I consider myself a generally fit person, but sometimes, the motivation just isn't there. This lack of motivation usually follows a vacation or holiday break and can be tough to overcome at times. I've tried various methods in order to get myself back on track and working out again, with varying degrees of success. Eventually I do, but it feels like the length of time it takes to get back on the horse was way to long. How can I get there faster?
Then it dawned on me - I needed to scare myself into working out. I'm not talking about the threat of bodily harm or anything like that - what I'm talking about is the fear of being unprepared. Have you ever had that dream where you get to school and it's the day of the big test, but you realize you didn't study AT ALL? This is where the idea for the half-ironman came into play.
It's amazing how quickly you're able to get up off of your butt and train when you realize that, in nine months, you're going to have to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56, and run 13.1! There's also the threat of getting a DNF (did not finish) if you fail to complete any leg of the event within a certain amount of time. There goes that entry fee! These are just a few of the things motivating me to make sure I'm in the best shape possible come race time.
So far, the idea has been working. Every day, when I wake up, I ask myself, "What am I going to do today to make sure I am well-prepared to take on this challenge?" It's helped me formulate a training plan and set incremental goals that serve as signposts along the way to track my progress.
If you've been struck with a lack of motivation and have tried seemingly everything to get it back, give this a try! It doesn't have to be something as big as an Ironman - it could be a half-marathon or a 5K. Pick a race you've always been interested in and enter. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to train. That's the whole point!
Of course, this is just one method of getting your motivation back. If you have another one that works for you, I'd love to hear it! Feel free to leave a comment below!