At any Given Moment

About Running

[Source: http://running.about.com/od/runninghumor/a/runningquotes.htm]

Runners, especially long-distance runners, have a lot of time to think about why they run. At some point, you may question why you run and wonder if you should continue to get out there. When that happens, remembering one of these motivational running quotes.

"You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement."
- Steve Prefontaine

"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."
-Jesse Owens

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."
-Juma Ikangaa, 1989 NYC Marathon winner

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it."
-Oprah Winfrey

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"
- Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner

"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable."
-Sir Roger Bannister, first runner to run a sub-4 minute mile

"Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'."
-Paul Tergat, Kenyan professional marathoner

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
-John Bingham, running speaker and writer

[Source: http://running.about.com/od/runninghumor/a/runningquotes.htm]

Staying Motivated to Run

[Source: http://www.runtheplanet.com/trainingracing/training/runmotivation.asp]

Running and motivation go hand-in-hand. When it comes to staying motivated, running is a mind game. Numerous articles, books, and news reports have been written on the externals or physical side of running (i.e. training, injury-prevention, nutrition, running apparel, running accessories, etc.), but far too little space and time has been dedicated to running motivation. It is time to reverse the trend. Seek motivation first and the desire to run, and run successfully, will surely follow.

Let's take a look at several tips and techniques for you to obtain, maintain, and increase your motivation to run: set goals; utilize a training log; implement the buddy system; surround yourself with reminders; be creative with your workouts; set completion goals, not time goals; do more than run; visit a running store; occasionally enter a race; reward yourself when you succeed.

Set goals

A great motivation technique is to set running goals for yourself so that you can monitor your progress on a weekly or monthly basis. As you are able to see your progress, your enthusiasm for running will soar. Listed below are some specific goal setting tips:
Be specific - In order to stimulate your motivation, you need to be specific with your goal setting. Instead of saying you are going to set a personal best in a 10K road race, set a goal to improve on your personal best by 15 seconds in the next six months.
Set a deadline - Complacency and an attitude of "I will work on that later" will set in if your deadline for achieving your goal is not defined. Add a sense of urgency to your goal by adding a specific timeframe and watch your motivation skyrocket!
Set realistic but difficult to obtain goals - Your running goals should be achievable and challenging at the same time. An unrealistic goal will kill motivation but a goal that is too easily obtained will lead to boredom.
Write and review your goals - Writing down your goals creates your roadmap to success. Although just the act of writing them down can set the process in motion, it is also extremely important to frequently review your goals. Remember, the more focused you are on your running goals the more likely you are to accomplish them.
Develop a plan and work it - Develop a plan of action to achieve your running goals and then just do it! By taking the time to decide on the specific steps needed to achieve your goals, you increase your motivation and your chances of success. The final step is to get out there and work your plan.

Utilize a training log

Keep a training log of each run. Record times, distances, time of day, weather, your pulse rate, progress toward goals and any other statistic or aspect of your running you might find valuable. A training log allows you to monitor your progress and learn from your mistakes. Many runners regularly review their training logs to look at the work they have done in the past to provide motivation for the future.

Implement the buddy system

Run with a compatible training partner or running group. Finding others with which to run makes time fly, provides accountability, builds friendships, and provides mutual motivation on those days when you or your partner(s) just "don't feel like it". Don't know of anyone to run with? Check out your local running club. A running club is a great to place to find other runners who run your pace. Running clubs include runners at every level and, if they don't, they soon cease to exist.

Surround yourself with reminders

Sustained motivation is key to achieving your potential. One way to keep your motivation high is to find out what fires you up, and then surround yourself with it. Examples include: posters, quotes, photos, inspiring literature, biographies of successful runners, running books, running magazines, and videos. Place your "mental stimuli" where you can see it every day.

Be creative with your workouts

Doing the same workout day after day leads to boredom and burnout. Alter your workout routine by incorporating some or all of the following: leave your watch at home and run for the enjoyment of it without worrying about time goals; change the time of day you normally run (if you are a morning runner, switch to running in the evening and vice versa); find some new running routes; alter the distance you normally run; challenge yourself by adding some speed or hill repeats to your workout. Being creative with your workout will add new life to your running.

