The Beast Within

Perhaps the most haunting aspect of running is the fear of failure, the lapse of zeal, or just plain ole' athletic neurosis. What must we do to stay motivated? Where do we allow our minds to take us when our ambition to run is weighed down with the garbage we collect in our thoughts and sometimes our bodies? Who do we seek out to relieve us of such shortcomings? Ourselves of course! Every one of us has these days, some more than others, when we simply can not and will not allow ourselves to pursue something that is driving us. When the inner tenacity that propels us to go for a run is being slain by the beast within we know we are in trouble. I Love Nike, but "Just do it" sometimes simply is not enough. So what is enough? The scales will tip on this one depending on your approach.

It is mandatory to know WHY you run, what you are trying to accomplish, and what results you want. Before you go out on your run set the distance or time, set a pace, and know what type of run you want. Will it be an easy run or a tempo run? Will you go long or do speed work? Hills or flats? Defining the run prepares you mentally for it, you know what you are in for, and you are better prepared. The beast is smarter than we think at times so in order to prevail we must also have structure. Set the time you are going to run the night before and DO NOT deviate from it. It is like setting your watch, but you are setting your mind. You now know the type and time your run will take place hours before hand. The beast must sleep also you know, and as you both sleep perhaps a happy medium will occur when you awake to take care of the business of running, because it is just that. Ever wonder why everyone doesn't run or exercise? Sloth, that is why. We all know now about proper eating and exercise, no more excuses of blissful ignorance. We have become a nation of little, uh sometimes big, Sloths. We as runners are not such creatures, so why allow our minds to convince us other wise?

I can almost certainly assure you that after the first few miles the beast will be onto other victims, and you will be free to fly away in your blissful thoughts and feel your legs getting stronger with each stride, your heart and lungs pumping your body full of energy, energy that you burn to catapult your running to the next level. It is like having to walk a long way to the ice cream store, or waiting in line for that perfect slice of pizza. It is always worth the wait and in our running it almost always produces a feeling of joy once we get over the initial few miles. Of course there are the days when we leap out of bed and have no mental hindrance whatsoever. Many of us have lots of these days. We all will surely have days that will test our resolve and these will be most rewarding to those of us who prevail in overcoming the obstacles that we create in our minds. No one else put these thoughts in our heads and no one else can remove them except us. When we run we are masters of our own universe, the road opening our minds and allowing us to think clearly and definitively. Our runs become our daily dose of good will and inspiration and that in itself is enough to overpower any and all mental deterrents we create.

All of us are works in progress and the challenges that face us in life are no different than the ones discussed here. Overcoming a lack of motivation in running will do wonders for that OTHER thing we all do called Life. Enjoy your next run and Be Well!