Is it just me or are the weeks after a holiday even harder to get back into it?
Sunday and Monday’s runs were less than stellar to say the last. I don’t know why, but whenever I don’t run on a treadmill for a while it beats up my legs pretty badly. They felt like lead on my hot and humid Sunday run, and not much better bright and early Monday morning.
I was definitely thankful I didn’t have a workout Monday!
In the 4 weeks I’ve been in marathon training, I’ve been turning to a lot of inspirational stories and articles to help give me a boost. This is especially helpful for me to read before I’m heading to bed to get ready for a tempo or workout the following morning.
I don’t know why my motivation has been lacking more so during this training cycle than the last, but I do what I can to help keep me focused on the goal!
I thought I’d share a few of my favorite motivational sources lately for those of you who are in the same boat of me.
Amber Green Qualifies for the Olympic Trials
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I love this article my husband showed me a couple weeks ago about a Utah Mom who succeed in her dream of qualifying for the Olympic Trials.
Go and read her story, it is pretty amazing! It just goes to show you it doesn’t matter who you are if you set your mind to something and put in the work it will pay off. It may not necessary be when you want, or how you want it, but eventually you will succeed! Keep working towards it.
Boston Marathon Registration Dates Announced
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You better believe the moment that this came out I had it on my calendar. This is a great motivation for me, because it is a reminder of just how far I have come. I cannot wait to run this in 2016!
I seriously love Instagram. In fact, I would probably get at least an extra hour of sleep each night if I could stop looking through it so much. I really need to work on that a bit more especially as my training continues to increase.
Here are just a few of my favorite Instagram accounts in case you are looking for some new motivation: Tina Muir, MsFitRunner, Kristen Lawrence, SpeedyMama, BabFitRunLife, Stephanie Bruce and NYCRunningMama to name just a few! So many awesome, speedy, and motivating women!
Margaret Hagerty
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This article is a few years old, but this amazing 90 year old woman is still going out there day in and day out!
She not only runs marathons but triathlons as well! She started running at 64 and hasn’t looked back.
Motivation is a crazy thing. Sometimes you have great weeks and sometimes but a majority will fall somewhere in between. I’ve always found other people’s success very motivating which is why I enjoy reading blogs and social media so much.
Share something inspiring with me!
What helps to movtivate you?
Great post! Yes, other runners really do motivate me. And sometimes I go back and read my race reports, just to remind myself of what I am capable of. Motivation is a funny thing.
I found this story of the 70 year old Western States 100 finisher last week very inspiring. She finished with 6 seconds before the course closed!
http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/70-year-old-woman-steals-the-western-states-show
Running high mileage and marathon training is hard work. I find that my motivation can change rapidly. I may be looking forward to a workout and a passing storm, or even hunger can derail my motivation and suddenly I am struggling to get out the door. Sometimes I need a mantra to start more than during a run…
~ Run with joy!
“My coach said I ran like a girl, I said if he could run a little faster he could too.”
-Mia Hamm
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this!
My motivation has been lacking a bit this training cycle as well, but I think I know the reasons:
-I despise summer running! The heat exhausts me and it’s been a lot of hit it or miss it with paces lately (much more “miss it” actually). In the winter, some workouts were tougher than others, but I’d always find a way to get what I wanted without feeling constantly miserable. I guess I got spoiled 😉
-Qualifying for Boston was a huge dream come true for me. I put so much effort in it (both physically and mentally) that I think my subconscious right now is telling me: “you got your BQ, now chill out.” Ehehe. Speaking of which… BOSTON IS APPROACHING (or, at least, registration is)!!! YAY!!!
I am a 46 year old Mum of 3 teenagers. I live in the Yorkshire Dale in the UK. I somehow came across your blog (I think from Pinterest) and decided to follow you, on instagram and via your blog. I am planning to run my first half marathon in September, only signing up as my much younger running pal wanted to sign up and I decided that I would have to keep up with her. So I have done lots of homework on running what will be double the distance that I like to run, I am a little apprehensive, but we have just upped our run to about 10 miles( tonight having run it for the second time)
So your question was motivation…and you have really motivated me. I cannot believe the training you are putting in, I am upping my training but nothing along the scale to which you are, and I am aware that I am not worried about running my race in any particular time( having said that I would like to do it in under 2.5 hrs!) I would just like to make my run as pleasant/easy as possible, so while out tonight I thought about you and your comment recently about relaxing while running…how much easier that makes things.
So thank you and I will carry on reading about your journey, getting motivation along the way.
Sarah B