Staying on the run and off the couch

The importance of personal fitness differs for everyone. There are some people that simply hate exercise. Others love it. There are those who are obsessed and many people that want to exercise, but battle to find the inner motivation to start or persevere once started.

Whether you love exercise or simply want to live healthily, the most difficult step for any runner is the one out the front door. We all experience days where the motivation to exercise is low, but ironically enough, these are the days we need the run more than usual. We need those endorphins! I always think to myself: “why did I not want to come for this run?”.  The freedom I get from running and the high I experience afterwards is my reward for hitting the road. This blog post is all about staying on the run and off the couch.

I am naturally a morning person and therefore this is my favorite time of day to exercise. It makes me feel awake and motivated for the day ahead. With winter approaching the decrease in temperatures and increase in darkness can easily keep one under the covers. I have been making some small changes in my daily routine to avoid losing to the evil snooze button.

TIPS for sticking to your morning run schedule:

1. Go to bed at a reasonable time to help you feel refreshed the next morning.
   More sleep = more energy for your run.
2. Put your running clothes out the night before (this also results in a feeling of guilt when you pack it away due to missing your run for no good reason).
3. Put your alarm clock (or phone) somewhere in the room that is not next to your bed. This will literally force you out of bed the next morning. Most importantly, do not get back in bed once you have gotten out of bed.
4. Make sure your running watch is charged (and any other relevant gear) – you don’t need excuses not to go.

Generally, after work I am tired and hungry (or even hangry) and experience a greater motivation for my dinner than for a run. This is of course different for different people. I often see people running late at night and really admire their dedication and way of living.

Even though I am a morning person, I do not always manage to be this early bird. Sometimes I wake up and it’s raining cats and dogs. Sometimes the frost or snow covers the roads and my South African mind cannot think about running in negative temperatures. Sometimes I wake up and I simply just want to sleep more. On days like these I had to come up with ways to stay motivated for the afternoon run.

TIPS for sticking to your afternoon run:

1. I set my alarm for a time after work to serve as a reminder that I have an appointment with my running shoes.
2. I have a bigger lunch and/or a substantial afternoon snack. If I am hungry in the afternoon before my run, I will eat a teaspoon of peanut butter (or nut butter of your choice) or 2 dates (or both). This snack serves a dual purpose – it is a tie over until you eat a well-deserved dinner and it gives extra fuel for the road.  
3. Keep moving during the day to avoid feeling sluggish and unmotivated. I try to get up at least once per hour /1,5 hours. Nobody feels good after sitting all day.
4. Avoid sugary snacks and beverages during the day. Fuel your body with food that will release energy (slowly) rather than food that causes a spike-and-drop in your energy.
5. I always tell my husband in the morning that I am running in the evening. He will then ask me after work: “Are you going for your run?”. He creates a sense of accountability and I always feel good when I answer: “Yes I am going!”. Tell a friend about your intentions or even better, make a running date for after work to ensure you stay on the run.

Some of you may think that is sounds extreme to take these rigid steps just to run (where is the fun?), but I believe that we need to implement a little discipline in our lives to get to the fun part (or maybe I am just a control freak). For me the fun lies in the freedom I have while running – the fresh air in my lungs, seeing the sunrise or sunset, seeing beautiful sites that you would never see by car, the sanity I get from the road and that amazing feeling of accomplishment after a run.

Before you all get too worried about my definition of fun here are some FUN and motivational pointers to end off this blog post:

1. Download a new running playlist. Please feel free to share the details of your playlists with me to make my next run more interesting.
2. Choose a new running route in the coming week. I find that a new route gives new running inspiration.
3. Take a scenic picture on your run or take a picture of something that makes you feel inspired to run more. Please share your pictures by tagging me on Instagram (@sanitystrides).

I hope my tips keep you on the run and off the couch!