What gets you through a run/jog?

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4/15/12 8:42 P

I don't listen to music, I like hearing my breathing and listening to the world around me. I use visualization (thinking about the path ahead) to keep me focused on long runs. I also like to let my mind wander once my body has settled into a nice rhythm. So I think about what I want to do when I get home, about my longer term fitness goals, about other life events... things that make me feel good!

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4/15/12 6:54 A

The achievement of it. Knowing that I'm pushing my self,knowing that I can do it.

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4/15/12 5:09 A

A few things for me;
My iPod with an upbeat playlist (which sadly, I think is on it's way out )
It may sound a bit crazy, but I give myself pep talks in my head. I say stuff like "Pain is only in the mind", "just keep your feet moving", "one foot in front of the other", "you can do it", "think of how proud and accomplished you'll feel after".
And when I'm feeling a bit tired, I say to myself "you can slow the pace down, but keep jogging"

Basically my run consists of me talking to myself in my head, lol. But sometimes I drift off and think about all the beauty of the nature I'm in.

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4/14/12 10:56 P

Godsmack, Guns N Roses or Avenged Sevenfold on full volume!!!!!! If I really need the extra push, I think about work and how much I HATE my job, that usually gets my adrenaline pumping enough to make it through

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4/14/12 10:38 P

on the treadmill, I don't want to stop running before THAT person does. It's pretty much a non-stop competition.

running outside, I don't want that approaching car to see that I had to quit running. If the streets are really quiet, I push myself to the next driveway, telephone pole, whatever.

I slow my pace if I have to, but I really try to keep from slowing to an actual walk. I'm working to build endurance at a faster pace.

If I'm still not feeling it after 20 minutes or so, I change to a sprint workout (run all out for a few minutes, then walk, sprint, walk, etc)

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4/14/12 10:12 P

When I feel like giving up, I remember having read the brain wanting to give up well before the body having to giving up. Thus I change my thoughts from giving up to some other thought. So far it has always worked for me.

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4/14/12 9:21 P

It's all about the music for me. I wish I had a running partner, but at this time I don't. It took me a long time to find a walking partner.

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4/14/12 10:26 A

Sometimes when it's tougher than other days, I just stop for a minute, close my eyes, pick a pumped up song, and jump right back into it. That can be all I need to stop everything that's swarming in my mind and just clear it out so the only thing to focus on is my run.

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4/13/12 8:08 P

I go biking, jump rope, swim or do something else -- for some reason, running is extremely boring to me. That's why there is not one single exercise or program that is good for everyone.

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4/13/12 5:55 P

I normally run with other people (i.e. the girls in my running club) so that makes the miles fly by.

If I have to run on the treadmill I will generally listen to music. However, I don't really need anything to keep me motivated. I love running and training for races so that alone keeps me motivated.

However, if I am struggling on a run I just imagine myself training and completing my first marathon. I figured if I could get through a marathon I can get through a simple 3-6 mile run.

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4/13/12 3:48 P

Music

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4/13/12 3:40 P

My immediate reward/motivation/distraction, is my little TV I have mounted on the wall in front of my treadmill. It's nice to keep my mind off of the boredom of running. I know the experts say that one should be focused and not distracted, but REALLY. How focused can one truly be mile after mile. LOL By the way, I used to watch news but now I watch CMT, it is much better.

As I build up my speed and reach my present speed goal I find that it take my legs and feet about 1 1/2 mile or so before they stop telling me they are tired. So during this time, I am usually talking to myself anytime I get the thought of stopping and doing better the next day. Then I actually call on my inner strength and God to keep me going. I tell myself that I know I did this just the other day and so I can still do it again or even more now. Eventually I reach that point where my legs catch up to my lungs and heart and they work together smoothly for the rest of my run. I actually hit that point of well being and know I could keep on going, but I don't because it deviates from my plan and I also know that I may pay for it the next day. This is what works for me. I Keep the Faith. So if it helps, Keep the Faith. ;-)

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4/12/12 11:07 P

I don't jog through pain, zombies or imaginary pets.. I do my exercise because I enjoy my independance and want to be able to use my body without help when I get old.. If I slow down or get lazy now, I decide my ending to my life now later in life.. Just do it and and enjoy what it means later..


