Trying to Find Motivation (2010 Run 8)

Date: 2/17/10
Time of Day: 9:30 PM
Location: Marriott Route

Conditions: 35 degrees F, breezy, (29 degree wind chill)
Music: Under the Dome by Stephen King

Clothing: Jacket, short sleeved wicking shirt, compression shorts, shorts

Shoes: Nike Air Pegasus 26+

 

Lately, I've been having trouble finding the motivation to get out and run. I don't know why.

 

Every excuse in the book that I can find, I use it.

 

"Oh, it's too late, I'll run in the morning."

 

"Oh, it's too early, I'll run after work."

 

"Oh, I'm so tired from work, I'll run later."

 

"Oh, I haven't eaten yet, I can't run on an empty stomach."

 

"Oh, I'm so full, if I run now I'll pop."

 

"It's too cold/snowy/rainy for running."

 

I keep having these 10-11-12 day gaps in my running. What this means is that as of yesterday morning, I had only run 7 days this year. My goal is 210. To put it in the nicest terms possible, I'm behind my goal. To be more blunt, I need to get off my fat, lazy butt.

 

Somehow last night, I was able to convince myself to head out the door.

 

The Marriott Route was just as I had left it (although at one point, I did jump when I saw the shadow of a sprinkler flag because I thought it was an animal).

 

As I have in the past, I started out with a warmup run. I ran from my starting point for 8:30 according to my watch. Usually I run around 5, but I was determined to push a little harder and a little longer due to my inactivity.

 

After a four minute walk, I kicked into gear again, ran to the halfway point, turned and ran all the way down the hill and within probably a tenth of a mile before my starting point. Time of second run - 16:00. I was contemplating doing another out-and-back at this point, so I was walking back to the starting mark.

 

Unfortunately, when I turned, I realized that I really was tired (which I felt was an acceptable excuse after running for 24 minutes). So I walked back to the point that I had stopped running, turned and ran back to the start. This only took about 2 minutes, but it allowed me to finish running.

 

It wasn't my best run and it wasn't my worst run. It was just a run. And that was the whole point. I needed to run.

 

Now I need to run again.

 

8 down. 202 to go.