A few months ago, I asked a question that got lots of us talking, and I was so inspired by all of your answers: “What inspired you to start running?” Today, I’d love to move us more to the middle of that question and ask, what keeps you going? What keeps you motivated to get out there and get your miles/kilometers/minutes in? Are you doing it for someone special, or for yourself?
I always love hearing your perspective, as I need motivating too sometimes! — Terrell
In April, my husband and I cheered for our younger daughter as she ran her 4th marathon since June 2021. I was stunned to see MANY much older runners cross the finish line well ahead of our 25 year old daughter, and they were all so joyful. I didn’t think about signing up for any races at that time, but in May I began to run, hoping to eventually just get into better shape. In early May, I couldn’t run 0.3 miles, but within a couple weeks I started following a free Hal Higdon training plan, and I was astonished by how good the exercise was for my physical and mental health. One reason I stopped running 10 years ago is that my beloved husband has terminal, inoperable cancer and he also has a completely wrecked knee, unrelated to the cancer. I felt guilty about leaving the house to do something he couldn’t do, so I stopped running when his knee deteriorated to the point that he couldn’t walk without being in great pain. In the last year, I’ve thought about what will change in my life if/when I am a widow. Will I still cook healthy meals? Will I still make the bed every morning? Will I care if my house is clean and my lawn is well cared for? I realized that I had not allowed myself to dream about a future that might not include my husband. A couple months after I started running, our marathon running daughter (she has now completed 7 marathons in 18 months) asked me if I would consider going to Hawaii with her in March 2023, because she wants to run 26 miles on her 26th birthday. She suggested that I could run a 5K, 10K, or even a half marathon in the Big Island International Marathon. I agreed that it would be a fun trip, and I kept up with my Hal Higdon training plan. On my 62nd birthday on 9/2, she asked my husband and me to come cheer for her as she ran the Kansas City Marathon on October 15. I silently wondered how I could maintain my training plan and run 12 miles on 10/15, and I had an AHA! moment. Instead of running 12 miles on 10/15, why not sign up for the KC Half Marathon and run 13.1? I found a 6 week Half Marathon training plan, and I followed it to the letter. I was shocked that I finished faster than I expected, and I didn’t hate the experience. I realized that since I was running my first half-marathon, I was setting a PR! Our daughter set a PR in the KC Marathon, and then she traveled to Des Moines and set another PR as she ran another marathon on 10/16. After running in KC, I came home and chose a marathon training plan for Hawaii. I’ve been using Jeff Galloway’s IMT Des Moines Marathon Training Schedule for three weeks, and I love it. This morning I accompanied my darling husband of +40 years to The Cancer Center of Kansas for his expected chemo treatment, but he was sent to the ER because he was running a fever. He’ll be in the hospital until at least Saturday, but tomorrow morning and Saturday morning I’ll get up and run for 30 minutes before I go to the hospital. I know that doing that will be good for me, and good for him.
I have recently quit my Corporate job & decided to go solo. I love waking for my runs because they are the right start to my day. I get the exercise, I meet my running gang & socialise. When I achieve my targets its a big boost to the mindset I take with me on my solopreneur ship journey.
I’m 68. If I stop running, more than 2-3 days, I start feeling achy and moody. I can’t stop and won’t.
I do have a question and I hope someone can help me out. I have a NordicTrack Elliptical (CX1600). I love it for rainy or really hot days. Recently my husband was looking at “Fitness Runners” in particular: “Tru Grit Runners”. It’s a type of curved treadmill. Does anyone know if one is better than the other? I would appreciate some input. Thank you all and be safe out there!
I run because it helps me pay attention to the world around me, to find moments of stillness and clarity within movement. Running is my meditative practice, a constant reminder of how each moment is temporary yet precious. I run because it humbles and grounds me to think of all the miles that have shaped me into the person I am, and all the surprises, challenges, beauty and pain that await me in the miles ahead. I run because it is an act of faith to put one step in front of the other, especially when you are lost and uncertain about your goal/journey.
I run because I can. Sounds very simplistic but it’s true. I fully understand that there will be a day that I no longer be physically able to run for whatever reason. That and to try to maintain fitness.
Great question Terrell - Maintaining good health motivates me to run! I enjoy being outdoors and time alone with my thoughts. There are times that I feel it becomes a “thing” I have to do but after I’m done, I’m glad I did it. Most importantly, the running community keeps me motivated. I enjoy learning about the experiences from other runners and forming new friendships!
