So You’ve Taken Up Running Since the Boston Marathon Bombing? Here’s How to Stick With It

There’s nothing like tragedy to unite us to a cause,  help us focus on our commonalities instead of our differences, take us outside our day-to-day and into something much bigger than ourselves and our lives, and connect us with the world.

So I’m sure that you or someone you know has taken up running in the past week.

Maybe you’ll just start with 5Ks, but perhaps you’ve put your stake in the ground that you’ll run the Boston Marathon next year. Ain’t no terrorist going to tell you when or where to run! 

GREAT.

But what if you can’t currently run 5 consecutive miles? Does that mean you should go gung-ho running 2-3 miles every day now??? Do you really think your “instant inspiration” of the event of the past few weeks will turn into long-term transformations? Just like they did with your New Year’s Resolution this year? And that Dr. Oz episode you saw the other day on that new awesome diet/exercise program? Really?

Really?

Long-term transformations CAN happen, but you must set yourself up for success in the beginning, not as an afterthought. The older I get the LESS I’m interested in 3-day motivation techniques that treat symptoms from the outside-in and the MORE I’m interested in developing the discipline to achieve and exceed my goals now that pay off dividends on everything I want to accomplish later.

The problem I’ve experienced is that “instant inspiration” only works for the moment, quickly fades, and a steady source is needed for that next “high”, while discipline lasts a LIFETIME. So I want to help you achieve your new aspirations and cut through a lot of years of experience. I want to hear about you running your race next year, finishing in an all out sprint, and looking back while you think, “Wow, I can’t believe I did that!”

The following success strategies are for any type of long-term change, whether it’s running or healthy eating or time management or writing a book or… Here’s how to stick with your new goals! Remember that…

1. Consistency Beats Intensity

Consistently doing one small thing every day beats intensely doing something a couple of times a week. Running for 10 minutes every day beats running three miles once a week when it comes to increasing miles and developing a sustainable plan without injury. AND it reinforces the habit unlike doing something 1x a week.

There’s plenty of time to impress, extend, and increase your mileage, but having the discipline to NOT run further in the beginning is just as important as developing the discipline to stick with new habits and lifestyles.

>>> What will you commit to consistently? Look at your schedule and other commitments. If you have ten minutes, start there. If you will run a mile, start there. The point is to be consistent!

2. Support Sustains

Your chances of sustainable success increase 80% when you surround yourself with like-minded people going in the same direction as you. Join a running club, grab a friend, hire a coach, start a running group among your peers.

If you’ve ever been out to dinner with a group of people, wanted to order a drink and everyone else orders water, there’s a good chance you ordered water too. Likewise, if you’re out and everyone orders a drink, chances are greater that you will too.

You will be like the people with whom you surround yourself. Choose wisely!

>>> Who is most supportive in your life right now? Do they know about your goals and vision? Are they keeping you accountable. If you have no one, who do you need to work with to ensure you achieve your goals? Who will keep you accountable? How can you increase your support group?

3. Each Day Is ONLY Important In Context Of The Whole

You will fail. Are you still alive? Yes? That means you will survive failing.

Seriously though, I don’t know how many people I’ve worked with (and some who backed out before we even began) who are think they’ve ruined everything with one missed day, one slip up, one bad choice. They are so scared of “falling off the bandwagon” that it paralyzes them from beginning, from starting again, from getting back up and on track, OR starting at all.

You will fail. EVERYONE does. It’s normal. It’s part of learning, growing, and becoming a healthy human being.

Each day of your plan is only important in the context of the whole. If you have a bad day and your running felt awful and tomorrow it feels okay, fine. Just putting in the consistent effort at this point is ALL that matters.

It’s the consistency, not what plan, that yields results in the beginning. Think of it as developing a solid baseline for the future. Record your plan in a journal, record your comments and food too. Keep a record so you have data to work with in the future. But at the end of the day, one day is simply that, a data point in the context of the larger whole.

>>> Imagine it’s one of those days. Everything that could go wrong does. Visualize it. But today is also a training day and you haven’t completed your running yet. What will you do? How will you feel after completing your training? How will you feel crossing the finish line at the race? Visualize and feel those things too. Remind yourself when things go bad of your visualized commitment to train anyway. Practice!

4+???

I’ve intentionally stopped at three because I want to hear from you!

What strategies have you found most helpful in creating sustainable long-term results??? What works best for you to stick with your goals? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below so that you can spread the goods and influence positive change in the world! 🙂

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Gerilyn Burnett liberates women from the downward spiral of ever-increasing responsibility and stress without self-care to experience more ENERGY, more VITALITY, and a fitter body permanently! She trains women (& some awesome men) all over the world how to eat, move, and live for their best mind, body, and life! Her own journey from miserable, fat, stuck, and tired to fit, confident, vibrant, and delicious make her uniquely suited for this mission! She has a knack for creating contagious healthy experiences and providing the needed support and accountability that turn diets into lifestyles and dreams into realities. Get started on your journey to vibrant vitality for life here.