Set completion goals, not time goals

At some point, you just won't be able to beat the clock any longer. All runners eventually reach the point where they aren't going to get any faster. To avoid discouragement and possibly even quitting the sport, cultivate new running goals. Decide to complete a specific number of races a year or to complete a longer distance race. Whatever you determine, keep your running fresh, challenging, and new by setting some non-time related goals.

Do more than run

To add a boost of motivation, incorporate some cross training in your workout routine. There are many other activities, other than running, that can increase your strength, flexibility, and aerobic conditioning. Mix in some cycling, swimming, in-line roller skating, hiking, cross-country skiing, or weight training. Just do it!

Visit a running store

Stop by a running store on a regular basis to pick up a race application, running accessory, new running magazine, or the latest running book. Your motivation to run will be lifted when you put yourself in an environment that supports your goals. Running stores thrive based on people like you who love to run. They are thrilled to answer your questions, give suggestions, and discuss your training.

Occasionally enter a race

Want to increase your motivation and feel the adrenaline of competition? Enter an occasional fun, local race. The spill-over effect will keep you motivated for weeks afterward and may even spur you on to enter even more races!

Reward yourself when you succeed

Rewards can be a powerful motivator. When you do succeed, make sure to do something nice for yourself. Many runners who have reached their goal treat themselves to some tangible reward: a new running shirt, a sports watch, a meal at a nice restaurant, or a special trip. The ideas are limited only by your imagination. Bottom line: be good to yourself.

[Source: http://www.runtheplanet.com/trainingracing/training/runmotivation.asp]


it's the very same thing in business...now, i think i know why am running....I heard a Pastor who said that our different roles in life are not really that different, just in titles. the very essence of the different things we do are actually interrelated. God won't give us roles that are entirely different from the other.

The Cure for Running Boredom

[http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/11/the-cure-for-running-boredom/]
Getting bored while running (working out) is a major problem facing many of us today and there is really no way around it. You can try new music, run inside instead of outside or vise-versa, watch television, or find new routes to change the scenery a little bit. I love to run, but I have my days where I just really do not want to run and a day off is not in my vocabulary (should be though). So, I have found that signing up for races or running groups is the way to go. Most of the time I love to run by myself, but on those days that lack motivation, I lean on others to help me get through another run.
I strongly believe that signing up for races keeps you motivated and on your toes. Besides the costs, what could be better than running with people that share the same desires and interests? This is a cure-all for me. I used to run for the heck of it and it just got boring after a while, but a few years ago I started running charity and local races just to give me something to train for and have fun with. These races help re-motivate me, build new friendships and bonds, and have allowed me to give back to certain charities and the community. I recommend starting with short races (2 mile or 5K) and slowly building up to the marathon, triathlon, and other long-distance races. Good Luck!!
Benefits of Races/Running Groups
1. Motivation
2. Bonds/Friendships
3. Fun
4. Improve Training Intensity
5. Give Back To Community/Charity
6. Improve Overall Health

[http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/11/the-cure-for-running-boredom/]

You Can't Measure Courage

What moves you forward? What makes you jump to the next level? What makes you gasp for air when your about to reach your goal? DESIRE, COURAGE, BOLDNESS --- CELEBRATE HUMANITY.

What's Your Excuse? Fastest Man on No Legs; The Blade Runner

Fastest Man on No Legs. Known as the Blade Runner, Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius is the fastest man on no legs. Pistorius holds the world record of double amputee runner in 100, 200 and 400 events. This fastest man on no legs born on 22 November 1986 without bones in his both lower legs, and when he was 11 months old, his parents made decision to amputate his legs. They never thought he later sprint his way into the world record books. He runs with J-shaped carbon-fibre prosthetics called the "Cheetah Flex-Foot" manufactured by Icelandic company, Ossur.

Although eligible to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, Pistorius did not qualify for the South African team. Watch the video about judgment on his 'unfair' advantage of his legs.