I was initially motivated to start running again by a few co-workers. First, my immediate supervisor decided to run the Detroit Free Press Marathon a few years ago. He managed to finish his first marathon with a time fast enough to qualify him for Boston. Since then, he has run 3 or four marathons a year. He's a great mentor.
Also, another co-worker that was running last year's Chicago Marathon passed away. I'm sure you saw the press about it, especially if you are a runner.
Finally, I am inspired by the thought of being around a lot longer for my children. I have 2 kids and have been on the road to obesity and all the ills that go along with it. Now, though, I am in better shape, have more energy, and am in a better mood most of the time!!! I have a lifetime to enjoy with them now!
I've run as part of a general fitness regime for as long as I can remember. When in primary school, I used to enjoy the Cross Country runs we did, especially when we had to run alongside and jump over the creek out the back of our house, cos we used to play there all the time! I'm sure some of my enjoyment at the time came from the knowledge that my Dad was a runner also. I found out many years later that he was a New Zealand Army Cross Country champion for several years, but he never told me that.
As I progressed through high school, I played various team sports and running was always a staple of the fitness side of things. I represented my school several times, but was only ever an 'also ran' at inter-school level.
Come the Navy and again, running was a central part of our fitness workouts. I finally got seriously interested in running for running's sake after hearing about Rod Dixon's and Alison Roe's international marathon successes. Rod had been a member of the inspirational kiwi middle distance trio (the others being John Walker and Dick Quax), who enjoyed the international limelight while I was a teenager. I eventually had to give team sports away in my mid-twenties and started running seriously then. I discovered running magazines courtesey of my local library and devoured them until I'd read all the back issues I could get my hands on and then subscribed myself.
I've found over the years that my principle motivator is my next race. If I don't have a race to aim for, be it next week or in 6 months time, I am quite easily dissuaded from heading out the door for my training. I am now a masters runner (age 44) and one day hope to win a prize for being the oldest participant in a major marathon.
I hope I haven't put you all to sleep. (Both of you that actually read this!) Like kiwitifosi above, I love the feeling you get from being fit and healthy and out there doing it. Run on!
I run for my wife... What I mean is my family history is not good; heart problems and such, so I run to buck the family history. Thus I can hopefully live longer and spend more time with my wife. I know it sounds corny but it is the truth.
I have a tiny bedroom (I live in a shared house) and one day after trying to workout in my room I banged my foot on a socket and it hurt. So after that day I have been running now for 2 weeks. I love it, I love the feeling of completing a route I made up myself, pushing to see how far I can go. And the actual completing a jog is very overwhelming sense of achievement. I am discovering new things about myself and running is one way where nothing matters at that point in time, just me running and I feel so free and good.
I can't wait for my daily fix after work!
My girlfriend motivates me to run without knowing it.
She is a marathoner, and is a very inspirational person to me.
Also, the reward of accomplishing a personal goal is very motivational. I like being able to set a mileage...and then reach it.
I run for fitness and health, both physical and mental. I find it incredibly liberating just being out there in the fresh air sweating it all out. I get to process all my thoughts and problems through running and often turn negatives into positives. To keep me motivated I always need a target in order to keep me focused by signing up for another race as soon as (or before) I've completed a race, normally a marathon. If I'm ever lacking inspiration I often watch old clips of my fellow countrymen, Steve Ovett and Seb Coe do battle. Amazing motivation to get my arse out of the door.
Towards the end of last year, I was setting one of those new year's resolutions to run in the new year. You know, the kind you don't keep... : )
My cholesterol was high, my weight OK - but could stand to lose a little.
Then on Dec. 30th, my best friend had a heart attack at age 38. He was more out of shape than I was, but that really hit me hard. He survived, but it was pretty scary. That's when I decided that I HAD to do something.
Like many of you, I want to be around for my family - I want to be there to see all my kids' highlights, and to be a grandpa some day.
I've found running to be great therapy for my mind and my body. I'm down 20 lbs since the first of the year, and feel good and feel good about myself.
I'm hoping to ask my doctor if I can go off the cholesterol medication, and manage it on my own...!
I've been running since I was 13, so I guess that would be almost 8 years now. My motivations have changed slowly over the years, going through different phases. I originally started running because it was the first year i could play sports for my school so I tried all of them including xc/track. I was decent at it so I kept at it. My first year or two in high school we had a pretty good xc team so my only motivation was running my best for the team. The guys on my team truly loved the sport. I saw how much it meant to them and I wanted to do everything I could to help make it memorable for them, and in turn I grew to love the sport myself. As I started getting better, my attention gradually shifted to winning individually. By my senior year my main focus was an individual state championship. I still cared about the team but I knew that if I achieved my individual goal the team would do well. Now that I'm in college and individual championships are out of the question, my ultimate goal is simply to test my physical limits. It has become an addiction and going to practice is the thing I look forward to most during the day, the harder the workout the better. I find that, in competitive distance running, a love of the sport is the only real motivation; everything else is just a goal.
I run for my mentor phil
I run for my best friend and training partner cliff
I run because of the reaction you get from people in their cars when its 20 degrees out and your chargin up a hill during rush hour.
I run because I love the feeling of freedom - that's my greatest motivation, the wind in my face, the amazing scenery around me, the time and space to get lost in your thoughts. The feeling of pushing your body hard and the endorphin rush. I quit smoking at New Year so the health benefits of running and the endorphins are a really big motivator for me. But I just really enjoy it. Plus it's the first physical thing I have ever enjoyed such a feeling of accomplishment and success with.
Occaisionally Lindt bunnies are my motivation!
I am so with you on that one - I reckon I have just swapped my nicotine addiction for an endorphine addiction!! I get the same frustrated 'grump' on if I don't get my sports fix now as I used to get if I was deprived of cigarettes. Turns out this sport thing costs about as much too! But it's also more fun and it does feel great to start repairing some of that damage you've done (I love running past smokers on the street- I shouldn't say it but I feel wonderfully superior!! he he). Although at the same time it's very embarrassing explaining to the super-fit running peeps that you haven't always been like this and you used to - dah-dah-daaaaah - smoke!
I run largely for my mental health. It really helps to fight bouts of depression and keep built-up anxiety at a minimum.
Additionally, for my best friend. We are running our first marathon together in September. In general, it makes me feel well!
For me, the real question is what get's me going on Tuesdays for intervals? It's the fact that as slow as I am, I will have a good morning at the track... nowhere for my times to go, but down. I don't have a problem getting out the door for LSD's, Hills, or Tempo's...but intervals...take motivation.
I also need motivation to keep going after 4, 880's. I'm doing Yasso's, start at 3 and building one per week to 10. Next week is 7. I always want to run home after 4.... I keep going because I know they are helping my speed and I want to run a respectable Half in October.
dude77:I run so I look good for the chicks. Shallow, yes.
I run cos' I'd LIKE to look good for the chicks, but looking at my middle-aged carcass in the mirror is motivation enough
dude77...hahah...I otally callmy young hot body a carcass!! Because in reality...that is all it is+ Anyway, I read a really cool short on one of my favourite women's running sites www.traxee.com .
For me...there are three things, my vanity, my health, and the freedom I feel when running...GEEZ...what more than those three things could I possibly need in life+
Best Wishes
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