Why do you run?
Seems like a simple question but if you don’t have a clear answer you will fold like a cheap tent when the going will get tough.
And the going will get tough.
That’s a guarantee.
I actually know people who shrug when you ask them why they run. They don’t know. It’s become a habit and you can bet those people don’t push themselves hard. They don’t have a reason to. Those are the people who have a very choppy training with huge gaps of no running at all. Their performance is a reflection of this. So if you want to take the most out of running, figure out your “why”.
So let’s go over some of the possible why’s:
Fitness – That’s a big one. We love to test ourselves to see if we can do more, faster, longer, more often, just better. Nothing wrong with this. The desire to best yourself will fuel you when you feel tired and unmotivated. Being lazor focused on your goals can be a great “why” when your legs feel dead but you still manage that last interval faster than the all the other ones.
Losing weight – Great reason but could be limiting since once you’ve reached your goal you might lose the motivation to keep pushing hard unless you redefine your goals at that point. This is why I don’t like couch to 5k challenges or others like it. They seem to have a final end. And what happens after? Back on the couch?
Running in memory of someone special – Fantastic “why” and a huge motivator. When the pain sets in, you can easily ignore it because your thoughts are on that special person who’s fueling your body and mind. You can almost completely disassociate from yourself and your discomfort in that mental state. I ran a race shortly after my grandfather passed away. My mind was so filled with memory of him, that when the race took us through the neighborhood where he lived I was overcome with emotion and thoughts of him being proud of me. I looked up to heaven as I ran through those blocks and I don’t even remember any physical pain. It didn’t matter.
You want to prove something to yourself – In my opinion this one is a huge motivator and could be an amazing “why” to keep climbing those challenging mountains of soreness, fatigue, monotony, isolation, etc. You are determined to accomplish something you couldn’t before but now you believe in yourself and you need to prove that you can do it. What’s great about this “why” is that it fuels your future goals. Now that you’ve achieved this you think “If I could do this, what’s next?”
You want to prove something to others – This “why” almost never works out in the long term because of the negative undertones. Trying to prove something to others will not allow you to tune into your body and mind to reach your best potential because you’re constantly focused on beating someone else. The negative here can actually do the opposite and sabotage your efforts. So resist comparing. Your race, your pace, the end.
You love the bling, the swag, the beers, the friends and all the extras – The fun that’s attached to most of the races definitely creates a great motivation to train and participate. I whole heartedly agree that if your “why” is to have a great time and enjoy all the extras, you will keep on pushing yourself in training because you are positively inclined and having a great attitude will make tough runs feel easier for sure. People who fall into this category also enjoy training in a group and almost never run by themselves. They draw strength from their teammates and friends who share in their passion.
You love your alone time – This one is a powerful “why”. For those of us who treasure our “alone” time, it’s a chance to disconnect from the stresses of the everyday life. The run provides the necessary mental relaxation and a chance to recharge. Those of us who run for this reason find many solutions to the problems we were not able to figure out otherwise. So even if you’re physically tired or sore, the motivation to be out there and relax your mind is undeniable.
Whatever your why is, you need to clearly define it because it will help you enjoy the workout and push when you otherwise wouldn’t.
P.S. On a personal note, apparently even when I claim to have dead legs I can still bring it, or as my coach was able to succinctly put, and I quote “Yeah, but I’ll bet if we hauled you off to Central Park and some semi-dorky dude in Keds, basketball shorts and oversized headphones ran by and shot you a look, it would be off to the races”.
100% true. I’m not quite sure how to categorize this particular “why” so I’ll just file it under “Had to be done”!