Edited by: REDSHOES2011 at: 4/12/2012 (23:08)

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4/12/12 10:50 P

There is a cinema cardio room at my gym, so I get into the movie while I'm running on the mill which helps me to keep my mind off of the time.

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4/12/12 10:03 P

It's pretty much auto pilot for me.

I'm going to finish no matter how much I hurt, and finishing running is going to get me finished sooner than walking.

I haven't listened to music for over a year and don't miss it at all.

Edited by: ZORBS13 at: 4/12/2012 (22:03)

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4/12/12 9:29 P

Music and setting intermediate goals such as a landmark ahead. I tell myself if I make it there I can walk for a minute but I usually end up continuing on.

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4/12/12 7:54 P

Accidental double post! Sorry

Edited by: MLAN613 at: 4/12/2012 (19:55)

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4/12/12 7:53 P

Good music. I even do special playlists for races. When I am participating in a race, the tunes and the medal at the finish line keep me going.

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4/12/12 7:40 P

Definitely some good music (can't do the elliptical without it) and I like to let my mind wander. My days are so busy that I don't have a lot of time to just think about things and let myself ponder different situations. During my 40 minutes on the elliptical, I have plenty of time to think!

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4/12/12 6:41 P

Eric Clapton at full volume!!!

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4/12/12 6:02 P

Well, I'm just beginning the C25K. I asked my sons if they would do it with me and they said they would. They are 12 & 17. With them next to me (one runs on each side) it helps so much! They aren't tired, but boy! I am! I can't give up with them there.

Then there is my music. I thank God for music! It helps me to disconnect a bit and just go through the motions. Every now and then I come back and I'm further along the road. Then I feel the pain or lack of breath and focus on the music again.

We live in a very rural area and the "Block" is quite a hike for me right now. It's actually quite perfect since it is 3.2 miles and the 5k is 3.1, but for me it is a hike. I'm obviously not running the whole way (yet!), and the remaining walk was getting to me. I would focus on the stop sign ahead. WRONG plan! I quickly learned to look to the tree up ahead, or the mailbox. That made a huge difference! I then found that I would chose a target, keep walking, and not remember the target until I had passed it. Much better!

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4/12/12 5:40 P

Upbeat music for sure!

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4/12/12 5:20 P

Some jammin' tunes and knowing that I am going to feel incredible once I'm done!

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4/12/12 5:18 P

It is a mixture of what you said. I listen to fast paced music, to keep me motivated. If I am getting tired I will tell myself that I can have a walk break at the next lamp post/parked car/ bus shelter etc. I give myself pep talks, and imagine myself running my first 5K in a few weeks.

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4/12/12 4:56 P

I like fast paced music that I can sing to in my head. When the jog gets long and I think I can't go any more, I pray to get through the end of it. I pretend God puts his hand on my back and pushes me through the rest of it.

Granted I'm a new jogger so I'm hoping this gets easier the more I do it.

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4/12/12 4:55 P

Zombies, Run! If you have an iPod touch or iPhone (android version is coming):

www.zombiesrungame.com

Seriously, I love this game. It gives you interesting little stories to hear, missions to run, and you can listen to your regular music between stories... and you "pick up" supplies to build up your little post-apocalyptic town!

If you use it on the iPhone, you can work in intervals by getting chased by zombies, where random attacks force you to run at least 20% faster to avoid losing your supplies!

(And yes, you can walk.)

Edited by: DRAGONCHILDE at: 4/12/2012 (17:01)

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4/12/12 4:17 P

This is going to sound pretty weird. This is what worked for me yesterday. I imagined I was walking (jogging really) my imaginary pet. I pretended there was a huge dragon running along side me (my pet) and I had to figure out every detail about him before I could do a walking interval. I imagined his size, color, shape, the way he moved, etc. It was amusing to say the least! And it kept me going for a good long while.

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4/12/12 4:00 P

When you're out on a run, or just on a treadmill, what pushes you through? Is it the music you're listening to? Do you have a little 'talk' with yourself when you want to give up? Give yourself 'checkpoints' that you must make it to before you can take a walk break? Sometimes you just have to be better than your body will allow, so what works for you??