I had started these thoughts almost a month ago.  Got sidetracked by other some projects, and life.  Funny how that works.  I had committed initially to at least weekly updates of this site.  I wanted to get better at writing. I wanted to let my creative flag (as weak as that might be).  I wanted to emulate the people who write about running that seem to capture running.  I wanted to share some observations about the world.  I wanted to keep a record of my progress and state of running at this point in my life.  I wanted something to show my kids that dad might be goofy, but he was also a pseudo-badass.

It is hard to stay motivated.  Here we are, the first week of February.  The cynic in me thinks that the gyms are empty, the diets have been abandoned, the gear is already collecting dust in the corner of a closet. The optimist in me sees the number of people out training on Rock Island at 7am for the Lincoln Marathon.  I see the kids I coach out running a 400 in 6 inches of snow, just wearing shorts and sport tops.  For fun or the challenge of it.  I see my good friends running 100 milers.  I see people dedicated to all sorts of improvements.

So what keeps them going?  When the alarm goes off at 5am.  When the rain or snow or wind or cold (or all four) is just telling you to give it up for a day.  Beat up from the previous day’s workout, is it a day off or a day easy?

My father, a sports psychologist, talked to me lots about this when I was a younger competitive runner.  Still does.  People use all kinds of tricks.  Rewards when you meet a mini-goal; coffee, doughnut, massage.  Apps on your phone to remind you.  Following your favorite people/companies/whatever on social media outlets (namely Instagram and Facebook).  But peruse ANY online presence (including this one), and by far the most common way people motivate themselves is to post their workout, pictures of their workout, videos of their workout, friends from their workout, their workout route, their workout stats, their goals, events they have signed up for.  Sometimes this is done with discretionary intent. Other times it happens automatically via an app or USB plug-in.  Regardless, you can usually count on someone having told the world about getting their sweat on.

What to do with this onslaught of what could be perceived as a “look at me, look at me”, humblebragging behavior?  In a quick answer, nothing.  There is no reason to give a rip about what people are doing.  Like my dad taught me, if it’s not hurting someone what’s it going to hurt?  Do what you need to do to keep yourself motivated. It might not be my thing, or anyone else’s. But it is your thing, and each person might need to figure that out.  Kind of like running.  Finding your own running gear, your own routes, your own style of racing, and your own ways of motivation.

To all the haters out there, slow your roll.  Getting and staying in shape is hard enough.  You might be amazed what supporting other people can do you for your own performance. Help them get to it.  Whatever it is, rise to it.

EDIT:  I had a goal this year of running a minimum 20 minutes every day.  Looks like that is out the window.  Calf injury.  Bummer.

Just a quick video on the perils of posting your motivations online.  Not a commentary.  Just food for thought.