My love of being out there has resulted in, over the past several periodic visits to my cardiologist, his telling me, “Get outta here, I’ve got sick people to see!”
I love everyone's answers. So many different reasons we keep going. I keep going for my dog- he needs it. But definitely for me too. I love being outside, listening to our feet hit the ground, looking around at the beautiful sky, thinking, praying, and just moving because I can.
Hello, Terrell. Very good question. Sometimes I ask this question myself and now I can say that I'm going forward for the sake of my psychological and physical well-being. After good run I feel fresh, fit and with clear mind. This is very important when you are working "something with a computer".
Well, I can't say I'm motivated by the cold and rain now, but when the weather clears up and it is a bit warmer, I just love being out and moving on the Trails, especially in the Spring and Summer.
Age is not a factor. Like I told someone the other day when they were commiserating on being old,"I sure don't feel old!" and I don't! I sort of have the attitude I can do anything. . .always have. What I've had to do is sort out priorities, get rid of what I'm no longer am interested in (bogs down the mind), and concentrate on running, which keeps me going. I'm not doing it for health, but for enjoyment. I've also reached a point, where walks are fine, easy runs are fine, and all the hype on racing does not matter. If there is a race that interests me, or a charity run, I'll sign up for it! Training is not a pleasure, but I like the option of "if I have to do it, I will." (after all, I got myself into it!)
One of the main things that keeps me going is the articles on the half-marathoner and the other people who write in every day. I also have a few other friends I have developed online on other sites who have become my biggest cheerleaders. . . and then there is my family, who have no faith in my running at all, which gives me the most motivation because I have to show them I can do it!
One more day at the Farmer's Market tomorrow, then that is over for the year. Looks like it will be partly cloudy and somewhat warm. Lots of apples, tomatoes, and potatoes, then it is back to the grocery store for me. Oh well, happens every year! :)
At 67, I actually never ask myself 'why do I run". I find explaining my love of running to others though. It seems like the last few years, I've had my share of ankle and foot issues, but I never consider stopping. I'm always asking when can I run again? :) Running brings me calm, confidence, and joy. It can be competitive - or not. It is always healthy - physically and mentally.
As a mother of 4, full time job and a husband who owns his own business, running is the one thing that I do that is about me and for me. If it's right to say, I'm selfish about the time I set aside to run. It's keeps me sane and quite honestly after a year of serious illness doctors have credited my dedication to health and running for tackling it so successfully. I've had running partners in the past and enjoy it, but the solitude of early morning runs, my own thoughts, own music and own time are a staple to my life.
What keeps me going is the realization that if I didn’t start moving (two years ago) and keep moving, aging would not be kind to me. It’s not that I want to live to be 1,000 years old, but that I want to feel good and keep my mental acuity for as long as I live.
Reading all the reply’s from the “over 50” group is very inspirational. Being 64, I am glad to see I should have many years left in me! I run for health which includes the all important mental aspect of relief from the day-to-day stresses. Being able to withdraw from the news, politics and all the other issues we are bombarded with is mental relief for me. Keep up the great topics!
One last thought before the weekend. I just returned from a walk/run as I slowly build up to half Marathon training next year with, I hope, many of you. As I took in the awesome autumn colors and smells I know that I belong on the trails. And the moments , when every once in a while, I feel strong and ecstatic like I did in my youth, is inspiration enough to lace up tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow....
I have never been a fast runner. But, I still want to compete with those in my age group. I signed up for 3 half marathons in the next 9 months so I have some races to train for. The goal is to stay healthy and mobile. Not as many runners in the 71+ age group. Maybe I will finish in the top three in one of these. I thank God for giving me a healthy body and mind and the wonderful running friends that meet me every morning. Thanks John
I have alluded to it here before but what keeps me going is that I almost died (twice) from pancreatitis in 2020. I am 100% confident that the only reason my body was able to withstand what it went through was because I am an endurance athlete. The type 1 diabetes I acquired from that little 5-week stint in the hospital has really put a damper on my ability, but I still get out there and run. I'm no longer about paces and times and what place I am among the other men in my age group. For me, all races and runs are now solely about JF- Just Finishing.
What keeps me going is how I feel. I love running! I love training for the next race & all of the positives it brings. Grateful for good health & running is a huge part of that.
