Every runner knows that a good chunk of running is mental.  Even the most joyous and most dedicated runners don’t find it easy to get going every single time. This can be for any number of different reasons, from mental stress and feeling overwhelmed by life, to physical fatigue; from pull factors such as a nice warm bed, to push factors like a cold rain coupled with a bitter wind.  Whatever the reason, every runner looks for a little boost in motivation from time to time.

One thing that can work, and also be fun, is to surround yourself with physical reminders of your favourite sport.  This can be anything: trinkets, posters, quotes, books – whatever works for you.

Personally, I find this works on a number of levels.  It can be as simple as to provide the mental stimulus to remind me to run.  But on a deeper level, I think it works for me because these things are a reminder of my identity as a runner.  Owning a coffee mug that says “Addicted to Running” on it does not actually motivate me to run, but rather reinforces to me that I am a runner, and for a million different reasons, that is a part of me, and it is good.

Of course, I find that not every piece of running paraphernalia makes me feel that way, and I can’t relate to every advertisement or quote that was uttered by a famous runner; and of course, not everything that I like will work for every runner.  Whatever I use in this manner was usually chosen because it evokes something inside of me, be it a powerful memory, a good laugh, or some sentiment I can relate to.  It has to tickle one or more of my intrinsic motivators in order to be effective.

For example, when I see t-shirts that use “Trample the weak, hurdle the dead” as a running quote, it doesn’t do anything for me, probably because competition is not one of my main intrinsic motivators.  Yet I love my t-shirt that says “Find your happy pace” on it, because joy is among my primary motivators.

I would love to hear what things you have kicking around, and, if you know, why you relate to them.  Is it an ad torn out of a magazine, a quote, a book, a key chain?  Jump in and comment below!

I can find the good in almost any weather.  Today, not so much.

So to get me, and anyone else who wants to in the mood for a treadmill run (but don’t try this at home!):

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJulhGUh8vU&feature=player_embedded

I like to run in the morning.  I also like fall.  So the fascinating paradox is that I always find it so hard to get up to run in the morning come fall.

I am not sure whether it is because it is getting cooler out – at this time of year it is hard to dress because the weather hangs out in that zone where you can’t decide shorts vs. capris and short sleeves vs. long sleeves, and you spend some mornings freezing and other mornings melting because you just can’t get it right.  Maybe it’s the fact that it is darker – but I do adjust to that eventually.  Maybe it is just the transitional nature of the season.

Whatever the reason, if you like to run in the morning but have more trouble getting moving in the fall, I’ll share with you what I do to make sure I get up, and I would love to hear your suggestions as well!

I lay out my clothes the night before, and have a few choices.  That way I don’t say “oh well it’s much too cold for shorts, but I can’t turn the light on in the bedroom to find my pants and risk waking my husband! Might as well go back to bed.”

I try not to think.  As dumb as it sounds, when I wake up in the night and calculate how much time is left until it’s time to get up, I spend a few moments debating whether I should even get up, or just reset the alarm.  To avoid that thought even entering my mind, I just try not to think at all, or at least limit the thought to “ungh. Not time yet.”

Recently, I have taken to putting a small lamp in another room on a timer, set to come on just before the alarm.  That way I feel like it isn’t so early and dark and miserable.  This helps for getting up on non-run mornings too!

Most importantly, I remind myself that I never regret running.  I had the debate just this morning – the bed was so warm, I felt so sleepy and comfortable, I didn’t particularly feel like running.  Then I said this:  “do you ever regret skipping a run?  Yes.  (By “you,” of course I meant me.  Please don’t lock me up.) Do you ever regret going for a run?  No.”  With all the other stuff that goes on in a day, who really needs to add regret to the equation?  End of debate.

You know what else I love about fall?  It is a great time of year for food.  Superfoods like fresh, crunchy apples (I love you, apples!), squash and pumpkins, not to mention underground favourites such as sweet potatoes, carrots, onions and beets.

Really, I could go on about the foods of fall forever, but instead I will refer you to a recipe to enjoy for yourself.  I really like this recipe for Winter Vegetable Hash from allrecipes.com.  It has a variety of colours, including red bell peppers, Yukon gold potatoes, acorn squash, shiitake mushrooms and kale.

If you’ve noticed a trend with the recipes I tend to talk about, it’s that they’re all easy, and this one is no exception (this is because I don’t really like to cook!).  It is mostly just chopping and stirring, no fancy tricks.  It is quick enough to whip up on a weeknight, yet delicious enough to serve at Thanksgiving.

If you’re concerned about the fat content, you probably don’t need all that butter, but man, it sure makes it taste good!