Staying Motivated with No Races in Sight

Written by Rose Wetzel on . Posted in Goals, Obstacle Course Racing, Running, Training Tips

Photo by Nick O’Sullivan

Let’s be real – many of us stay fit because we love to race and race well. Take those races away and it can be tough to maintain motivation. I applaud people who can push themselves to high levels of fitness without racing – digging deep at the gym or on a trail just for the pure satisfaction of it. I’m married to one of those – my husband, Tim, can SPRINT on the stepmill for 30-45 minutes, sweating profusely, for no reason other than to feel fit, vital, healthy, and alive.

Unfortunately, that’s not me.

I need start lines, big challenges, competitors to push me, and people to cheer me on. Maybe it’s because Tim, is the self-confident oldest of a small, normal, loving, attentive family, and feels he has nothing to prove, whereas I’m the 8th of a big family of nine kids – the youngest girl – stilling fighting for attention and respect even as I (gulp) push 40.

If anyone out there can relate to my experience, going through a long period without racing is tough. We miss the thrill of it, the accountability of it, the celebration after it. I’ve been there – while pregnant, I was fortunate enough to be able run throughout my pregnancy BUT being able to run without the ability to race (at least not all-out) also meant I had to find motivation to get my me and my belly out of bed and onto the track or trails with no races to try win or no personal records to attempt to set.

A few ideas for getting through this weird time:

1. Compete with yourself

  • Create personal benchmarks, e.j. fastest mile time or max pushups
  • Do virtual races/charity challenges

2. Compete with others

  • Chase local Strava segments and FKTs (Fastest Known Times)
  • Go for a creative Guinness World Record
  • Enlist a friend in some friendly head-to-head competition

3. Take a break from competing

  • Do whatever you want to, including something new, with no agenda
  • Work on mental game, flexibility/mobility/yoga
  • Take an extra long off-season and focus on other priorities, guilt-free

Whichever you choose – good luck, hang in there, and have fun!

Photo by Tim Sinnett