Author: Joe The Runner

Most of us probably use our cell phones as alarm clocks so we get to choose what sound we wake up to instead of that “Screech, screech, screech…” that most old school alarm clocks make. So; we got that going for us! I like to start with a positive. There are apps out there that will let you wake up to gently increasing chimes all the way to an actual drill sergeant type of guy yelling at you. Choose wisely.

Look, getting out of bed early before work to get a work out in sucks! Or even worse, on the weekends! Don’t I know it? I have a job and a family and I train to run some pretty crazy races. Currently I am signed up for the Triple Lakes Trail Race in Greensboro, North Carolina. Stupid me, I signed up for the 40 mile version. This will be the furthest I’ve tried to run yet.

Obviously, if I am going to be successful in October, I need to do the work now and everyday in between. This means on days where I cannot run during lunch or after work, I need to drag my ass out of bed. And I do. This all ties in to the first tip. Sign up for something. It could be 5k race or one of those obstacle course races, what ever floats your boat. Even recreational sports like soccer or softball, it doesn’t matter, as long as you put yourself “in training”. Then tell everyone you know about it. Once your friends and family know that you are signed up for something, you will feel obligated. Want to up the ante? Do something for a charity. Now you really have to get it done. That get’s my sorry butt out of bed every time.

If you can find someone crazy enough to exercise with you at that time, make a date! Knowing that you have someone else relying on you can be a great motivator. Assuming you actually like this person, you may actually look forward to it. You can also do a little socializing while you’re getting after it. Just make sure you get after it MORE then you socialize.

Have a plan. Each week on Sunday, normally after my long run for the week, I plan out the next week. Knowing that I hate the mornings, I look at the calendar and the mileage I need to do each day and I try to plan as much as possible for the times that I like. Lunch runs and early evening are my favorites, but not always practical. If you follow me on Strava, you’ll see that the weekend miles can get pretty big. After that is done, I finally look at the days where I need to get up to squeeze my run in prior to work and I schedule it. Simple as that. It is not an option, it’s on the calendar!

Life is a choice. Don’t work out because you have to, do it because you want to. Make it your time. I always feel better after my run. Many times, problems that I have been struggling with suddenly seem small or a solution pops in to my head. A lot of ideas for the blog just materialize when I’m running. It’s my therapy, and it allows me the seldom indulgence. I like beer and I like to eat! I deserve my runs, and I earn my beers and food.

If all else fails, just suck it up. Sekou Andrews is an amazing poet and one of my favorite lines of his is: “You must want to be a butterfly so badly; you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” I am not a great poet, so this is what I’ll say “Own your shit.” How bad do you REALLY want it? Bad enough to get out of bed? Tell me your tricks for dragging your butt out of bed in the comments section, as I am sure that you have better ones than I do!

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