Happy Friday! I'm a new follower of yours and have really been enjoying your writing! I feel like for a lot of people running isn't the most fun sport/activity. Heck I hated it for the longest time. Somehow I started getting into fitness/lifting, dabbled with running, progressed from 5Ks to half-marathons, to running my first full one last year, to ultra adventure runs, and now it's just a thing I have do to. I love running now and am training for my second marathon which is next month! Of course, there are blips of time where I have no motivation, but what keeps me going is resetting my mindset and these reasons:
1. Knowing that I have the ability to move, push, and challange myself when there are some people who can't because of physical limitations/restrictions. I never take the ability to just get up and run for granted.
2. I know the body is capable of distance - it becomes a mind of body challenge, so seeing the further I can push myself IS so motivating.
3. The adrenaline rush I get pre, during runs (especially those long training runs). And the extreme mental satisfaction I get when I've completed my runs.
Anyways that's probably a longer rant hahaha, but have a great weekend! : )
As a 40+ year runner, the sport has brought so much joy whether it's helping me deal with a stressful day, the joy of movement, weight control, or competing in races. But my body hasn't always been cooperative and I've suffered knee problems through the years with multiple arthroscopic surgeries and more recently, two knee replacements. The first in May 2020 and the second in April of this year. I manage to stay focused on my return because there's too many goals left to accomplish. Running a half marathon in 50 states is important to me and I have sixteen states remaining plus DC. Completing the NYC marathon is also a major goal and I hope to run it in 2024 or 2025. I ran five half's after a full knee replacement and I'm convinced my journey will continue beyond this latest speed bump.
As I observe my contemporaries (age 75) struggle to move around and as I attend way too many funerals for many of them, I know that when I stop pushing myself to get in the weekly walking/running miles , my quality and quantity of life will be lessened. I know I cannot control all the variables but I am sure going to try and control those I can. What I eat and how much I move everyday is still within my control. And if I am going to dance at my grandchildren's weddings, I better prepare for the future...now!
GM and welcome to Friday! Honestly, this blog helps me "keep going", it allows me to see that others also have the ups and downs that I have with energy for running and it helps to get me out the door for, once I get "there" it reminds me in so many simple ways why I enjoy the run as much as the drive to compete, with myself, in order to reach success. I imagine that many of those here, like myself, like the exercise, love the environment it puts us into and some, definitely like me, needed a way to keep competitive - in this case with myself!
In April, my husband and I cheered for our younger daughter as she ran her 4th marathon since June 2021. I was stunned to see MANY much older runners cross the finish line well ahead of our 25 year old daughter, and they were all so joyful. I didn’t think about signing up for any races at that time, but in May I began to run, hoping to eventually just get into better shape. In early May, I couldn’t run 0.3 miles, but within a couple weeks I started following a free Hal Higdon training plan, and I was astonished by how good the exercise was for my physical and mental health. One reason I stopped running 10 years ago is that my beloved husband has terminal, inoperable cancer and he also has a completely wrecked knee, unrelated to the cancer. I felt guilty about leaving the house to do something he couldn’t do, so I stopped running when his knee deteriorated to the point that he couldn’t walk without being in great pain. In the last year, I’ve thought about what will change in my life if/when I am a widow. Will I still cook healthy meals? Will I still make the bed every morning? Will I care if my house is clean and my lawn is well cared for? I realized that I had not allowed myself to dream about a future that might not include my husband. A couple months after I started running, our marathon running daughter (she has now completed 7 marathons in 18 months) asked me if I would consider going to Hawaii with her in March 2023, because she wants to run 26 miles on her 26th birthday. She suggested that I could run a 5K, 10K, or even a half marathon in the Big Island International Marathon. I agreed that it would be a fun trip, and I kept up with my Hal Higdon training plan. On my 62nd birthday on 9/2, she asked my husband and me to come cheer for her as she ran the Kansas City Marathon on October 15. I silently wondered how I could maintain my training plan and run 12 miles on 10/15, and I had an AHA! moment. Instead of running 12 miles on 10/15, why not sign up for the KC Half Marathon and run 13.1? I found a 6 week Half Marathon training plan, and I followed it to the letter. I was shocked that I finished faster than I expected, and I didn’t hate the experience. I realized that since I was running my first half-marathon, I was setting a PR! Our daughter set a PR in the KC Marathon, and then she traveled to Des Moines and set another PR as she ran another marathon on 10/16. After running in KC, I came home and chose a marathon training plan for Hawaii. I’ve been using Jeff Galloway’s IMT Des Moines Marathon Training Schedule for three weeks, and I love it. This morning I accompanied my darling husband of +40 years to The Cancer Center of Kansas for his expected chemo treatment, but he was sent to the ER because he was running a fever. He’ll be in the hospital until at least Saturday, but tomorrow morning and Saturday morning I’ll get up and run for 30 minutes before I go to the hospital. I know that doing that will be good for me, and good for him.
