Ten Things I Love About Running
Well it appears that my running blues have continued. To be honest, I am over being this lame. It seems many of my recent posts are about motivation- how to stay motivated, why I am not motivated. All of this means what? I’ll tell you what: excuses, excuses, excuses. I need to listen to my own tough love, which is “Get your ass out there you lazy bastard and do it”.
I turned to Twitter this week for continued complaining and got lots of positive reinforcements and “you can do its”. It definitely helped and the response confirmed the power of social media when it comes to motivation within the running community.
I got one tweet that resonated with me more than the others. It was from @TriMeOn and they wrote “list ten things you love about running……..”
This was brilliant, why didn’t I think of doing this earlier! After putting some thought into it I came up with my ten things and it helped refocus me. I’d like to share them with you:
Ten Things I love About Running. I love………
- …..feeling free with no agenda or stress during a long run
- …..the gear
- …..the 30 seconds after a hard tempo run where my lungs just start to stop burning
- …..fall Saturday mornings during marathon training
- …..looking at my watch after crossing the finish line and realizing it was a PR
- …..days where everything feels fluid and effortless
- …..exploring running trails in Colorado
- …..guilt free eating after a hard training run
- …..the challenges it presents both physically and mentally
- …..having control over everything going on
What would be on your list of reasons for loving running? What would you do if you couldn’t run anymore? How do you deal with lack of motivation?
- Scott
Good List… It’s always good to remind yourself why were out there. I love that it clears my mind, keeps me in the moment, never lets me down, I see things and places some may not, It makes me feel alive, human and humble. Thank you for sharing your list. Love Colorado btw..my sis lives in Boulder
What I would do to move to Bolder, don’t even get me started.
The biggest thing for me is finishing a run that a few months ago I would have really struggled with and seeing the improvement. I spent my first 31 years never running. No one made me. Even in high school, I got away with walking the mile in PE class. My third personal training is the first person who told me to stop whining and just run–often with his hand on my back, pushing me along. Now, I run on my own, for myself. THAT is what I love about running, even though I still struggle.
Congrats to you and thanks for sharing it!
That’s a great list. I love the mental boost of a run. I’m always more productive and awake afterward and I’ve had a lot of epiphany’s on the run.
I missed that one, forgot to put that I too get some of my best ideas while running. Free thinking time.
I love the idea of making a top 10 list. My main reason for loving running is feeling free during long runs and just feeling tired-but-happy after runs.
Agreed, those Saturday nights after a long run and evening of going our with friends give the best nights sleep ever.
Great list! I would add to my own list the ability to set goals and achieve them all in one workout. It adds a real sense of accomplishment every single day I run.
Totally agree, crossing off a day of training during the marathon is one of the best feelings. Each is one day closer.
The beer afterward.
. Actually during every single run I think…”i can get someone else to do this! If I can do this, anyone can!”
This year I started a Facebook group and website to help motivate others.
I had a great year of, “oh my God, I’m stronger than I thought!” Now I want others too!
Great idea with the group! I’ll have to check it out.
What a great post! Can I just say the freedom to eat and drink about whatever I want? LOL
A post like this just might need to make it to my blog at some point.
Sure, in fact I was stuck at first b/c all I could thing of was dominating food after a long run. Pure bliss.
Great list – we all need to do this more often.
Oh my. There are so many things I love about running! I love the battle that wages and the sense of a victory after you complete a run. I love the way the mind clears and begins to problem solve on a long run… I love that accomplishment of a PR. I love Carb loading the night befor a race. I love early morning sunrises and I love a rain shower to cool you down! I live to run! It means everything to me. I wish everyone could discover the joy of running!
Don’t make me answer what I would do if I couldn’t run:) I would have to say biking, I really want to own a cycling race someday.
great list, especially CO!
.fall Saturday mornings during marathon training – another one of my favorites. The days when the sun is just right on you in the morning makes me feel like I could run forever. xx
The fall Saturday mornings is such a truism- nothing beats running in the fall. Nothing. The rest of the list is pretty great too!