If you’ve been following along, you know that I am LOVING CrossFit.
But, you will also know that I have been dreading running. I have a half marathon to run on May 5th and I have not started training yet. I know I should be out there logging miles, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I have a mental block. I joke that I need to find a hypnosis tape to play while I sleep to convince myself that I can do this. I may actually hit Google tomorrow to see if I can find anything like that, but until then, here are just a few motivational things I’ve found.
Hopefully if I keep looking at the motivating quotes they will sink in and I will go run. Currently my plan is to lace up and get out there Saturday. Feel free to remind me that I’ve said this.
How do you get motivated?
Anyone know where I can find a running hypnosis mp4?
My Pursuit of Happiness and Skinny Jeans 
What I do is put on my running clothes without thought to the run. Then I tell myself I will just stretch a bit, but I dont have to go if I don’t feel like it. Then I say to myself I’ll just go 2 little miles. The first mile and a half is always the hardest. After the blood starts flowing and my body finds a rhythm I usually feel like going farther– after all I’m all dressed for it and out there. I have a plan b in mind in case I choose to keep going– a route in mind only if I want to. I never run in the bitter cold or pouring rain–it’s not supposed to suck! I did my first half marathon last fall– didn’t train that long– and I’m 57! You have time to get there. And don’t do it unless you really want to–it should be a positive not a negative.
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Thanks Laurie. I think the weather does have something to do with my lack of motivation…snowy, icy side walks do not make for a fun run. Hopefully with the arrival of spring today (it’s wonderfully sunny here in Toronto today, but still below freezing), the weather will improve an I can get out there without risk of breaking a leg!
I am going to try your strategy. Just go for a short run and if it feels good, keep going. And you are so right…it should be a positive. Definitely need the things we do in our spare time to be fun, since spare time is in such short supply!
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I find it very challenging to get motivated, I will moan and groan the entire time while I’m getting ready, driving to the gym and up until the 1st minute into my run.. hehe.. Usually I just tell myself to “just do it…”
And if you find a running hypnosis mp4, let me know.. definitely something I could use. Seriously need that “Runner’s High” to kick in.. 🙂
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I’ve run a full marathon, I think 5 or 6 half marathons and I am still waiting for this so called “runner’s high”. I’m ready to call bull$h*t! LOL…hopefully this time I find it!
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1) Are you dressing right for cold weather running? That could make a huge difference in someone’s willingness to run outside.
2) Last weekend I set out to run 5-7km. Instead of doing my usual loop, I ran straight out on a road. Because the first 2k are always miserable, I waited until after that to determine I wasn’t as miserable as I thought I would be, then I deliberately played a trick on myself. I knew I could do 5-7k at that point but instead of turning around at the halfway point I ran straight ahead, still telling myself all I have to run is 5-7k. My body thinks it’s a shorter distance but I know it’s unlikely I’ll want to walk the entire length back so I’m likely to double the length of my run but without the mental anguish that psyches me out before I even get started. (I ended going even farther and ran about 16km for the first time in half a year.)
3) I’m guessing you’d be like me on this next point. I also have a half marathon on May 5th and I want it to be a fun weekend. I’ll be pissed at myself if I can’t enjoy the weekend and the accomplishment because I’m too busy worrying about whether I’m ready/can do it or am too pissed at myself for having ignored all the time I could have spent training for it. Running season goes well beyond May 5th. I don’t want to be so disheartened and discouraged that I hate the whole summer because I let this year’s half marathon time get so much worse than last year’s when I could have made it better.
That’s why I’m heading out right now to do a run I don’t want to do. 🙂
Lasso your mojo! (Ooh, that’s 5 syllables. I feel a haiku coming on…)
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Sadly, I have all the hear I need for winter running…just haven’t done it. My head just isn’t I. The running game these days. I’ve been enjoying my CrossFit sessions so much that I haven’t made the time to run. Now it’s crunch time.
I’m lacing up the shoes Saturday. My plan is to run home from my son’s hockey game. The rink is 5.5k away from my house. I’m not running with a pace in kind…just to get home in time to have a shower before heading to another rink for my other son’s game.
Then Sunday I’m going to do my first long run. Either 8 or 10k depending how it goes. I might try your strategy and just keep going, forcing myself to go the full 10k!
And you are SO right…I should be fun. I really enjoyed my training last spring and fall, so hopefully once I get out there the mojo comes back and it’s all good.
Lasso in hand, Saturday is the day! I will let you know how it goes!
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