Out the door

I've had a few people email me recently to tell me how they appreciated to hear that other people (for instance - me) had problems keeping motivated all the time.

Well if hearing that I have problems getting motivated to go run or swim or bike helps make someone feel a little better about their own motivational issues - I'll go one further. I have trouble getting motivated to get out the door most of the time. In fact, as I'm typing, I'm trying to psych myself into running tonight. My legs have been sore lately and we have a family movie night that we like to do on Friday's. It would be easy just blow off the run.

However, I'm going to try to get it in. Here are a few of the tricks I use to get out the door. Hopefully, one of them will work tonight.

1. Just start getting dressed – without thinking, just start putting on your workout clothes. It's easy to call off a ride or run if you're slumped in your easy chair after work or lying in a comfortable bed before. However, pride won't let you skip out of your daily run if you're already dressed for the occasion.
   
2. Tell yourself you are only going to workout for 15 minutes. That shouldn't seem too hard. You'll be surprised how better you'll feel after ten minutes and when you do, it's easy to go a little bit longer.
   
3. Think about all the work you've put in so far. If every day off decreases your fitness level – it'd be a shame to let all that time you've put in go to waste.
   
4. Change up your pace for a few seconds. Whether it be running, biking or swimming, unless you are a competitive athlete, you probably rarely do intervals. But intervals not only help speed you up, they also help with the monotony that can drag you down in training for marathons and triathlons. So every ten minutes in your workout – go hard for 15 or 30 seconds. It'll be uncomfortable and it'll hurt a bit, but you'll be surprised how quickly the session will go. Plus, you'll probably find you'll get a little faster after a few weeks of this.
   
5. Mp3 players are not a bad thing. I used to fight against using music when I ran – it didn't feel "pure" and I felt it took away from my "me" time. But training for the Ironman, I needed something other than just my thoughts. A good play list can do wonders for a long monotonous run. I use one most of the time now and even bike while listening on "low" in one ear.
   
6. Go buy some new equipment. Shallow I know, but I've guilted myself into running or biking many times by purchasing some new shoes or gear. The motivation being if I'm not using my new gear, I'm wasting money. This is a great way to try out cool new stuff and reinvigorate your workouts (It's also a good way to get in trouble with your significant other by spending too much money on your hobby, but that's another issue entirely).
   

All that said, the best motivator I have is thinking about the sense of accomplishment I know I'll have after I complete the workout and the sense of loathing I'll have if I don't finish it.

Out the door

I've had a few people email me recently to tell me how they appreciated to hear that other people (for instance - me) had problems keeping motivated all the time.

Well if hearing that I have problems getting motivated to go run or swim or bike helps make someone feel a little better about their own motivational issues - I'll go one further. I have trouble getting motivated to get out the door most of the time. In fact, as I'm typing, I'm trying to psych myself into running tonight. My legs have been sore lately and we have a family movie night that we like to do on Friday's. It would be easy just blow off the run.

However, I'm going to try to get it in. Here are a few of the tricks I use to get out the door. Hopefully, one of them will work tonight.

1. Just start getting dressed – without thinking, just start putting on your workout clothes. It's easy to call off a ride or run if you're slumped in your easy chair after work or lying in a comfortable bed before. However, pride won't let you skip out of your daily run if you're already dressed for the occasion.
   
2. Tell yourself you are only going to workout for 15 minutes. That shouldn't seem too hard. You'll be surprised how better you'll feel after ten minutes and when you do, it's easy to go a little bit longer.
   
3. Think about all the work you've put in so far. If every day off decreases your fitness level – it'd be a shame to let all that time you've put in go to waste.
   
4. Change up your pace for a few seconds. Whether it be running, biking or swimming, unless you are a competitive athlete, you probably rarely do intervals. But intervals not only help speed you up, they also help with the monotony that can drag you down in training for marathons and triathlons. So every ten minutes in your workout – go hard for 15 or 30 seconds. It'll be uncomfortable and it'll hurt a bit, but you'll be surprised how quickly the session will go. Plus, you'll probably find you'll get a little faster after a few weeks of this.
   
5. Mp3 players are not a bad thing. I used to fight against using music when I ran – it didn't feel "pure" and I felt it took away from my "me" time. But training for the Ironman, I needed something other than just my thoughts. A good play list can do wonders for a long monotonous run. I use one most of the time now and even bike while listening on "low" in one ear.
   
6. Go buy some new equipment. Shallow I know, but I've guilted myself into running or biking many times by purchasing some new shoes or gear. The motivation being if I'm not using my new gear, I'm wasting money. This is a great way to try out cool new stuff and reinvigorate your workouts (It's also a good way to get in trouble with your significant other by spending too much money on your hobby, but that's another issue entirely).
   

All that said, the best motivator I have is thinking about the sense of accomplishment I know I'll have after I complete the workout and the sense of loathing I'll have if I don't finish it.

Things I learned on the way to completing an Ironman

Little things I found out while training for an Ironman Louisville -

Swimming:

People have varying opinions about whether or not shaving your legs makes you a faster cycler, but the consensus is that it does help your swimming. In doing my first Ironman – I went all the way and shaved. It didn't make me feel any faster, but it did make me awful uncomfortable as the hair grew back. It itched everywhere.

Wetsuits really do help you float. It's like wearing a bunch of inflatable floaties all over your body. It's hard to sink. As such, I can understand why some feel that wetsuits can take away from the grueling experience of completing an Ironman. On the other hand, I'd hate to swim in 75 degree water without one. They do keep you warm.

Pam sprayed on the ankles right before you put on the wetsuit, really does make it easier to take the suit off layer.

In the Ironman, it's about form, not how quickly or hard you swim.

Biking:

You don't wear anything under the cycling shorts – wearing underwear or something else could cause chaffing. Feels weird at first but you get used to it.

Cycling is a very expensive sport.

On the long Ironman course, most don't stop to use the restroom. They just use some of the water on their bike to wash off afterwards – if you know what I mean.

Aero bars can really make it easier to ride long – but they are not easy to get used to.

Clipping off your peddles (before you fall) is a learned skill. And by learning, I mean you have to fall a few times before you get the hang of it.

It doesn't matter how much you train, if you can't find nutrients that your stomach can keep down – it's going to be an even longer and more painful event than you imagine.

Unfortunately, the only way you can find what nutrients your stomach can handle is by doing 5 or 6 hour bike rides, while experimenting with intake, and then going for a little run afterwards.

Running:

You should put on the triathlon suit and model it for your kids and just let them get the giggling out of the way (same thing for cycling gear).

How well you can run a marathon, has nothing to do with how well you'll be able to run a marathon after swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112.