Hello Terrell
I have recently quit my Corporate job & decided to go solo. I love waking for my runs because they are the right start to my day. I get the exercise, I meet my running gang & socialise. When I achieve my targets its a big boost to the mindset I take with me on my solopreneur ship journey.
I’m 68. If I stop running, more than 2-3 days, I start feeling achy and moody. I can’t stop and won’t.
I do have a question and I hope someone can help me out. I have a NordicTrack Elliptical (CX1600). I love it for rainy or really hot days. Recently my husband was looking at “Fitness Runners” in particular: “Tru Grit Runners”. It’s a type of curved treadmill. Does anyone know if one is better than the other? I would appreciate some input. Thank you all and be safe out there!
I run because it helps me pay attention to the world around me, to find moments of stillness and clarity within movement. Running is my meditative practice, a constant reminder of how each moment is temporary yet precious. I run because it humbles and grounds me to think of all the miles that have shaped me into the person I am, and all the surprises, challenges, beauty and pain that await me in the miles ahead. I run because it is an act of faith to put one step in front of the other, especially when you are lost and uncertain about your goal/journey.
I run because I can. Sounds very simplistic but it’s true. I fully understand that there will be a day that I no longer be physically able to run for whatever reason. That and to try to maintain fitness.
Great question Terrell - Maintaining good health motivates me to run! I enjoy being outdoors and time alone with my thoughts. There are times that I feel it becomes a “thing” I have to do but after I’m done, I’m glad I did it. Most importantly, the running community keeps me motivated. I enjoy learning about the experiences from other runners and forming new friendships!
My love of being out there has resulted in, over the past several periodic visits to my cardiologist, his telling me, “Get outta here, I’ve got sick people to see!”
I love everyone's answers. So many different reasons we keep going. I keep going for my dog- he needs it. But definitely for me too. I love being outside, listening to our feet hit the ground, looking around at the beautiful sky, thinking, praying, and just moving because I can.
Hello, Terrell. Very good question. Sometimes I ask this question myself and now I can say that I'm going forward for the sake of my psychological and physical well-being. After good run I feel fresh, fit and with clear mind. This is very important when you are working "something with a computer".
Well, I can't say I'm motivated by the cold and rain now, but when the weather clears up and it is a bit warmer, I just love being out and moving on the Trails, especially in the Spring and Summer.
Age is not a factor. Like I told someone the other day when they were commiserating on being old,"I sure don't feel old!" and I don't! I sort of have the attitude I can do anything. . .always have. What I've had to do is sort out priorities, get rid of what I'm no longer am interested in (bogs down the mind), and concentrate on running, which keeps me going. I'm not doing it for health, but for enjoyment. I've also reached a point, where walks are fine, easy runs are fine, and all the hype on racing does not matter. If there is a race that interests me, or a charity run, I'll sign up for it! Training is not a pleasure, but I like the option of "if I have to do it, I will." (after all, I got myself into it!)
One of the main things that keeps me going is the articles on the half-marathoner and the other people who write in every day. I also have a few other friends I have developed online on other sites who have become my biggest cheerleaders. . . and then there is my family, who have no faith in my running at all, which gives me the most motivation because I have to show them I can do it!
One more day at the Farmer's Market tomorrow, then that is over for the year. Looks like it will be partly cloudy and somewhat warm. Lots of apples, tomatoes, and potatoes, then it is back to the grocery store for me. Oh well, happens every year! :)
At 67, I actually never ask myself 'why do I run". I find explaining my love of running to others though. It seems like the last few years, I've had my share of ankle and foot issues, but I never consider stopping. I'm always asking when can I run again? :) Running brings me calm, confidence, and joy. It can be competitive - or not. It is always healthy - physically and mentally.
