Motivation or Results... The Chicken or the Egg

If you talk anyone who is beginning (or getting back into) running/working out they will tell you  they find motivation in the results of their efforts. A faster mile time, "x" amount of inches of their waist line or a better physique will provide the "get up and go" they need to get to the gym.

But what do you do when the results are slow to manifest themselves? What if your mile time is stagnant? Or if your weight loss efforts have hit a plateau? Or maybe, even after a month of strength training you still don't look like they guy on the cover of Mens' Health? (not that I am thinking that at all...) Where does the motivation come from then?

One of the many things about exercise I have learned from my brother (you know, the one who is the personal trainer and fitness guru) is that you can't rely on results for motivation, as you need to motivate yourself to achieve your fitness goals. But the question becomes, how do you stay motivated before seeing results?

Runners world has 101 great tips to stay motivated! Give them a read and let me know which ones you liked in the comment section.

Here are are my top five:

1. Make it public- Let EVERYONE know the race you want to run and the goal for the race. The threat of public embarrassment can be great motivation to hit every training run
2. Running partners- If I schedule a run with Chris, I don't want to miss that run and let him down
3. Get a big, active dog- Then you have to answer the question: fun run or destroyed couch?
4. Running calender- runners hate to see blank days and looking back over a great training season can help you stay pumped for your upcoming race
5. Scenery- how could you not be motivated to run with this in your backdrop? 



Bike Trail heading into Telluride

Here's the 411 on today's run!

Consistency

I'm posting a short(er) blog post today and to be honest it's just to brag a little. One of the best ways to keep yourself motivated is to keep track of your workouts on a calendar. Personally I love the Garmin Calendar as it works well with my Garmin Forerunner 205 running watch. Runners (including me) hate to see missing days on the calender- which is a great way to get motivated/force yourself out for a run.

So, on to the bragging. In the month of October I hit every run and every distance I had planned. The strength training was a huge success as well! I set a goal of completing strength training three days a week and I only missed one work out.  Its this type of consistency that will help keep me fit and will make me a better runner.

For October I ran 18 times for a total of 76.07 miles and burned over 8,600 calories! Not only am I super proud of the month, but it has me super excited about what I can do for November!

Here is the 411 from Friday's run!

Moments

"You never see the hard days in a photo album... but those are the ones that get you from one happy snapshot to the next." ~ Just Married

Did I just quote an early 2000s Rom-Com to start the blog? Yep, that I did!

I've recently been thinking a great deal about happiness in life. What does happiness look like? How is it achieved? Do we even know when we really are happy?

I used to believe that happiness was something that had a permanence to it. The perfect job, the perfect marriage, the perfect house. Life could just be perfect!

As I've gotten older I've quickly realized nothing is ever truly perfect. Jobs have stresses, marriage has tough times, and that perfect house costs A LOT of money (and its still not perfect).

So if nothing will ever be perfect then how can we ever be happy? The answer to that question is easy- We enjoy the perfect moments in our life!

The smile on your boy's face as he runs down the street yelling, "daddddyyyy!" as you walk home from the bus stop.

Going to bed knowing you have your best friend (who just happens to be the most beautiful woman in the world) laying next to you.

When your students knock a group project right out of the park!

Or when you get to go on a run during the first snow fall of the season...

It's these moments that help you make it through the tough times, like when a family member gets sick, when a friend's struggling (and you feel powerless to help), or when something on your life's wish list is just a little out of reach (baby, house, etc).

Life may never be perfect, but there are perfect moments, so enjoy them as the happen and be thankful when they do.

Here's the 411 on today's run:

Setting yourself up for failure, while hoping for greatness

This morning was Telluride's Halloween Family 5k. With less than 50 participants, the thought crossed my mind I might be able to finish in the top three. Yes... Trophy! I mean I had been running regularly, had added strength training, and was acclimated to the elevation.  This was going to be MY race!

What could possibly go wrong?

Well... I did have 3 hot dogs at the cookout last night (which I never eat anymore), I also ate large amounts of the Hershey's s'mores stock, and then had two large glasses of wine for a night cap. Now, I'm not saying that led to stomach trouble on the course, but I'm not saying it didn't either.

Oh, and did I mention it was really cold before the start of the race? Did I take the time to warm up at all? Nope! I was blinded by the trophy I was sure was waiting for me. Well, when I may or may not have stopped to address the stomach issues every muscle in both of my legs may have tightened up like a rusted bolt on a John Deere, which always helps when your trying to find a running rythym.

I finished- but nowhere near the top three. In fact, my (maybe) hypothetical pits stop may have allowed James' (my other running partner) seven year old son to finish just ahead of me.

Moral of the story. Take every race as seriously as marathon. Nutrition, routines and good habits matter!

Here's the 411 on today's race:

Someday doesn't exist but Supermen do

"Someday doesn't exist. Never has and never will. There is only right now"

"Real supermen don't leap over buildings in a single bound- they take small determined steps, consistently over time."

My two favorite lines from the this inspirational running video from the Salt Lake City Marathon Facebook page (did I mention that's my spring marathon?) Take the next 2:32 and watch the video now! (Seriously, do it!)

Alright, if you haven't already laced up your running shoes and left for a run- then please finish reading, since, well, you're here anyway.

How many of us have had a fitness or life goal and said "someday I will..."? I know I have, but after the year I had last year I vowed that I would never say "someday" again. I love my job and strive to be a great teacher- but I refuse to sacrifice my health and happiness to get there. I refuse to push off marathon training, or an epic hiking trip for "someday."  If I wish to remain healthy and happy (both make me a better teacher, btw) then I need to run, hike and be active now!

But what about Superman? As my 15-20 faithful readers know, I have an awesome and adorable son, William. Now like most dads, I often wonder what he thinks of me or what he will think as he gets older. I viewed, or maybe still do view, my dad as the perfect mix of Einstein, Superman, and Plato.  What will William think?  I may never be able to "leap over a building in a single bound," but I can set a great example of the importance of being fit and working extremely hard to achieve your goals. If I can impart these two things William will be well on his way to being a great young man.

What do you want to do NOW?! Not someday, but now! Leave a comment on the goals you want to achieve.

Here's the 411 on today's run:

The toughest step?

What is the toughest part of a run? Is it that last push near the finish when you have nothing left? Could it be during mile10 of a long and cold 20 mile training run? Maybe... But for me the toughest part of a run doesn't happen during the run at all.

The toughest part for me? That first step out the door! Being and a husband and father, working a full time job, and  all the other obligations life brings take a great deal of time and energy- that leaves less for my running. Then there are those days where I look outside and its raining, freezing cold, or unbearably humid and I think, "what a day for a run."  Combine being tired with the weather and excuses start to mount, killing my desire to run. And I am sad to say the excuses have kept me from my training more times then I care to admit.

But you know what... On the days when I put aside being tired, the weather, or any of the other excuses I came up with, the run always ends up being worth it. Usually within a few minutes of starting the run, I start to feel really good and end up enjoying the run. And even if I don't fully enjoy the it while I am running, the sense of accomplishment- knowing I am getting healthier and am closer to my goal- always makes the run worth it.

So as training begins I will not let excuses stop me and I will take that toughest step out the door, because I know the payoff is worth it.