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Before you Run
Even the most motivated runners have times when they feel uninspired and unfocused. Sometimes it may be a physical issue, such as an injury; at other times it might be psychological, such as a bad day at work, an unsuccessful race and so on.
There will be days when you just won’t want to go out and run. Everyone has those days, even world record holders: days when it looks too hot, too cold, too wet or too windy – or days when you think you just don’t have the time. But it’s important to try to follow your training plan as closely as possible. After all, it’s been designed to give you the maximum benefit.
Here are a number of tips to try at times when you are feeling unmotivated:
If you have an mp3 player, simply download your favourite sounds and away you go.
Some people find they run better to a particular type of music, so experiment to find the beat or lyrics that are right for you. However, if you do listen to music remember that you will be less able to hear anything else so be more careful crossing roads and cycle paths. Try not to have your music so loud that you cannot hear anything else around you.
Running with friends or family can be great fun – and it gives you an added commitment as you won’t want to let them down. A team ethos can be brilliant for ensuring your individual focus remains high. Often, running with others simply feels easier as you are distracted from thinking on how tired you might be.
Variety is the spice of life. So as time goes by why not consider introducing different elements to your running programme? This could be anything from varying your routes to altering your speed. If your training programme allows for a little cross training you might like to go to the gym or go for a bike ride every once in a while.
