One of the most common questions I get asked is how do I stay motivated? At this stage if you have been sticking to the plan you should be running 30 minutes 2 times a week, a faster session once a week and a longer run of 45-60 min once a week. To succeed at running and fitness, it does require a commitment. There are plenty of days that you might not feel like heading out there but if you tell yourself that it simply has to be done, you are more likely to do it. There are a few simple ways of staying motivated:
1. Have a plan. Organise your week and set the days that you are going to run. For example go mon and tue and then fri and sat. That gives you a few days during the week free when you may be busy with work etc. However, you have to stick to the days that you outline as if you start to change them it usually doesn’t happen properly.
2. Be prepared. Have your gear ready the night before if heading out before work. Have the gear bag packed if going straight after work. Bring some snacks for 4pm as you may feel a bit peckish and you don’t want to use this as an excuse. Also bring some water for during the day.
3. Have a training partner if you find it hard to get out yourself. Even if you have a partner for 2 days, it makes the other days easier to do.
4. Use different training routes. Have 3 different routes within easy access of work/home so that you have variety. It’s easy to become bored so having different surroundings helps.
5. Sign yourself up for a road race. From now until the end of September there are road races every week. If its your first one, sign up for a 5km and if you want a further challenge, sign up for a 10km one.
6. Finally, make a chart and put it on your fridge/desk/diary. Fill out the week as you have planned out and tick the training days as you go along through the week. It will help you see what you have done and the progress you are making.
Try these tips and see how you get on. Best of luck!
Gillian