I simply get my iPod out because I know when I am unmotivated, music is my answer to override having to hear my every step early on. If you're married, then go out with your spouse. Or how about joining a team? It can be as easy as remembering WHY you run: for that summer bikini or because your doctor told you to. It doesn't matter why you run every day or every other day...it is that you DO run. What you are looking for is consistent running. This is something I cannot stress enough. Consistency is so important. It's the mother's milk of running. I tell every runner and non runner, be they youngsters or oldsters, to get out there and follow a schedule! Run and run often!
My new motivator is: music.
Running with music, especially early on, can make a 10-minute run feel much easier and help your body in producing endorphins that will make longer runs feel much shorter than they actually are. Even for those more experienced, music can cut down and fatigue and make those long runs easier. And this is something that I do often lately. I've stepped up my running to encompass a lot of pain and fatigue. I was once a detractor of music but I have found its place in my runs. If it can't help me stay consistent, then plug me in!
Find what motivates you and use it. Use it over and over. Consistency must be your number one priority. Young or old. Beginner or pro. Constant running makes a good runner.
