One of the biggest things to overcome in distance running resides in the space between your ears. Running is a mental activity just as much as it is the physical act of putting one foot in front of the other.

I have addressed what you can think about while you run, but what about when you just don't want to get out the door, or you want to quit in the middle of your run? My wife often tells me how much she wants to run on a scale of 1-10 right before she heads out the door, and sometimes her motivation is around a 2. I feel this way sometimes, also, especially in the morning, and that is just to get the run started. There are numerous other things that can come up in the middle of the run that can curtail your well-intentioned plan.

Sometimes there is a physical reason: injury, upset stomach, sore legs, etc. All of those should be handled delicately, and it could be that cutting a run short is the best option for you that day. Running through a legitimate injury is not a good idea - it will probably make things worse and keep you away from running even longer. BUT sometimes you psych yourself out when you really can do the workout that you think is going to be really difficult, or you can get out of bed and do your 4-miler before work.

What helps me the most is looking at my goals and telling myself that, in order to accomplish those goals, I need to stick to my training plan.

For me, the factor that really drives this home is the reason for which I run: I run because I believe God has given me a gift: the ability to run well. I am responsible for using that gift for God's glory. If I fail to put in the work, I feel like I am failing to live up to that responsibility. That motivates me tremendously.

What about your goals? What helps motivate you? Is there something that would help you become more motivated? Looking at the big picture is the best way to handle the mental block that may cause you to slack on your training plan.

God bless,

Chad