As much as we all love running, we can understand that sometimes it can be tough to stay motivated during marathon training. Life is busy and lots of us have many other commitments outside of running, so it can be hard to get that balance right, and this is when we usually find that motivation starts to dip.
So whilst we don’t have all the answers, our training partners at Coopah have some Top Tips on how to stay motivated during marathon training…
RUNNING WITH OTHERS
Sometimes the best way to stay motivated is to get others involved! If you promise to run with a friend it can be a lot easier to get yourself out of the door and get the miles in, plus time always goes quicker when you are chatting and not focusing on your watch. Try to squeeze in a post-run coffee and cake too to reward yourself (refuelling is very important remember!) Sometimes it may not always be possible to run with others, but here are some other things you can try:
- Set up a lunch run club at your workplace.
- If you have an older child, try to get them out on their bike with you that way you both get the fresh air we all need!
- If you have a young child, aim to go for a buggy run.
SWITCH UP YOUR ROUTE
We can all be guilty of just running around areas we know, but when you are marathon training it can get a bit tedious running the same routes over and over again. Use this time to explore your local area and find some new routes, it will help to keep your run interesting and will hopefully make the miles go by quicker as you are taking in your new surroundings. If you do decide to run in a new area, there are a few things you can do to keep safe:
- Always make sure you tell someone where you are going and what time.
- Switch on ‘Find my friends’ or tracking on your phone.
- Always take your phone and make sure it is fully charged.
- Plan your route using Strava/Garmin route planner.
- Make sure you take enough water & fuel with you.
- Make sure you have your card or money with you in case you need to get public transport.
MAKE A BANGING PLAYLIST
The power of music can make a huge difference to your run! Jordan, the Head Coach at Coopah takes her music playlists very seriously and very rarely runs without her headphones! She said:
‘When I am starting a marathon training block, I always create a new playlist for my long runs. Of course some songs feature on every single playlist, but I love listening to new music and I find it really motivating listening to new songs and not knowing what’s coming next’
Switching things up with a podcast can be good too, or even an audiobook! That way you can just plug in, and switch off whilst the miles tick by.
USE ORGANISED EVENTS
As mentioned earlier, running with others can be a great way to stay motivated during training, and this also extends to races and other organised events. If you don’t already know, parkrun is a completely free weekly 5k run that takes place every Saturday morning (click here to find one in your local area) and can be a really great way to get your training in, socialise with other runners and also give you that extra push if you have a harder run planned. If Parkrun isn’t your thing, you could also look to enter some target races during your training block.
PRIORITISE REST & RECOVERY
This may not seem like an obvious one, but if you aren’t making sure you are getting enough rest (this includes sleep and rest days!) fuelling well, and drinking enough water – this can have a really negative impact on your training. If you are always feeling tired, or really struggling to get yourself out for a run, it could be a sign that you are overdoing it. Remember – your rest days are just as important as all your training days, so make sure you respect them and schedule in at least one full rest day per week to allow your body to adapt to your training.
TAKE ALL THE STRESS OUT OF YOUR MARATHON TRAINING AND MAKE LIFE EASIER BY DOWNLOADING THE COOPAH APP.
- A fully personalised training plan built around your availability and goals
- Unlimited coaching support 24/7
- Streaks and incentives to keep you motivated
- Access to our community of other runners, physios and mental health experts to give you support and advice up to the day.
- Track your progress and your weekly/monthly mileage
To get your 2 weeks FREE just enter “GREATWELSH2” when registering.