There was a time in my life I entered 5Ks, half-marathons, even a half Ironman triathlon! For the record, I was never fast. Finishing was my only goal. But I loved the structure of training and the community created around the race.
I fell out of the race routine over the years but have managed to keep a steady workout schedule. You know I love my Peloton and I have become a pro at home strength workouts, but man, I missed running. This is the first time in my life I’m running without a race deadline. Now I’m just doing it to clear my head and get outside. I wish I could say I’m one of those people who sets her alarm for 5 am and bounds out of bed looking forward to the run. I’m not. At all. Don’t get me wrong, I am always glad I did it, but I will always find a reason to sit on the couch instead.
Here are the mind tricks I have to play to get out the door and ways to push myself out on the trail.
I set out my clothes and pick a playlist the night before. I found I would spend 10 minutes digging through laundry trying to find matching socks. Any minute I’m not making progress, there’s a chance I abandon the workout entirely. I am really motivated by music, if I know I have some Britney Spears on deck it helps get me out the door.
I’ll go for a shade run. I count it as a run if I run AT ALL during my time outside. That means, some days, it’s a run/walk. I will walk in the sun, then run through the shady spots in our neighborhood. It makes the time fly and gives me a little break on hot days.
I complete mailbox sprints. I use the term “sprint” very loosely. It’s more like a very, almost imperceptible, increase in pace. Depending on the neighborhood, I’ll jog for the distance of three mailboxes then sprint to the fourth. I’ll decide ahead of time how long I want to repeat this pattern, usually about 10-20 minutes, and do my best to finish. If I don’t start the run with the plan, I end up just walking the whole time.
I do weekend “real estate” runs. Even though I have no plans on moving, I love to look at real estate online. During my searches, I will map out a few houses for sale in my neighborhood and make a mental run path. Then, on the way home, I’ll run until there’s a house I adore, then I’ll build in some walks while I ogle the property. The scenery and run/walk pattern help me cover a lot of distance.
I go color spotting. Stay with me on this one. We are lucky to live near some really neat running trails. I do love my “real estate” runs but sometimes I love to get deep into the trees and on a trail. The problem? It all starts to look the same after a while. I need something to keep my brain busy so I pick a color (red, purple, yellow) and keep my eyes peeled for those colors in nature. It helps me become more aware of my surroundings and appreciate the area so much more. This morning I spotted purple petals on shrubs about 6 feet off the trail, purple blooms on some wildflowers, and some purple-tinged vines growing up the trees.
Are you a runner? (The answer is yes even if you run/walk). Tell me your tips for getting in those miles!
