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Running still not habitual, lacking motivation

By: Krystle Wagner Posted: 07/20/09 5:56pm

I’ve been told that once you do something for 30 days, it becomes a habit. Even though I’ve been running for over 30 days, it still hasn’t become something that I go out of my way to accomplish.

The past two weeks have been the busiest for me and I haven’t been able to maintain running three times a week. Two weeks ago, I didn’t run at all; however, I forced myself to run three times last week. Even though I was busy and stressed, I knew that I would feel slightly better if I ran. Despite the minor setbacks, I did feel better.

The first run of the week wasn’t too bad. It seemed difficult at the time, but it would be nothing compared to what I would experience in the days to follow. The second run of the week was the most challenging. It may have been that I ran back-to-back days, but my legs haven’t ached that much since I first started running back in May.

To my surprise, the third day was the best. I still wasn’t interested in running because I had so much racing through my mind and had a lot to do. While I was running, I cleared my mind of everything I was thinking and was stressed about. I only focused on my breathing. It was my second best run ever because it will be hard to compare to the feeling I experienced after running the 5k. When I returned to my apartment, I felt less stressed and happier than I had been all week.

My schedule for the week doesn’t seem too busy as of now, so I’m hoping to have time to run more — granted, if I have the motivation.

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Summer of Fitness

State News features writer Krystle Wagner gives you the skinny on her journey through a summer of fitness. Read as she examines all aspects of her strides to become a fitness fanatic.

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Commentary:

Amanda

07/21/09 8:06am

It certainly can be tough to get the motivation to get out and exercise. To me, putting on tennis shoes and workout clothes is half of the battle. On days when the last thing I want to do is work out, I do the “10-Minute Rule.” I get dressed into gym clothes (like I said, half the battle!!) and then work out for at least 10 minutes. Maybe I’ll just do some sit-ups and push-ups, or maybe I’ll spend just 10 minutes on the treadmill. That way, you’ve accomplished something! And you can congratulate yourself for not giving in to your lazy thoughts! And who knows, after 10 minutes you might want to keep going. Hope that helps

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Thanks for the great post above

07/21/09 8:12am

Amanda I want to put my work out clothes on and take it from there..THANKS!

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Seriously

07/21/09 10:47am

10 minutes of working out doing any exercise won’t burn off the calories from a half of a candy bar. If you are serious about doing anything that is considered a work out, try watching tv while on the treadmill, one episode of the bachelorette while on the treadmill will get you a lot farther and healthier than 10 minutes of crunches.

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Myme

07/21/09 11:05am

“My schedule for the week doesn’t seem too busy as of now, so I’m hoping to have time to run more — granted, if I have the motivation”.
Aren’t YOU suppose to be MOTIVATING US? I think that it would be helpful to change the last sentence, come on now all it will take is a little motivation!

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Amanda

07/21/09 11:15am

Re: Seriously,

While 10 minutes of exercise isn’t especially tough and probably not super effective, it is better than nothing. Getting out there for just a little bit is worth more than the exercise- it means you have overcome your mental weakness! Like I said, I find that I usually want to continue working out after the initial 10 minutes.

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Ipod Mania

07/21/09 11:22am

Another good tip is throwing on the Ipod with some serious motivation music. Try “Eye of the Tiger” or the theme song from “Rocky.” If you can’t get pumped up from that, I don’t know what to tell you

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Getting Pumped up to exercise

07/22/09 1:00pm

Through songs: Linkin Park: New Divide, Billy Talent: Rusted in the Rain. 311: Hey You, Breaking Benjamin: The Dairy of Jane, 3 Doors Down: Away from the sun, Metric: Help I’m alive, Anything by Stain, but I cry to the song, Outside & love the song It’s been awhile…Music to run by! Have fun movin and groovin!

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OMG How could I forget...

07/22/09 1:41pm

3 Doors Down: Kryptonite, this song will get anyone pumped up! A few more good songs are 3 Doors Down: Here Without You, Story of the Year: Until the day I die, Buckcherry: Everything, Richy Nix: In my head, to name a few more… I love to goggle and watch the videos!

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Oops

07/22/09 1:44pm

I met to write Staind not stain, I just saw that I forgot the “d”, but I love their songs, even if some are depressing, I can still cry when I run, it helps cool me off. My cry song “Outside” love.love.love

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Gov. Jennifer Granholm speaks to a crowd about the Michigan Promise Scholarship during a rally Wednesday morning outside the Administration Building. Granholm is touring colleges in Michigan to discuss the scholarship.

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