Adventures Of A New Runner: Keys To Success

I have to imagine at some point running becomes just as much a part of your life as sleeping, eating, and breathing. It just becomes something you do without much thought. As a new runner I feel like there are two major keys to sticking with it: Motivation and Routine.

The motivation part is pretty easy, most start running for the same similar reasons. Time caught up to us and our metabolism seemed to jump ship over night. For me I started mostly because of being asked to be a member of this website, but there are other factors as well. Every time I look at my daughter I realize that I need to take care of myself. I plan to see her graduate several times, walk her down the aisle and play with my grandchildren some day. I would imagine this is true for many new parents shortly after the birth of their first child. Shockingly this is often not enough. I am finding that you have to search really hard to keep updating you motivation. My latest motivator is a picture posted of me recently on facebook, it is a nice profile shot where my gut is out of control HUGE. Anytime I think I can take a day off from my run routine I think of that picture. The running shorts are on pretty quick. I think this is where routine comes into play.

I am totally into a consistent routine with my running. I need it. I was sick recently with some virus, and then followed that with a stomach bug chaser. I wasn’t able to run for almost 3 weeks. This break in my routine was horrible, I have come to realize that I need to run every other day, every two days max. It was all I could do to get through that first run back. I like to run in the morning after posting my beer review on BDR and letting my breakfast settle. The other day, however, I ended with so much to do that I was left having to run in the afternoon. Big mistake. I felt totally out of sorts: too much stopping for traffic, the sun was in the wrong place, nothing seemed right. The routine it turns out is really important to my success.

These keys go hand in hand in my opinion. Like squeezing a balloon, when one key is low the other needs to automatically expand. In those times when your routine is broken by unseen forces you have to rely on your motivation to get you out the door. Like I said before if I feel like skipping a day or two all I have to do is think of that picture. At the same time I don’t need to motivate myself when I am in a good routine. The cheering section in my head can take a break when I’m heading out the door every other morning like I’m supposed to.

Finding the keys to my success has been a huge step in my running. Might even need to change the name of this occasional blog post to Adventures of a NOW Runner.