I don’t care what anyone says. Psychologically gearing yourself up for any sort of run or hike is probably the most difficult aspect of your workout! And regardless of whether other people admit it or not, everyone feels that initial dread – at least some of the time.
We all know the reasons WHY we should run. But let’s be honest with ourselves… That just isn’t motivation enough when you’re just about getting through each day.
If you are a working mother running around cooking for kids, checking homework, ferrying them to their own activities. YES, they do have far better social lives than us!! Who else (in the real world!) has a personal driver, chef, tutor, manager… Getting your own kit ready when there’s so much else that needs doing just seems monumental.
It’s so much easier to sit down and eat dinner with your family, chill-out on the sofa in the evenings or spend the quiet time in the morning with the snooze button or a coffee before all hell breaks loose! Even if you’re not a parent, it’s still very easy to come up with a million and one reasons that you haven’t possibly got the time for a run.
You know what? You’re lying to yourself. You do have time. You do. You just need to convince yourself to get ready and get out there. Go wild!
So, here are some ideas on how to trick yourself into going for a run!
1. Wear your running clothes to bed.
Maybe leave your heart rate monitor in its’ box for this, but seriously, I have done this and when you get up the next morning and you’re already in your running gear, you will feel really awful about yourself if you don’t go. I know, because I’ve also done this…. I felt so bad I ran the next day though!! So it works!! Hah!
2. Decide on an easy run.
If you decide every day that you’ll do an easy run and start with a slow jog, very slow – I’m talking warm up pace here, nose breathing only pace…. So slow that you’ll be itching to run! After that, it’s up to you!
3. Run somewhere nice.
Okay, so weekly running in the alps is a bit of a stretch I know, but get yourself to a park, the beach, a woodland, a hill – anywhere that’s closer to nature (and softer underfoot!) than the concrete jungle.
4. Record yourself.
I’m not talking about recording your runs, although that’s great too and there are lots of apps to do that for you. I mean actually record your voice. Pause during/after your run and say how you are feeling about yourself, your run, your environment. It will reinforce positive self-beliefs and you can play it back to yourself when you are getting ready for your next run. We are always delighted with ourselves when we’ve gotten off our butts aren’t we??
5. Sign up for a charity race.
Preferably choose a charity that’s close to your heart and try to also rope in some friends. It doesn’t matter what the distance is, but make it a realistic, achievable goal. Racing for charity is a fantastic way to guilt yourself into some training!
6. Tell everyone.
Tell everyone about your upcoming charity race, yes. But also tell everyone when you’re going for a run. Either physically – at work etc. or via social media. Never mind the critics! I don’t really care who likes or doesn’t like that I run. I tell people because I want myself to be held accountable. I’m hoping that someone might ask me – “Hey, how’d your run go last night?” So, if you know someone who always posts their workouts, maybe it’s just a little kick and a little support they’re looking for.
7. Join a club.
I was never a club person. And a running club? With actual real runners?? Talk about intimidating!! I wanted to be running 5km in under 30 minutes before I joined. LOL! I’m happy to admit, I’m an idiot. I did eventually join a club. I only had time to run in the evenings and was too scared to run on the trails alone in the dark, so for that reason only, I joined a club. However, it has become so much more since. Mud, Sweat and Runners has not only forced me out the door, but has encouraged me along, waited for me when I found the going tough and introduced me to a whole range of new people.
8. Arrange to meet someone.
Make it someone who is relying on you to turn up – whether it’s dark out, they are helping you improve, you are helping them improve (it’s motivating to motivate others!!), whatever. Make an arrangement and agree not to text each other with excuses. Just turn up. On a recent stormy night, I had agreed to meet a friend in the nearby national park. It was absolutely lashing down. I couldn’t tell you how many times I picked up the phone to text her and cancel. But I didn’t. She laughed when I told her, because she had done the same thing! We ran a more sheltered and shortened route, but we ran!
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