101 Kicks in the Butt

You have 100 reasons for losing motivation to run. But we can top 'em with tips, inspiring quotes, and more. Pick your fix. Repeat as necessary.

March 22, 2007
Media: 101 Kicks in the Butt

41. READ THIS Pain, by Dan Middleman. Fictional college senior Richard Dubin attempts to balance hard partying, a complicated relationship, and world-class competition.

42. GO EARLY Rather than putting off a run, head out even earlier than usual when you're not in the mood to work out. Waiting for the perfect time to run usually just means more unhelpful mulling.

43. LOOK TO THE PAST Billy Mills came out of nowhere in the 1964 Olympics to become the only American to win a gold medal in the 10,000 meters. Mills's PR at the time was nearly a minute slower than that of Australia's Ron Clarke. With 100 meters to go, Mills sprinted ahead, improving his PR and setting a new Olympic record.

44. DRESS SILLY To change things up, go for a run in non-running clothes. You can occupy yourself imagining what passersby are thinking.

Alternative Rock
"Beautiful Day," U2
"Run in Place," The Nadas
"Seven Nation Army," The White Stripes
"Take Me Out," Franz Ferdinand
"Get Free," The Vines
"Just (You Do It to Yourself)," Radiohead
For more playlists, see our collection of runner-tested sets.

46. PAY YOURSELF Set a price for attaining a certain weekly mileage goal. When you hit it, pay up. Keep your mileage money in a jar, and once it accumulates, buy yourself that new running jacket you've been ogling.

47. ASK A FRIEND TO BIKE alongside you when your running partner isn't available.

48. GET WET When it gets hot out, Washington, D.C.-area coach Bruce Gross suggests logging your miles by running in the deep end of a pool while wearing a flotation vest. Gross tells his runners to break it up by going hard for five minutes, then resting for one minute. Work up to an hour.


50. TURN THINGS AROUND Poor performances are motivators for most elite runners. Rather than ruminate on an off day, look forward to proving to yourself that you're a better runner than your last showing.

51. BEEN MARATHONING FOR YEARS? Maybe it's time to try an ultra. Or the mile.

52. BECOME A RUNNING MENTOR Once you get your neighbor, coworker, or significant other hooked on your favorite sport, they'll be counting on your continued support and guidance–and company.

53. FEELING TIRED? Instead of taking the day off, throw some walk breaks into your run. Use the breaks to refuel, stretch out sore muscles, or get inspired by the scenery.

54. HEAD FOR THE HILLS When you need a boost, attack a hill workout. You can't do hills halfhearted.

55. WATCH THIS "Saint Ralph" In this 2005 Canadian film, a teenager sets out to win the 1954 Boston Marathon, thinking this is the "miracle" required to wake his mother from a coma.

56. RUN FOR A REASON Do a race for charity. Helping kids with diabetes or women with breast cancer makes it much easier to get out the door.

57. DUST OFF YOUR TRACK SPIKES Most states have Olympic-style summer games where you can compete in events like the mile or the 400-meter hurdles. If you're really looking for a change of pace, train for a field event like the long jump.

58. RUNNING COMMENTARY "Workouts are like brushing my teeth; I don't think about it, I just do it. The decision has already been made." –Patti Sue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

59. REMEMBER that you almost always feel better after a run than before it.

60. LOOK TO THE PAST Roger Bannister and John Landy (the only two men to have broken four minutes in the mile at the time) raced at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver in what was billed as "The Miracle Mile." Landy led for most of the race, but Bannister passed him on the final turn–proving it ain't over till it's over.

61. RUNNING COMMENTARY "If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it." –Priscilla Welch, who won the 1987 New York City Marathon at age 42

62. KEEP A LOG A record of your training can help keep you honest. Do you really want to have to put in a "0" on what was supposed to be a running day?

63. MAKE A CONNECTION Instead of bars, go to road races to find potential dates. You already know you have at least one common interest.

64. BRING HOME SOME HARDWARE Okay, so you're not going to win the Chicago Marathon, but that doesn't mean you can't score a trophy. Find a few small local races where you might be able to compete for the top spots in your age group.

65. DON'T EXPECT EVERY DAY TO BE BETTER than the last. Some days will be slower than others, and some days might even hurt a bit. But as long as you're on the road, it's a good day.

66. IF YOU DON'T RUN ROAD RACES, where will you get all your T-shirts?

67. JUST START If the thought of running your full workout is too much to bear, just suit up to run around the block. Chances are, once you're outside, you'll start to feel better and put in at least a few miles.

68. READ THIS Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, by Kenny Moore. Learn about Bill Bowerman, one of the most famous track and field coaches of the last century and cofounder of Nike. You'll be surprised how the legend initiated his new runners at the University of Oregon.

69. RUN SOLO and away from the crowds on recovery days. The faster runners on popular routes will make you want to pick up the pace. Alone, you'll be able to listen to your body and reap the recovery you deserve.

70. RUNNING COMMENTARY "Those who say that I will lose and am finished will have to run over my body to beat me." –Said Aouita, 1984 5000 meter Olympic gold medalist

71. YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD FOR A GOLD STAR, says Sacramento-area running coach Shauna Schultz. Plan your workouts a week in advance, then place a star sticker on the calendar for each day you meet your goal. "Visualizing your progress in this manner is very encouraging," Schultz says.

72. THINK YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO RUN? You can probably make a list longer than this one of things you're wasting time on today. Cut one of them out and get the run in.

73. FOCUS ON THE COMPETITION Think about that runner who seems always to finish right in front of you. If you get out the door today, your next race could be the one where you finish first.

74. BECOME A RACE DIRECTOR If you live in a small town with no road races, start your own. Most towns have some sort of yearly celebration in the summer, and you can tie the race to that. Work with local track and cross-country teams to help promote it.

75. RUN AN ERRAND–LITERALLY Run to get cash at the ATM, buy that lottery ticket for the mega-million-dollar prize, or drop your car off at the garage and run home.

76. CHECK THE WEATHER If you know it's going to be 110 degrees by 2 p.m., run early in the morning. Terrible thunderstorms on Saturday? There's your day off. Proactive scheduling now will give you fewer excuses later.

Guilty Pleasures
"Good Vibrations," Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
"Toxic," Britney Spears
"Lovefool," The Cardigans
"Flagpole Sitta," Harvey Danger
"Fergalicious," Fergie

78. QUIT RUNNING IN CIRCLES Andy Steinfeld, who coaches marathon runners in Maryland, says group "point to point" runs are a fun way to mix things up. His runners head out for 12 to 20 miles, then refuel at a local restaurant before hopping on the subway to ride back to the starting point.

79. WATCH THIS "Endurance." This 1999 docudrama shows how Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie became one of the best distance runners of all time.

80. CREATE CONFLICT Drew Ludtke, head women's track and cross-country coach at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, says his runners are sometimes too social. So he tells them to imagine that the runner next to them just stole their boyfriend, which amps up the competition–and the fun.