How do you get motivated every day to run by yourself?

For some people, it's stepping on the scale and seeing numbers you don't want to see. For others, it's knowing you can escape all stresses and worries. Whenever you doubt yourself, remember your goals whether it be dropping weight, preparing for a race or some other lifetime best. Remind yourself why you started and perservere. Some days will be hard and you may miss other days, but don't beat yourself up. Just recover and get back on track the next day. I'm sure you'll do great.

For me, I find my motivation in knowing that there are Freshman coming in who will want to beat me. I'm a rising Junior in High School and I do NOT want any of them to beat me. So, I haul my ass out of bed and I run. I run so I won't lose.

Find a way to run with people. There are people everywhere on the planet who run, you just might have to go out of your way a bit to meet them. Is there a local running club? A shoe store that organize runs? etc, etc. Otherwise, for the days you do have to run on your own, just remember what motivates you during races and dwell on that. That usually gets me out the door pretty quick.

Depends what your goal is. If it is to have a good running season in the fall, just keep reminding yourself you are going to suck and everybody is going to hate you for it if you don't get out there and run.

This first paragraph below is a great summation of motivation. Remember it when you're no longer running competitively in HS or college - you'll need that motivation. Nice post, young'un.

One for All wrote:

For some people, it's stepping on the scale and seeing numbers you don't want to see. For others, it's knowing you can escape all stresses and worries. Whenever you doubt yourself, remember your goals whether it be dropping weight, preparing for a race or some other lifetime best. Remind yourself why you started and perservere. Some days will be hard and you may miss other days, but don't beat yourself up. Just recover and get back on track the next day. I'm sure you'll do great.

For me, I find my motivation in knowing that there are Freshman coming in who will want to beat me. I'm a rising Junior in High School and I do NOT want any of them to beat me. So, I haul my ass out of bed and I run. I run so I won't lose.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I really do enjoy the process, but sometimes it can be a drag after so many weeks on your own. I'll manage though. Cheers!

I am 58 years old. I have been running since I was 10 years old. I have ran in grade school, JHS, High school, open and the rest of all divisions till now which I am in the last of all divisions "Senior" I ran because I love it, it is my passion and I love to compete. I dont do road races but cross country, outdoor and indoor track. From the hills of my former country of Colombia south American till now, the streets of Syosset Long Island I still get up in the morning (5 am) and do my first run. Then after a heavy and highly stressfull day, I do my training run. I do this because it has become part of my life; like brushing your teeth, taking a shower, eating, reading etc, I just got used to do it. But also I have goals and objectives that I want to reach again (Long island Championship, US championship and world masters championship) But regardless of either win or loose, I just want to do well, get good at running. After 48 years I am still learning the "art of running" But after all of these years, I have done it and have taught myself to do it on my own. No training partners, no coaches, no sponsorships etc. It would have helped to have running and training with others but in the long run I have become tougher and I know in the end I still will be the one STANDING!! Discipline and rely on yourself, I guarantee you will succeed.

I think "I want to go for a run" and then I go for a run.

going for a run is the best part of my day.

i've been training "alone" now for close to 20 yrs and prefer it that way. i average running 6 days @ 50-60 miles per week.

i run early AM. taking the extra time to meet with a partner or group to me just seems like time wasted; which could be better spent getting in another mile or two.

I have to motivate myself to run with other people.

I found that it took a few weeks to a month to adjust to the reality of running alone. It does suck in the beginning if you're used to running with a group/team/friends every day.

Trust me, you'll get used to it, and hopefully begin to enjoy it as a part of your routine. Tough it out, you'll be fine.

I normally run alone and rarely have trouble motivating myself to get out the door.

You have to find what it is about running that motivates YOU and use that as your carrot. Whether it is a positive goal that you want to reach for to accomplish (specific time or title) or a negative ghost that you are running away from (weight, etc.)

Fortunately, I enjoy the entire process of training. As a result, I never dread getting out for a workout.

Also, I am VERY entertaining to be around. Just knowing I have an hour to be by myself is all I need to get out the door :)

sub 4

Music ,some good rhythmic hip-hop and your' good to go ! I have trained 3 years by myself, now have absolutely no problems running alone in road races.

Probably not helpful for your situation but in my case the answer is: it's fun.

I enjoy running and don't really ever struggle to get out the door, if anything its something I look forward to.

You, sir or madam, kick ass. I hope that I feel like this when I am 58. Y, donde naciste en Columbia. Mi mama nacio en Bogata (ella es una mezcla, su madre fue meztiza y negra columbiana y su padre fue irish americano). Pardon mi espanol malo. Yo puedo decer mas facil para yo puedo escribir per es la lengua nativo de la familia de me madre. Estoy serio que yo dijo de su coriendo porque es un inspriation.

slowld wrote:

i've been training "alone" now for close to 20 yrs and prefer it that way. i average running 6 days @ 50-60 miles per week.

i run early AM. taking the extra time to meet with a partner or group to me just seems like time wasted; which could be better spent getting in another mile or two.

I am a lot like this to. The vast majority of my running is done alone and I feel the time taken to find a group is just wasted running time that would be better spent running. I also run 6 days a week and 50 to about 65 miles a week (its been a good summer for the miles).

As far as motivating myself there are several factors. I love running, for one, and the activity itself is one of the most, if not the most (at times), satisfying things in my life. Also, on days that it is hard to get out (I have a very busy life) I remind itself of how satisfying it is to write a good total down at the end of the week in my training log. On other occasions I listen to really agro music (yes, I run with an mp3 player! Live with it, haters!). Also, in my family and social circles, I am know as the runner or as a runner. That helps to push me out the door in that, in a healthy sense (as I can see how that could become negative), I let that motivate me. That is about it.

1 beer 2-3 hours before running, makes the dreading go away and you lose the buzz after the first mile, switching the alcohol buzz to running buzz is key