Have you ever felt like getting up from the couch and going for a run is the hardest thing in the world?
 
Well, such experiences are usually blamed on the “lack of motivation” …

But what is motivation, really?
 
Does it have to be the driving force and reasoning behind all your actions, or is there something more to that?
 
In this article, I'm going to give you my take on motivation and how you can use it to enhance your running results.

What is Motivation?

Motivation is defined as the reason for an individual to do something that will help them achieve a certain goal.

And it’s very simple - If you don’t have the motivation, you won’t have the energy to do the things you have to do.

Motivation is generally divided into two subtypes - External & Internal motivation.

Ever tried to do a race just for the belt buckle…?
 
This is external motivation - When you are doing certain things for something OUTSIDE of yourself.

Then oppositely, you have internal motivation, which is the realisation that what you’re doing is ultimately better for your OWN greater good.

External motivation is usually less sustainable because it is less controllable.

This is exactly why you have to rely on internal motivational factors, which will give you things no one could ever take away from you.

Finding Your Inner Motivation

For some of you, it may feel that finding the inner motivation is something far-fetched and not even remotely doable…

However, we are here to suggest to you that you can find motivation in discipline!
 
If you rely on motivation entirely, you will certainly know that when you’re tired, you won’t do what you have to do (because you don’t have motivation).

Conversely, if you establish discipline, you’ll do what it takes, whenever.

And discipline is made out of habits! (Contact me to purchase the habits webinar complete with workbooks!!)

There is a tendency for people to attach meaning to things that give them results.

And when it comes to your running and health, here are the things that will make that impact:

#1 Creating a sustainable nutrition plan

Your health is NOTHING without the nutrients it needs on a day-to-day basis.

You are responsible for giving your body those nutrients, through well-selected food sources.

It is highly recommended that you AVOID following trends and instead, apply principles in your nutrition plan.

For instance, if you’re trying to lose weight, don’t follow the keto diet, but rather create a caloric deficit from eating whole foods and in a way that doesn't interfere with your running.

Ultimately, the best nutrition plan is the one you can adhere and stick to and that helps you on your way to achieving your running goals.

Choose what you can stick to and make sure you are giving the body all the essential nutrients that it needs (proteins, fats, carbs, vitamins and minerals).

If you need help with nutrition, I am a qualified sports nutritionist so can help you with a plan; contact me to find out more!!

#2 Focus on the right things.

The reason why many people lose motivation is that they focus on the wrong things during their running journey.

For instance, measuring your running fitness just based on Strava can be FATAL for your motivation levels.

Comparison is the single most dangerous tool that can ruin your day, mood, and feeling of progress.

While tracking your running, make sure to also track things like:

1. Mood
2. Energy levels
3. How you feel when running
4. How you sleep
5. Athletic performance: are you improving, plateauing or going backwards?

In doing all of this, you will find other aspects to give meaning to and thus increase your motivation in the long term.

#3 Focus on Discipline.



Some people view the running journey as something with a start and end date.

Like if once you achieved your race goal, you won’t have to change anything about your running for the rest of your life to reach new goals, and in fact can take long blocks off running without detriment.

The harsh truth is it really isn’t ANYTHING like this…

Training and nutrition are HABITS you should develop to take care of your body and increase the overall quality of your life.

You should not require motivation to do those things but instead, as we said, develop them as habits and stay disciplined towards them

This is the only way to maximise long-term progress.

Conclusion

Motivation can be both amazing for you to get you started, but on the flipside, something that can actually ruin your long-term progress when it wanes.

The feeling of a motivation spike that keeps tight hold of you is like nothing else, but the truth is that it is not eternal, just like everything else in this life.

For that exact reason, relying solely on motivation means you are doomed eventually.

When it comes to working on your health, wellbeing and running development, motivation does not last.

Discipline does.