Many young runners struggle to keep motivated for their sport with new life distractions. It can be a challenge to manage time during the final years of school and throughout university – where exam pressure rises and your social calendar gets busier! Here are some tips to help you stay motivated to keep up your enjoyment and interest for running.
1. Keep a diary
It is useful to keep a training diary. You can use it to log in your times from your training sessions, and keep note of how you felt in the session. That way it is easy to look back and see your improvements and keep you motivated to reach your goals.
2. Race plan, set aims
Have your eyes set on a goal and you will therefore be more determined to achieve it. Your goal could be a particular race, or improving your times in training. That will help to keep you motivated as you will be focussed on one goal rather than many.
3. Invest in a running watch
Quite often, there are times when you will have to run on your own, which some people find tough to stay motivated. Having a watch will help you keep track of your training. For training sessions, you can set the watch to certain time intervals, so there is no need for someone to help time you. This way it is easy to complete a session solo. Record the pace and distance you run, take note of it in your training diary and see your progression as the season goes on! Another useful feature of a watch is a heart rate monitor. This will give you an idea of how hard you are working. Keeping track of your heart rate is also useful for noticing when you are under the weather, as there will be a slight increase in your heart rate, so you know then not to push too hard.
4. Join a running club
Joining a university in an area you are unfamiliar with is a daunting experience. Joining the university athletics club is a great way to meet new people with common interests. It will provide you with people to train with on cold winter nights and also people to socialise with, which really helps the team to bond, creating great team spirit. If you live near one of our stores, take a look at our local club listings that cater for juniors:
5. Time management
Make sure you have a balance between sport, work and socialising. It is challenging to keep focused with so many distractions, such as exams and parties. By managing your time you are more likely to keep on enjoying your sport. Keeping a diary will help.
6. Some little things to get you out the door
- New kit and gear to run in.
- An upbeat music playlist to listen to on your runs.
- Subscribing to a running magazine such as Runners World or Athletics Weekly will provide you with articles which may catch your interest and keep you up to date with the latest news in the running world.
- Wake up in the morning to inspirational quotes and posters on your bedroom wall.
So, there are plenty of ways to stay motivated, whatever your standard. Most importantly, remember to have fun and enjoy yourself. Enjoyment alone will see you from junior to senior level. Good luck!
Source: runandbecome.com