As a mother of 4, full time job and a husband who owns his own business, running is the one thing that I do that is about me and for me. If it's right to say, I'm selfish about the time I set aside to run. It's keeps me sane and quite honestly after a year of serious illness doctors have credited my dedication to health and running for tackling it so successfully. I've had running partners in the past and enjoy it, but the solitude of early morning runs, my own thoughts, own music and own time are a staple to my life.
What keeps me going is the realization that if I didn’t start moving (two years ago) and keep moving, aging would not be kind to me. It’s not that I want to live to be 1,000 years old, but that I want to feel good and keep my mental acuity for as long as I live.
Reading all the reply’s from the “over 50” group is very inspirational. Being 64, I am glad to see I should have many years left in me! I run for health which includes the all important mental aspect of relief from the day-to-day stresses. Being able to withdraw from the news, politics and all the other issues we are bombarded with is mental relief for me. Keep up the great topics!
One last thought before the weekend. I just returned from a walk/run as I slowly build up to half Marathon training next year with, I hope, many of you. As I took in the awesome autumn colors and smells I know that I belong on the trails. And the moments , when every once in a while, I feel strong and ecstatic like I did in my youth, is inspiration enough to lace up tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow....
I have never been a fast runner. But, I still want to compete with those in my age group. I signed up for 3 half marathons in the next 9 months so I have some races to train for. The goal is to stay healthy and mobile. Not as many runners in the 71+ age group. Maybe I will finish in the top three in one of these. I thank God for giving me a healthy body and mind and the wonderful running friends that meet me every morning. Thanks John
I have alluded to it here before but what keeps me going is that I almost died (twice) from pancreatitis in 2020. I am 100% confident that the only reason my body was able to withstand what it went through was because I am an endurance athlete. The type 1 diabetes I acquired from that little 5-week stint in the hospital has really put a damper on my ability, but I still get out there and run. I'm no longer about paces and times and what place I am among the other men in my age group. For me, all races and runs are now solely about JF- Just Finishing.
What keeps me going is how I feel. I love running! I love training for the next race & all of the positives it brings. Grateful for good health & running is a huge part of that.
Hi Terrell -
Happy Friday! I'm a new follower of yours and have really been enjoying your writing! I feel like for a lot of people running isn't the most fun sport/activity. Heck I hated it for the longest time. Somehow I started getting into fitness/lifting, dabbled with running, progressed from 5Ks to half-marathons, to running my first full one last year, to ultra adventure runs, and now it's just a thing I have do to. I love running now and am training for my second marathon which is next month! Of course, there are blips of time where I have no motivation, but what keeps me going is resetting my mindset and these reasons:
1. Knowing that I have the ability to move, push, and challange myself when there are some people who can't because of physical limitations/restrictions. I never take the ability to just get up and run for granted.
2. I know the body is capable of distance - it becomes a mind of body challenge, so seeing the further I can push myself IS so motivating.
3. The adrenaline rush I get pre, during runs (especially those long training runs). And the extreme mental satisfaction I get when I've completed my runs.
Anyways that's probably a longer rant hahaha, but have a great weekend! : )
As a 40+ year runner, the sport has brought so much joy whether it's helping me deal with a stressful day, the joy of movement, weight control, or competing in races. But my body hasn't always been cooperative and I've suffered knee problems through the years with multiple arthroscopic surgeries and more recently, two knee replacements. The first in May 2020 and the second in April of this year. I manage to stay focused on my return because there's too many goals left to accomplish. Running a half marathon in 50 states is important to me and I have sixteen states remaining plus DC. Completing the NYC marathon is also a major goal and I hope to run it in 2024 or 2025. I ran five half's after a full knee replacement and I'm convinced my journey will continue beyond this latest speed bump.
As I observe my contemporaries (age 75) struggle to move around and as I attend way too many funerals for many of them, I know that when I stop pushing myself to get in the weekly walking/running miles , my quality and quantity of life will be lessened. I know I cannot control all the variables but I am sure going to try and control those I can. What I eat and how much I move everyday is still within my control. And if I am going to dance at my grandchildren's weddings, I better prepare for the future...now!
GM and welcome to Friday! Honestly, this blog helps me "keep going", it allows me to see that others also have the ups and downs that I have with energy for running and it helps to get me out the door for, once I get "there" it reminds me in so many simple ways why I enjoy the run as much as the drive to compete, with myself, in order to reach success. I imagine that many of those here, like myself, like the exercise, love the environment it puts us into and some, definitely like me, needed a way to keep competitive - in this case with myself!