6 Ways to Stay Motivated on a Run

By Christina Oehler on September 21, 2014

Hand-eye coordination is a gift I have always envied. I will never know a touchdown from a home run, nor do I really have any motivation to learn. However, while uninterested in athletics and the sporty world around me, I do enjoy one physical activity that is probably the only thing keeping me in decent health: running.

Like every other person on this planet, I love to run and let off steam that I have built up over the day. Yet there are days where the thought of leaving my bed to run sounds  like the most painful and unappealing activity imaginable. Here are a few pointers for keeping your energy up, even if you are only going for ten minutes.

Playlist is Key

Keep an updated playlist on your iPod, always. You’ll find that nothing is more motivating than a fresh set of songs to keep your heart racing and stamina up. Don’t forget to mix up the genre often; switch between your favorite, up-beat hip hop, rock and pop songs as you go.

Get mad

Okay, so this sounds like a stretch, but thinking about the coffee you spilled on your top this morning or that bad test grade may actually help you keep up your pace.  If you’re focused on letting off all of the steam that has built up, you’ll realize how much easier running feels as you go.

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Find a solid set of shoes

This should be a no brainer, but having a pair of shoes that fit your feet well will make running much easier. Find shoes that curve to your arches, fit snugly and are light enough to not carry you down as you run. You’ll be less prone to injuries if your shoes fit like a glove.

Don’t be afraid of breaks

I know a lot of people who say they “don’t like to run” because they can’t run without taking walking breaks. However, if you run yourself down your first few times, you’ll be less likely to want to get up and run the next day. Taking intermittent breaks will help you run longer with less exhaustion.

Switch up venues

Location is key. For me, there is nothing worse than running on a treadmill and staring at a wall for twenty minutes while I try to keep up a decent pace. When you run outside, try different routes to keep your workout interesting. Switch off between urban and rural, and challenge yourself to run faster when you are running along a busy street.

Reward yourself

Most importantly, once you have finished your run, make sure to reward yourself with a peanut butter- banana smoothie or a glass of chocolate milk to hydrate and provide your cells with protein. These rewards will make the thought of running next time seem much more tempting.

Regardless of your level of athleticism, anyone can pick up this timeless sport and get in shape, so use these tips to keep up your hard work as you go! Who knows, a marathon might be in your future!

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