Friday, March 8, 2019

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.


23 comments :

  1. I love this list! Literally gives me no excuse to not get in some sort of run, lol

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    1. I'm so sore from CrossFit and was contemplating skipping my run. Um, no!

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  2. Skip the bus Gus, totally resonates with me right now! Haha!

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    1. Say it isn't so, Joe!

      I don't think anything rhymes with Marcia...

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  3. I have never understood the sleep in your running clothes — I don’t wear a bra at night & it would be so uncomfortable! Heck, I don’t always wear one during the day #smallchestedconfessions

    I think you’ve really covered it!

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    1. Well, I agree with you! In fact, today on my run, I saw an abandoned bra on the side of the road... (not mine)

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  4. I love this so much! Of course now I’ll be singing it for the rest of the day. Just slip out the back, Jack....

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  5. #3 and #41 work on me allll the time. I'll have the entire rest of the day to either feel accomplished or regretful. Which would I like it to be? It makes the dreariness of the run (as it sometimes can be) pale in comparison.

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  6. Great list! I've definitely done a lot of these before when I need extra motivation. Some of my favorites are making running dates with friends, finding a new route to look forward to, and find a good audio book to listen to but only let myself listen to it while running/walking.

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    1. I don't listen to audiobooks, but I have friends that swear by it, so it's on the list!

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  7. I have a standing 5:45 am date on T/Th with a friend to run; that works for me really well because if I don't run, neither does she (too creepy in the dark by yourself).

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    1. The running date is always a win. Unless you're afraid of commitment.

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  8. I've taken a running hiatus since Christmas and thought I was perfectly content not running (since the weather hasn't been great anyway). As we head closer to spring I am getting the itch to get back out there!

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  9. Yep I have done all of these...well, except for the coffee, podcast, audio book and dog (only because his legs are so short, he wouldn't last very long). Great suggestions!

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  10. Ha - sleep in your running clothes!

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