I know firsthand how hard it is to get up, get dressed and go running when you don’t feel like it. And let’s not forget those moments when you’re out on the run and you keep asking yourself: Why shouldn’t I stop? I’ll run more tomorrow… Can’t I make an exception today and run just half of what I aimed for?

An animal companion is just as good as any!

Well, you could make an exception… Or you could find the fill power to carry on! Whether it’s boredom, fatigue or you just have something on your mind you can always have a change of attitude and make it fun, invigorating and relaxing.

Get up and go…

Taking the decision to put your clothes on and go might be the most difficult part. But just do it! Why isn’t now the best moment? Is it because you’re tired? Well, you’ll feel much better after you exercise.
Having a schedule can help you a lot to stay determined. You don’t have to take a decision and convince yourself to get up. That’s just the program. You go to work daily, right? If the time you designated for training doesn’t work some days, you could pick a compensation hour, a time later in the day when you make up for skipped training sessions.

Run with a friend! If you usually run with somebody, you’ll motivate each other to take the initiative…

While on the run…

When you have to run for more than 15 minutes it can be boring at times. And let’s not forget how hard it is to motivate yourself when you’re having a hard time, like trying to improve your resistance, pushing yourself an extra mile.

What’s important is to try not to focus on how long the trail is, how painful it is, how more there is to go. Think of something else, what happened during the day, what you’re going to do tonight. Let your body do the work and relax your mind.

Use the miracle of music! Running to a beat is amazing. I’ve often felt that music can move my body all on its own. Find an appropriate rhythm that matches your steps, and pick some songs you like.

If you don’t need rhythm to move, but you could use something to entertain you and make time go faster, why not upload an audio book or a stand-up on to your iPod? I ran to a lecture track once. It was part of a listening exercise for the TOEFL exam. It was a great time saver, and I stayed so focus that I didn’t even realize I ran an extra mile. Anything you might enjoy that doesn’t require viewing the video will go a long way…

Do your best to stay motivated and then you’ll just wake up one day and say: “Hey! It’s been over a month since I last skipped my training session!”