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

i usually find that women are unhealthily dedicated

Nickelback Rocks wrote:

If you actually like running it shouldn't be a problem at all. If you are like the majority of women who participate in track and XC only for the social aspect then I can see where it might be difficult.

random a hole wrote:

Tiger_runner wrote:

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

1 beer gives you a buzz that lasts 2 hours? I run so I can have the beer after. Your strategy might work well w/ some bud immediately before the run. You just need to put on the shoes/shorts or else you will forget what you were doing.

My bad I tried my own method and its 1 hour later buzz gone. Was 2 last time, I haven't drank a lot recently I guess. The beer out the door might be better. But I usually don't need a beer everytime. Once or twice a month.

Get a die-hard running bud to call you just after wake-up time to be *sure* you're not sleeping in. (I'm actually resorting to this right now.)

I'm another who prefers to run alone. I've been at it for 48 years, running for school and club teams, and the only times I've felt the need to run with others have been when I've wanted to race.

Thank you for your comment. I was born in Bogota as well. I xMW RO RHIA XOUNREY QHWN i Qa 10 and a half years old. When I was 10 I got to see for the first time the south american cross country which ws eventually won by Alvaro Mejia (my hero) who eventually went to the Olympics and was finalist in the 10,000 meters in Mexico, he came in 6th, won the Boston marathon in 1971, San silvester (6 times) and other races, He was one of the top runners during the 1960's and even Ron Clarke (Australia) and Frank shorter had great respect for him I used to see him train in parks, street, tracks and all by himself. He was extremelly influential in my direction towards running. Once I moved to the United states in 1964, I lost touch with him but then in 1978, I saw him once again in San mateo California. he had a running store and was already retired from running of course. I stayed in his house (guest) for about 2 weeks and he was just great. But what I remember he used to tell me was "train hard, train long and train yourself to do oit all by yourself, get tough" Thank you for answering to my post, is nice to talk to another Colombiano.

I run most days alone and the first mile or so sucks until I find my rhythm. Also an IPOD helps.

Choose interesting and/or different routes on a regular basis. Set short-term goals. Vary the type of run/workout you are doing.

Get to know yourself better while you are on the run.

It is interesting to see your posts from Columbia. I ran with Pedro Grajales a few times when he was here attending the local college. It was impressive for me to run with him, a very fine person and Olympian. I have a photo of him somewhere, waving from the track.

JoeShmoe wrote:

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.

Clubs are a great resource! I do a speed workout with a club once a week (another on my own), also sometimes run on my own, then join club friends for post-run socializing.

But most of my runs are solo--and what I love about running is that I don't HAVE to have a partner or group every time. I have the freedom to enjoy a run by myself--no one to impress, no one to try to keep pace with, just me and the trail or the road or the track... and my own goals.

So I guess with the club I have the best of both worlds: I get the group energy in some workouts and runs, while also having the time to myself that I need other days.

For me, running is as the Columbian poster mentioned as necessary as eating, sleeping, etc. It's part of who I am. Some days--when it's hot and humid and I feel my age--I wonder how I go on, but I just do because I know that as with everyday life, there are hard days and easy days, and going on beats the alternative: sitting and waiting... for what?

At 60, I have a resting heart rate in the 30s and a blood pressure of about 90something/50something. I'm not getting PRs anymore, but with these numbers, I'm staying alive... but more important than any numbers: I'm LIVING life. When I run by myself, I notice things that I might not otherwise. I exchange greetings with other runners or just people in my neighborhood. Lots of people would give anything to have my health, so when I start feeling unmotivated, I think what are you whining about? You CAN DO THIS! So DO IT!

I'm grateful that I can--and will keep running as long as my body lets me.

Cool bro, cool.I am mixed and I look pretty white but I keep my mom's Columbian heritage close to my heart.

I consider myself full American because I love this country and have been here for a very long time but of course I dont deny my Colombian background and heritage. Like you I still feel Colombia close to my heart. After 46 years of living in the US, I went back to Colombia for the first time two years ago. It was self discovery and the land I used to run when I was a boy. It was a powerful experience and despite the fact that I did not see or wrote to my father in all of these years (parents divorced when I was 3 years old) I found him! In those "lonely runs" he would come to my mind as well as Alvaro Mejia. There is more soul and self searching in those runs of solitude than when you run with others. You just kep working by yourself long and hard and that Colombian (your mother) in you will emerge.

Personally, I love doing long runs by myself. Its only me, and the ground. I feel my breathing, the effort, my body and I know I'm in control. Sometimes I risk too much and pay it in the last miles.

It gives you mental strenght, whether normal or long runs, or fast workouts, sometimes it'll be normal to feel slugish and it costs to get started, but once you go, you ease into it and feel good.

If you want to be good, you have to get used to training alone, in group, under scorching heat, under rain, early morning, night. It will make you a true athlete, and for me, that's the part of my life that defines me.

The only runs you regret are the ones you don't do.

to paraphrase someone better than me...

"somewhere someone is training....when you meet him...he will beat you"....

in other words, get out there.

Running is just what I do. Daily motivation is rarely required. I like running and I'm serious about my goals so I just do it. It's habit.

I'll be honest that in the dead of winter when it's dark and cold and I'm out there alone sometimes I have to motivate myself. Usually thoughts of being fast help.

Realize that there is someone at Fukushima who is risking their life everyday. Then your workout will feel a lot easier.

Snoop Dogg of science wrote:

The only runs you regret are the ones you don't do.

So true.

I'm the only one who can motivate thy self. Like someone mentioned above, it becomes a part of you. Without it, I feel lost...

Running is the only time of my day when I actually get to be by myself and no one is making demands of me. I also use it to listen to interesting podcasts on the ipod - from funny ones like the sklar bros, to neil tyson's startalk, to planet money, to this american life, and so on.

I'm torn. I love solitude, but I enjoy running with others when the going gets tough. I feel that for whatever reason I can push harder when others are there beside me. Maybe it's a competitive thing or a confidence thing or an insecurity thing. I don' know; it's just WAY easier.

I do 99% of my runs alone, but would very much like to start running with others on a regular basis. Hard to find someone at the same level who wants to run at the same time.

Motivations: 1)At 65 I see that the peer group that I grew up with and who have not been active are dying off now. 2)As a life-long runner my vitals are as good as they were in high school; to me 100 yrs does not appear to be a longshot. I relish the challenge! 3)My cataracts were removed 2 years ago; 63 years of myopia have been corrected to 20/15 vision. I am now running w/o glasses or contacts. The freedom gets me up and out everyday. 4)The PNW is gorgeous, the trails are wonderful and the season changes keep the running scenery stimulating. 5)Due to a bit of arthritis from aging, distances over 6-7 miles at a time are uncomfortable. Despite that restriction I still can manage to place near the top of my age group in the occasional race which is fun. That's all.