s, it’s like one long holiday season full of temptation, late-night parties, sugary treats, out-of-town trips and busy schedules. This can make marathon and half-marathon training tough. But us runners have to remain disciplined, even when you’d rather press the snooze button. Thankfully, Cristin Van Driel, runner extraordinaire from Sole Sports Glendale, is here to help. Here she tells us how to boost running motivation, even when the going gets tough. Here are her 5 tips:
Set up a run with a friend. That way you know that they’re counting on you to show up and together you guys can enjoy getting your workout in.
Join a local run club. This can help both motivate and take your running to the next level whether improving speed, distance, or consistency. It’s both motivating and educational to hear the others talk about their training and a good majority of group leaders are both experienced runners and well versed in training and nutrition. (Bonus: The majority of running clubs receive a discount at Sole Sports which is another way we can help runners achieve their goals and get into proper footwear and apparel.)
Explore a new route. Whether taking off in a new direction from home or driving a short distance to a new trail-head, new scenery is always captivating—and can make the time fly! I’ve found some of my best routes when I just go off exploring. It’s also a great way to stumble upon new parks or discover great coffee houses for post-run fueling.
Sign up for a unique event (and cross train). I’m not talking your typical 5K, 10K, or marathon. Maybe it’s a mud run or a sprint triathlon, which will force you to do some cross-training. At times we can get a little too focused on the running as the only method of fitness. An added benefit of cross training is that it keeps your mind fresh and also can prevent overuse injuries. I personally try to swim 2 times a week and bike 2-3 x weeks in addition to my runs.
Get new gear. A great way to reward yourself after hitting a milestone or personal best is with a trip to your local specialty running store. A new toy such as a GPS or watch can give you that much-needed motivation (plus it’s fun monitoring your time, pace and distance)—and new shoes always motivate runners as we are excited to test them out!
For more running tips, follow me on Twitter @AZFoothillsFit
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Fun (and Free) Run Clubs in Phoenix
