Happy Tuesday! The weather sucks (rainy and blah) here so I can’t go out for a lunch time walk so I decided to write this blog instead 🙂
This week’s blogger prompt from Fit Approach is all about motivation and goals. I thought this was a great prompt to not only discuss these two topics, but also how I lost and got my worjout mojo back after a case of the “post race blues”.
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Let me go on record by saying – I love working out. Seriously, I love it! I love the way it makes me feel, I love feeling stronger after a kick-ass workout and I especially love crushing running PRs (rare, but it happens). But let’s face it, even if you love something, you will eventually lack motivation. Sometimes it may only last for an hour or a day, but sometimes it may last a few weeks.
I actually lost my workout mojo last month and it lasted a few days. It was right after I came home after the Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago weekend. I called it the “post race blues”. I was so looking forward to that weekend, meeting Instagram friends, exploring the city and running the races. While I certainly appreciated the weekend, I was so sad that it was over!
For the next week I didn’t run much, maybe 1 or 2 days, and I certainly didn’t do much strength training. I was pretty content reading or watching funny shows on TV (Family Guy is my favorite). But then one day I was instantly snapped out of my mojo funk. My IG friend Karla posted this:
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Although I totally related to the proverb, it was what Karla said in the posting that struck a chord with me: “Your path is your own. Follow it and be proud of it. Wake up and run after it. Just do it!!”
Boom! Motivation regained and I stopped my pity party for one. Sometimes you just have to get up and do it. Don’t overthink. Don’t over-analyze. Just go out there and get the job done.
So after getting over that hump, I looked at my goals for the rest of the year and decided on how to attack them. Those goals include:
- Run 15 half marathons in 2015
- Run 1,007.5 miles in 2015
- Complete the Hat Trick (5K, 10K + half marathon) at the Runner’s World Festival
- Finish NYRR 9+1 and Five-Borough Series
So how am I going to achieve these? I thought about this and attacked it the old fashioned way – with a notebook, my Believe training journal and a pen.
- I’m more than half-way done with my half-marathon goal. I will achieve this goal if I stay healthy and injury free. This means being diligent about stretching and taking recovery days to avoid injury
- I am behind on my yearly goal to run 1,007.5 miles, but if I can run 100+ miles every month until the end of the year, I can hit this goal!
- Starting next month I’m going to mimic the Hat Trick during my weekend runs when I can – 9.3 miles on Saturdays and 13.1 miles on Sundays. This will give me more confidence when going into those races in mid-October.
- I will complete both NYRR goals once I run the Bronx 10-Miler in September. I’m thinking about buying myself a cake to celebrate 🙂
How am I going to keep my motivation going strong?
- I have some great Fall races (and virtual races) coming up in CT, NY, NJ and PA so I think this will help with keeping my motivation on track. I really enjoy running in new places.
- I have re-started the Black Girls Run! group in my city. All the women are currently training for a 5K (either in September or October) and I’m really loving helping everyone reach their goal. It’s one thing to complete your own goals, but its a totally different and rewarding experience when you help someone else reach a goal.
- Also I cannot underestimate all the motivation, support and overall positive energy that comes from my running buddies on social media.
Found this awesome image via Google Images |
- I’m going to need to run a lot and exercise a lot to NOT gain weight between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. I love food, food loves me and thank God I love to exercise, LOL.
I hope that some of these tips may help you get back your mojo if you are currently experiencing a lack of motivation!
Wendy@TakingtheLongWayHome says
I lost my mojo a little bit this spring. I ran my final half, crushed it, and then what? I needed to recover and do the strength cycle my coach had for me. It was hard, and I almost hurt myself. But now I'm back training for my marathon and having fun again! Sometimes a change of pace is all it takes…
kookyrunner says
So true – a change of pace is always welcome! I'm glad that you were able to find your mojo again!
SD Mom says
My mojo has been lost so long that I wouldn't recognize it anymore. This is a little kidding not kidding. I think the story behind IG posts and blogs is much more than what meets the eye Everyone struggles. It is called "work"ing out for a reason. I have to remind myself of that. Thanks for that IG post. Today I will be a gazelle AND a lion!
kookyrunner says
I 100% agree. For me IG posts and blogs give me a source of motivation. I love seeing people post their daily workouts and being proud of what they have accomplished! You give me tons of motivation! I know you will get that mojo back soon 🙂