Erin Go Run

Brushing your teeth, putting on sunscreen, running your scheduled run… something we all appreciate after its done; but it never fails that we will try our damndest to talk ourselves out of it before going through. When I plan out a run, I begin it sometimes with a negative perspective. Sometimes I am even thinking negatively before I even think about the run. It’s too ambitious, I won’t have time, someone might be calling me and I will miss the conversation, etc. etc.

It is one of the biggest challenges of running; to stick to your plan, go out, and potentially have the run of your life. It’s much easier to shorten it, run it at a slower pace, or to not even run it at all (if, suppose, you are starving at the time and would rather just eat instead). Every runner knows that after a short warm-up, any doubts will disappear and they will feel better about the run, stick to their original plan, and be happy after the run. But how many of us actually think that far in advance when we are putting our running shoes on? 

If you find yourself doubting how a run will go, how you will do, or whether you even want to do it, a simple trick that running magazines won’t tell you is to SUCK IT UP. Think about the blacked out/ missed workout on your calendar. Or better yet, think about the starving children in Africa that– (just kidding- Bless their poor hearts). If that doesn’t work, another trick is to think about the halfway point and getting there. Once you get halfway, it is just a countdown until you are done. In the end, the point is to challenge yourself to beat your negativity. You never know; you could surprise yourself with a good run (it works for me, anyways).