50 Ways to Be a Runner

"The problem is all inside your head, she said to me
The answer is easy if you take it logically
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
There must be fifty ways to be a runner

She said it's really not my habit to intrude
For the more I hope my meaning won't be lost or misconstrued
So I repeat myself, at the risk of being cruel
There must be fifty ways to be a runner, fifty ways to be a runner

Just slip out the back, Jack, make a new plan, Stan
Don't mean to annoy, Roy, just listen to me
Skip the bus, Gus, don't need to discuss much
Just a quick three, Lee, and get yourself free"

 ~~adapted from Paul Simon, Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover

Can't get off the couch, grouch? Need a push outside, Clyde? Lost your way, Kay? Just listen to me. Slip on your shoes, Cruz and show us your moves. There are 50 ways to be a runner. Probably more. Get yourself free...

1. Run first thing in the morning before you have time to think about it.

2. Wear out your favorite running clothes.

3. Remind yourself how bad you'll feel if you don't go.

4. Watch ultrarunning videos on YouTube. Then run.

5. Read race recaps for motivation.

6. Think about your worst race and how you finished anyways.

7. Think about your best race and remember the training that got you there.

8. Drink a cup of coffee.

9. Listen to your favorite playlist.

10. Make a new playlist.

11. Listen to a running podcast.

12. Join an online running challenge, such as RunBet

13. Set a weekly or monthly mileage goal.

14. Join a running club and run with the group. 

15. Run for time instead of distance. 

16. Do run/walk intervals.

17. Read a book on running. Check out my book club.

18. Do run/burpee intervals.

19. Sign up for a race.

20. Run somewhere new. 

21. Run at a different time of day.

22. Run on a trail. 

23. Do fartleks. 

24. Do strides. 

25. Leave your watch at home.

26. Make your run a treasure hunt--look for unusual things.

27. Reward yourself with a treat at the end of a hard run.

28. Run at sunrise. 

29. Run at sunset. 

30. Use Charity Miles to make your miles count.

31. Schedule your runs on your calendar. 

32. Post your run on social media.

33. Log your runs on Strava and sign up for a challenge or 2 or 3.

34. Participate in a run streak challenge. 

35. Keep a training log.

36. Find a mantra.

37. Plan a racecation. 

38. Share your goals on social media or with friends.

39. Follow a training schedule.

40. Listen to an audiobook.

41. Remind yourself how good you'll feel when you're done.

42. Lay out your running clothes the night before.

43. Sleep in your running clothes.

44. Keep a bag of running clothes in your car.

45. Run on Mondays (#nevermissamonday)

46. Adopt a new runner.

47. Never judge a run by the first mile.

48. Give yourself an out time if the run isn't going well.

49. Run with a dog.

50. JUST GO!

Need motivation? I've got 50 Ways to be a Runner /via @oldrunningmom #runchat #running

What do you do to motivate yourself to run when you don't want to? Did I miss anything?

I'm linking up with Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness.