My best motivational/pep talk phrase is usually “you can do anything for a mile.” by the end of that mile I’m usually over whatever slump I was feeling or if I’m still feeling like crap, I’ll usually just take a break or quit. At least I tried 😉

Haha! I love that you said that “only” 3 miles is a pet peeve. I couldn’t agree more…3 miles (especially in Florida heat) is not easy when you aren’t a marathon runner!

Motivation to get my butt into gear is…you may hate lacing up your shoes, but you will feel SO MUCH BETTER after you are done.

I am stuck in an office also. At least I have a few trees and a few squirrels to look at. Oh, I forgot, that nasty Great Egret mocking me.

The way you’re honest about your mileage and your struggles makes me feel so much better about myself. I ran a marathon in Feb. but since then life has gotten in the way (and I’ve gotten more into other workouts, like Yoga) and while I could probably run 6 miles right now, I’d fall over at the end of it, and I’m mainly working on 3.5 miles runs lately- they definitely feel sufficiently challenging. (Also, I moved to a city with hills! Ouch!)
But I’m so glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t always maintain mega mileage. I remember when I’d face a 10 mile run and thing “no biggie” or “thank god, it’s a short long run this week!” but that’s not where I am right now.
I guess knowing I’m not the only one in that boat makes me feel much more okay about it!

I really hate those people that say “You’re almost there,” when you have about a mile left in a marathon. As they sit on their friggin’ butts!

That’s a pet peeve of mine too because no matter how much you run, sometimes 3 miles can seem like an eternity depending on how you feel or the course you are on, how much sleep you’ve had, or maybe you have taken a break from running and sometimes it’s hard to get back into the swing of things.

It’s only X miles definetly doesn’t work for me. I count down like the whole time though. Say it’s 6 miles I’ll count down 5, 4, 3 (HALF WAY!), 2, 1(LAST ONE!), and done. I get pretty psyched when I reach the 3’s lol. Like on 3 mile runs I start getting that second wind at 1.5 because I know I’m half way 🙂 That always helps me out. Along with some Lady G to push me ;D

I try that by trying to think of excuses NOT to run means I really have no excuse at all so I just need to hop to it!

You are right! I don’t care what anyone says, 3 mi is 3 mi!!!!
Mymotivation is knowing how great I usually feel when I’m done, even if I am exhausted!!!

During runs I usually play a game with myself and find different things to run to. For instance, I’ll start running and see a fire hydrant up ahead… I’ll say to myself “okay, get to the fire hydrant” and once I reach it, I’ll think to myself “that wasn’t too bad… see that light post up ahead? lets try to run to there” and so on. Before I know it, I’ve been running for 15 minutes straight!

I don’t really have any pet peeves when it comes to pep talks. but, I used to have a running buddy who on long out and back runs would always try to motivate me by saying the way back was all downhill and that we should go faster. Um, no, it wasn’t all down hill. In fact, according to my garmin there is a 150 foot rise in elevation on the way back.

I despire the phrase “It’s only ___ miles.” The first time I ran 3 miles I sat on my front porch exhausted. Now I have ran half marathons, but I will never forget how tired I was after those first three miles…or when I ran the mile in 8th grade!

And that’s what I get for not proof reading my own comment…clearly I meant “despise” not despire! oops!

The pep-talk I’ve found most effective so far is “Just do it and then you won’t have to think about it anymore”. It reminds me that if I don’t do it thinking about what I didn’t do will be just as painful as will last much longer than actually doing it.

Pet peeve pep-talk: Anything that compares what I’m about to do with something else. Things change, comparisons don’t take that into account. Plus I’m not at all competitive. Comparing me or what I’m doing to something else only pisses me off and I want to do it even less.

I hate that too! I generally just tell myself to do 1 mile, and then I end up doing the whole three anyway. I find when I tell myself to just take it easy and do what feels good, I wind up having some of my best runs anyway!

I also hate when people just leave cupboard doors open when they are done with them. I don’t understand. It takes like what, a second, to close it? Haha.

I had trouble getting out the door yesterday too but then saw amanda at two boos who eat tweet how she needed motivation for her workout too, so i told her if she went out for hers, so would I! We both got our runs in and had a great time talking about it afterwards!

No…that does not motivate me either. I usually tell myself how much better I will feel if I do the workout versus how crappy I will feel if I don’t. That usually does it.

Whenever I’m feeling lazy or have that dragging feeling, I have a trick that works everytime. While I’m still debating (for example) if I really want to go to the gym I change into my gym attire and do all the prepping. Before I know it, I’m all dressed and ready to go – which usually signals – ok GO! Next time, just have it in the back of your mind that you’re doing it even as you argue with yourself.

I do a lot of, “If I run this today, I won’t have to do it tomorrow.” to get myself going.

I motivate myself by planning a big, fun meal of things that I don’t normally eat after my long runs. For my short runs, I just tell myself to “get it done.” No matter how slow I have to run. Usually I get into a rhythm after about 15 minutes though and it’s not so painful anymore.

Before bed I’ll think to myself, “I’m going to feel so good after my workout tomorrow morning.” When I struggle to get going in the morning and just want to get back in bed (which I’ve been doing far too frequently recently), I tell myself, just get out the door and then, just keep walking.

I’d much rather tell myself I can quit whenever I want to. Not after a specific time period, because whatever time limit it is I will think of nothing else until I reach it and then end up quitting. But if I give myself the option to quit whenever, I’m much more likely to stick with it.

My pet peeve is actually a new one which is when people tell me to tell myself “I have never regretted a workout, but I have regretted not working out.” <- That's fine if that works for you! But don't tell me it will work for me, because it doesn't. I have actually regretted working out quite a few times. When I have been sick, when I have had stomach pain, etc. My problem is I get stomach pain quite often (still figuring out what foods upset my stomach). So sometimes working out makes it feel so much better, and sometimes it makes it feel SOOO much worse. But I never know which will occur until I do it, and I always regret when I feel worse, worser, and worst.

Lately, I’ve been trying to be more “present” and part of that includes not even thinking about my workout until it is right before the time to head towards the gym or whatever. I noticed that I would sit at my office and obsess ALL day about what class I was going to take at the gym or what routine I was going to do. And then by the time 5 PM rolled around, I had lost all of my motivation.

So now, I try not to think about it at all until after work, and then I can decide if I’m going to go or not. No reason to stress out all day for no reason!

So far, it has worked out great for me. Anytime the little thoughts creep in about my workout 6 hours away, I can just say “don’t worry about it right now. See how you feel in 6 hours” And wouldn’t ya know? When the time rolls around that it is actually time to go, I’ve got all the motivation in the world.

I don’t mind self-pep talks… but those “you’re almost there” comments during races are NOT helpful.

P.S. Have you seen this http://www.ayearwithoutmirrors.com/p/mentioned-with-thanks.html ?

It is definitely not “only” three miles!! The day I can run at all, even just one mile, I will jump for joy!
My worst pet peeve is a bit weird, I hate too-short trousers 😛
Oh and similar to Ash’s, I hate it when I see shops selling Christmas stuff in September!

Why does it bother you sitting on the window seat? : )

I HATE it’s only _ miles. What’s hard for someone is easy for someone else, and it feels judgey and weird for someone to say that to you (or even you to yourself haha).

I’m pretty much not a fan of ANY pep talks. I don’t have much internal dialogue, other than, “Well, this has a deadline I should probably do it.” or “I should probably do this now”. VERY infrequently do I use harsh internal dialogue, and I don’t respond well to outside pressure.

Just my personality I think.

Oh my gosh, right along with you! I had a 2 mile easy run the other day…and since that was after a 16 miler a few days before, that really did seem like an “only 2 mile” situation..but those were the LONGEST two miles ever! So, there is no such thing as “it’s only..” when it comes to running. Even the shortest distances can be SO far.

one of my pet peeves is people who dont close the shower curtain too haha
When I am running, I find myself saying, just go one more mile. thats only around 9-10mins. you can run for 9 more mins.

I don’t mind the “only x miles.” As long as it’s less than 10, I think I can talk myself into it. Usually, I convince myself to run for 15min. If I hate it after 15min I can turn around. Well, that’s 30min. Better than nothing!

I usually think about it in terms of time, not distance. 30min is your average sitcom. That’s nothing!

So important to hear your thoughts on those ‘3 miles’ you did, because they are huge! I remember the days when I could barely run 1, much less 2 or 3. These days in my training 3 miles is a light day BUT its still a run and can be a hard run none the less! Way to go girl!

The hardest part of running is getting organised to go on a run/ getting dressed and out the door..
The ‘it’s only’ pep talk is irritating..

I know I may be in the minority here, but I dislike being told ‘everything happens for a reason’ and always debate it!

It’s only x miles is really unmotivating, coming from myself and from other people. In fact I detest when other people say it about their plans to me, because then for some odd reason it causes for instant comparison! 🙁

I find it really rude when other runners downplay the amount someone has run or walked. Any activity is beautiful and good to me. Some people are just starting too (like me) and so even 3 miles is amazing. Caring for your body, mind, and spirit are what’s important.