5 August, 2022
What are your running goals? 1k around the block, your first park run, a 10k with your run club, your second half marathon, a bucket list style crazy run for 100k across hills and dales. This article from contributor, Nicky Chisholm, takes a look at the best ways to manage your motivation mojo
We all have a run in mind both in routes and distance, we all put our trainers on and take our first step out the door, but what motivates us is unique to our situation, resources and what’s going on in our lives.
Motivation to train will naturally ebb and flow and firing up your mojo when you are flagging that takes practice, time and touch of creativity.
In October this year I am running a half marathon in Greenland, dubbed The Coolest Marathon on Earth. My training plan is 16 weeks and includes 75 training sessions, 260+ miles of running and lots of visits to the gym.
It’s a scary looking schduele and very daunting prospect when you look at it as a whole.
I need to have a few plan B’s up my sleeve to help to keep me on track and I only look at it week by week to break it down into doable chunks.
As you read through the blog, think about what motivates you, what is coming up in your life that could do with some laser focussed action and firing up your inner motivation.
It is the desire or the need to act or to do something. The essence of motivation is intentional behaviour that kickstarts action. When you are motivated, you plan, take action and you become a master of making things happen.
Motivation is wanting to make a change, it is a powerful driver to make you feel proud, it fires up an inner strength and gives you a sense of accomplishment that drives you on even further.
Do you truly know what motivates you?
Recognition, fame, money, passion, rewards, being the best, proving someone wrong, self-care, wanting to create change and a very common one is the desire to help others.
Motivation can open doors
Motivation can spark conversation
Motivation can also be catching, your infectious actions can ignite actions in others!
“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.” Stephen R. Coveya
Motivation is important – it’s like anything else in life it takes practice and commitment and everyone will tap into their own motivational whys! Be curious and ask others what fires them up, what makes them run when it miserable and cold!
Motivation gives you a mental boost, it fires up your inner drive into taking action to reach your goal and work towards making your dreams a reality. Take the time to practice it and Be Kind to yourself along the way.
I think Zig Ziglar sums it up nicely:
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily”
Thank you to everyone that sent in their motivation tips.
This article was written by contributor, Nicky Chisholm. To find out more about Nicky you can head to her Facebook by clicking here.
Nicky Chisholm is a mum of two teens and lives in Brighton with her family. Nicky’s first love is her Campervan Daisy they are a match mad in heaven. They are always ready to find adventure anytime and anywhere. Her super powers are her creativity, her catching energy and her capacity to generate ideas ranging from the scary to the ridiculous. You can follow Nicky on social media by scanning the QR code below!
My very first adventure was on a Tall Ship called The Sir Winston Churchill when I had just turned 18.
I have loved adventures ever since. Although I still get seasick 30 years on!
I would describe myself as an everyday adventurer. I try and squeeze adventure into my every day from walks, swims and runs to film, podcasts and books. I am always on the look out for communities to connect with and adventures to be found.
I have just hit 50 and my adventure journey has changed so many times over the years, from a 20-year-old canoeing and sailing instructor, to a Mum with young children teaching them to embrace the outdoors through camping, building dens and cooking on open fires, to a mum of young teens when we surfed, coast steered, climbed Ben Nevis and swam in the North Sea!
My boys are in their late teens now and are slowly flying the nest, it is here I find myself now, ready to embrace the next stage of my adventure journey.
Embracing my new found freedom and loving being outside, I am ready to do some exploring!
My adventure journey has included Moonwalks, marathon walks along Hadrians Wall and the South Coast, firewalks, abseiling down castles, coast steering, a cross country ski marathon in the Arctic Circle, a wing walk and training in an Environmental Cold Chamber at the University of Sussex at minus 20!
I have just come back from running a 1/2 marathon in Greenland - the biggest and most extreme event I have ever taken part in. This Arctic adventure has definitely left me with a fire in soul for more adventures.
This year I will be walking in the Lake District, hiking around the Isle of Wight and organising a mega sea swim for over 500 "mermaids" to celebrate International Women's Day.
Come and join me to celebrate International Women's Day in Brighton - March 11th
When I am not on an adventure I am working with my beautiful VW Camper Van called Daisy on photo shoots.
Happy Adventuring
Nicky Chisholm aka #PinkNicky
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