Today’s Topic for Friday Five is people who motivate me. I recently wrote a post about the people who inspire me and if I did that topic as suggested by Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia,I’d end up writing a very similar post. So, here are the things that motivate me to keep moving.
- My mental health – I started running to fight postpartum depression. I still struggle with situational depression and PMS. Running allows me to keep things in perspective and helps me to stay more of an optimist than a pessimist. I no longer need to run to cope with the day to day difficulties of being a stay at home mom to young children. Now it’s about dealing with the bigger problems that come with bigger children. Trust me, the running is still necessary. (And while running is still the best anti-depressant, a good hard workout at the gym takes the edge off. Good thing since I only ran once this week.)
- Bling – There’s a reason for my tagline. But it’s not actually the bling as much as what it represents. I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked to do what I’ve done. When I’m feeling down about myself, the bling is a visual reminder that I have the mental strength to keep going even when things aren’t going my way.
- Beer – Yeah, I’m just that shallow. Or perhaps I should say beer and my jeans. I love beer. I want to be able to drink it. I also want to be able to fit in my jeans. Running allows me to do the first and still be able to do the second.
- The opportunities – There are a lot of things I’d never have done if I wasn’t a runner. I’ve gotten to work some pretty amazing races: Nike Women’s Half and Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half. I’ve gotten to go to some cool places to run: the Dust Bowl area and the Center of the Nation. I’ve gotten to visit Gatorade, run Ragnar DC and Ragnar Cape Cod, and I’m gearing up for Runners World Half and Festival. If I wasn’t running, I wouldn’t be in shape to do these things and I would not have met the people who brought these opportunities to me.
- This blog – Some days, when it comes down to it, the only thing that gets me out there is the accountability I feel to this blog. I don’t like to have to come here and say, “hey, instead of running, I sat on my butt and ate donuts.” I mean, sometimes that happens and I’m the first to be totally open about it, but there have been times when I’m sitting here thinking about those donuts and I decide I’d rather report a run.
What motivates you to run or workout? Do you just love it that much that you do it anyways or do you need external motivation some days? Which reminds me, I need to hit the elliptical today. Hold me to that, ok?
HAHAHA number 3! I’m that shallow too. I mean if I wasn’t running I would be doing some sort of other workout to burn my beer calories. I don’t exactly want to be my college weight again. Anyways…I love that you mentioned mental health. Running is such great therapy. When I was struggling with stress and anxiety from work over the summer, I found the quiet and calm of a long run to be really helpful. Hope you have a great weekend!
I run mostly for the social aspect (hello destination races) but even without that, it’s such an ingrained habit by now, it’s just something I do. I have my race pint glasses in the cabinet and use them but it’s getting ridiculous. Maybe I need to follow your lead and make them part of the “shrine”.
There’s a number of reasons that I run, but running for the bling is definitely at the top. Who doesn’t love crossing the finish line of a race and having their hard earned medal put around their neck?!? I love walking into our office and looking at all of my medals hanging up, and love thinking back about all of the time and sweat that went into earning each of those medals.
Running has opened up a lot of opportunities for me as well. I am so motivated on a daily basis by all of the MRTT moms. I don’t know what I did before I met you all!
Funny that you and I both have the same #1 as our motivators….
I’m so glad that running has given you something to help battle your depression. I use it for that as well, it’s a great outlet.
that’s alot of bling!! 🙂
Fitting into my jeans is a definitely a priority. But instead of beer, I drink wine. Plus a lot of chocolate. Love me some chocolate!
But seriously, running is so great for my mental health, helps me to set goals and have something to work towards, and helps me set a good example for my daughter. All very motivating!
Bling is what makes it exciting. There’s a reason races post pictures of the race shirt and then race bling.
I love not feeling guilty about eating certain foods or having the occasional alcoholic beverage. We run, we deserve a little indulgence.
I agree with all the opportunities I haven’t’ missed out on with running, for example, cities I’ve never been too, and got to explore with my husband and family, people I’ve met through running, some will be life long friends and blogging. I would have never found blogging without running! Great post!
Hey, I think we all run for some shallow reasons, we are human it’s only natural. I run mostly for my mental health as well. It keeps me more sane than I would be if I didn’t have it thats for sure!
Fun read! And I loved reading it. I run for the fun of it, actually. I love that it gets me outside and around my neighborhood!
I love #2 and #3! All of your reasons are great. I run because I like to eat (being honest). I have to stay active. I think it’s important to keep moving because it keeps you accountable and all of the benefits, bling, etc. that comes with it! 🙂
having a blog definitely helps me to be accountable. hope you got on that elliptical 🙂
Running is definitely a motivator for me when it comes to fighting my depression. It keeps it at bay for me.
Great reasons to run. Have fun at runner’s world, I had an awesome time when I went a couple years ago. I run for beer too! I also run for my sanity. Opportunities?? YES! Hello Team ASICS.
I started running to burn the most calories in the least time, but now I run for the endorphins – or whatever it is that makes it all ok after a run. And the sunrises.
I actually started running as an option to doing video aerobics, so obviously the calories meant a lot at that time. Then I started competing, found I was pretty good at it, so I was inspired to train, get better, and set PRs. Then I got older, slowed down, added to my aches and pains, so now I run because, well, because I’m a runner and that’s what I do. I just don’t think about the calories or the PRs anymore 🙂
I love this post and your bling is ahhhmazing!! Woah. I love your #1. Running is so therapeutic to me both mentally and physically. It’s just so nice to leave the world behind and run away from it all for a while. I started running to lose baby weight, but was amazed by how fulfilling it was/is to push my body farther and faster than I ever thought I could. I love the whole “compete with myself” aspect. Love it!
I think about the people I would have probably never met without running. So much joy from this sport.
I run to stay sane too. And I run to have fun times with good people which also keeps me sane. And I run to be able to eat more and still fit into my clothes.
Running is therapy for me. There is (almost) nothing I love better than to lace up my shoes and run outside in nature to clear my head, talk to myself, set goals and just get away from it all.
Of course I love fitting in my jeans and the way my clothes feel when I am in good running shape!
I love the amazing people I have met through our sport and for that I am forever grateful.
Oh, and I know my kids are watching me and I love being a role model for them. 🙂
Great reasons! For me it is all about the mental health and experiences to be seen/had from running races. 🙂 Love the running community.
I am right there with you on #1. Depression runs in my family and exercise helps me. Can you believe that I might be one of the only runners who does not collect their medals?
The bling is why I do it! lol I have my collection of medals and race bibs. I just need to figure out how to organize my medals. Another thing that motivates me is my mom…she runs long distances no problem so It motivates me to run harder!