Motivation and running consistency go hand in hand. If you can't find the motivation to run, then, your training program is going to definitely suffer, thus you won't be able to go far down the road to achieve your desired results.
At first, your motivation is strong, however as time passes, it tends to fade ways by the side and weakens, hence runners need to train their mind to perform better as hard as they train their bodies.
As a result, here are three strategies you can use instantly to improve your running motivation and achieve staggering consistency with your training program.
1. Think Long Term
Instead of thinking of the immediate difficulty of a running session, you may try to widen your horizon a bit and think of the long term consequences of taking the right actions. We, human beings, are wired to seek immediate gratification without thinking much ahead in time. Of course, starting anything from scratch can be too overwhelming or even painful, however, you can turn your mind off the pain by just keeping your eyes on the prize at the end of the road.
Therefore, if you want to run regularly, you need to set long term goals and keep your mind focused on achieving them. Don't let temporary discomfort or impulse thinking get in your way. And learn to delete immediate gratification by being patient and determinant. You should also write and rewrite your goals, this entices your mind to turn off the current displeasure and focus more on the long term rewards. Just make sure that your goals are clear, concise and realistic. Ignoring the latter condition is the reason why many beginning runners get disappointed with their training programs. Set challenging, but realistic goals.
2. Reward Yourself
Rewards can be a driving force to run and exercise. Therefore, if you have completed a set of hard running workouts, you should give yourself a reward. This will teach your mind to appreciate the training and be more motivated and excited for the next run. Rewards can also make the workout more pleasurable and worthwhile.
A good reward can be a new pair of running shoes, a dinner at a fancy restaurant or anything else where you get to treat yourself nicely and have a good time; for me, just taking a long bath while reading my favorite fiction author does the job. However, you shouldn't reward yourself by unhealthy eating - this is especially true if you're trying to lose weight. Otherwise you comprise your weight loss efforts.
3. Modeling
Wyatt Woodmall (mental performance expert) defines modeling as the process of seeking and applying useful knowledge. According to this strategy, you don't have to reinvent the wheel; instead you should seek other runners who have achieved the same results you're after, then ask for their advice and guidance, hence you can piggyback on their successes and failures. We do stand on the shoulders of giants as Isaac Newton said.
Running with a more experienced partner is the best training strategy for both increasing your motivation and enhancing your running mechanics and performance. Nevertheless, this partner should be keenly aware of your situation and actually be in possession of some useful knowledge. Just head to your local sport club and look for a potential candidate.
