Running Motivation

Yesterday was a four mile training day. The half marathon will be here before you know it….so, absolutely no getting out of it. I kept a positive focus–hoping the cold drizzle would dissipate and the sun might take pity and poke its glorious rays from behind the clouds.

I came home from work, peeled off the jeans, slipped into my Under Armour and out the door I went. No hesitating, no “what ifs”, no turning back…I was going to do this run, as any true marathoner would. Into the second mile, the rain joined forces with a piercing wind. Was this a conspiracy to test my fortitude? Just as my will began to weaken–causing thoughts of turning back to creep in–out of no where, it was as if an old friend was there to see me through, push me forward, save me from my wavering determination. “Up the hill, over the hill, under the hill, around the hill, thru the hill”–slipped into my head, as if it were yesterday.

In 1976, I was in the US Army, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and probably running while singing this motivating cadence, “Up the hill, over the hill, under the hill, around the hill, thru the hill….”. It worked, it really worked!! While running in the cold rain, I began to softly sing an Army cadence from almost 34 years ago. It was a motivator then and a motivator now. I was able to draw upon a one liner–from the past–to get me through today’s run. It’s amazing how one little thing can carry such a powerful punch!

When you think you can’t…you can. When you’re feeling weak…think of that one thing from your past that got you through. When you absolutely cannot run one more yard…remember back to one thought, one action, that pulled you through. And never, under any circumstances.. give up.

This principle can apply to anything in life. I finished my run today, thanks to a motivational tip from the past.

Do you have any motivating tips to share? Let us know in the comment’s sections.