My Secret to Finding Motivation

     When I started to take my running "seriously" a couple of years ago, I had a pretty simple motivation--the scale was telling me a scary story. My mouth hung open in shock--though I'm not sure why; little exercise and a love of sweets quickly adds up!

     I was tipping that scales at close to 220 pounds, at 5'10" this was a bit of a problem. My physical health was declining and I could feel that I was starting to walk a path that would be hard to go back from if I didn't change something soon. On top of that, we were going to try and start a family soon, and I knew that I wanted to be able to keep up or merely stay around for my family. 

     That year for my birthday, my wife gifted me my first pair of "real" running shoes--Saucony Fastwitch 8's, super light weight to help balance out my heavy legs. I ran those shoes flat! They are so compressed now that I use them as my cycling shoes! After getting those shoes, I was hooked! The weight started to *slowly* come off and I felt better mentally--my work stress didn't bother me as much.

     So how do I, a confessed non-runner for the first 25 years of my life, stay motivated to run? My secret isn't much of a secret at all; I remember why I started. Those days that I get to run around with my kid reminds me that I need to be in decent shape to keep up with him. I remember that I want to be around to celebrate 60 years of marriage like my grandparents did. I remember that my son will start to look at me and internalize what he sees--was dad active and healthy or was he addicted to queso? (of course I am!)

     Some runs are terrible! My pace is slow, or I don't run the entire time, or the 5 miles I planned on running becomes 2. You're going to want to stop sometimes, or not even go at all. If you can remember your why, then it becomes easier. Not easy, just easier. I want to see my child graduate from high school and college. I want to be the best husband I can be, which means sticking around for awhile. I want to motivate my students to make healthy changes in their life. I always try to remember why and that helps me lace up the shoes multiple times a week.

     So when you're torn between a "mediocre" run and just staying on the couch, try try TRY to get out! A mediocre run still adds more miles than if you weren't running at all. Just knowing that you went for a run when you didn't want to makes it that much easier to go and do something great when you want to go!

     No matter how fast or slow you go, you're still lapping everyone on the couch!

My question to, faithful reader, is how you stay motivated to exercise or accomplish your goals? Let me know in the comments!