how do you motivate yourself to go running?

Looking at myself naked first, then as I jog chanting 'thin thighs thin thighs' on a loop in my head.

EauRouge I could be you! That is the best bit - the time to yourself. As for the injury bit I feel your pain! I've had stress fracture and knee pain, hamstrings all ruining my plans. Now praying I've paid my injury dues! Am back at it. I just swam and rode my bike to try not lose fitness and did a lot of core exercises. Good luck!

30 mins+ of not hearing "mummymummymummymummymummy", that's all the motivation I need I'm currently on the injury bench and getting seriously itchy feet.

Logging activities on my fitness pal is my biggest motivator. I then know if I don't get off my butt and exercise I can't eat that bit of cake, or have that glass of wine. And seeing my body developing and becoming leaner.

The thing that motivates me most is being able to run a greater distance than my husband.
I have a competitive streak so having somebody else who does some running is helpful for me as I can gauge my progress against theirs.

the things that helped me were-
-making your first runs really short! its easy to go out for 15mins a few times a week and much better for you than not going at all.

• dont link it to being on a diet or being thin (if you fail with one you fail with the other)- we need to exercise to stay healthy as we age- full stop.

-set a day and a time and dont make it a choice just a fact.

• I dont like getting up early so I do it another time- 10am on a Sunday followed by a nice bath? lovely.

I also love running once I have done it but am also very good at finding excuses not to go.

My top tips.

1. Be realistic. If you know there is not a cat in hell's chance that you will get out of bed early when you can easily turn over and have an extra 30 mins' doze (or is that just me?!!), don't plan to run in a morning. Work out another time (especially now we're coming into light nights, can you go when the children are in bed?) early evening is a good time to go if you run through a residential area 'cos you can nosey into lounges where they haven't pulled the curtains and I plan a little change of decor in my head
2. Sign up for something, set a goal and tell all your family and friends about it (I signed up for a marathon and told everyone ended up feeling like I'd let people down / be embarrassed if I didn't do it). If you do sign up for something like that, they have training guides which can be good for making you stick to them. If you do that, you can combine it with raising sponsorship money.
3. For me, I have set days. I have to run on my day off. I have to run on a Saturday. Obviously if that doesn't work for you and you need some flexibility, tell yourself you have to run twice a week.
4. For me too, I have something I need to "slim" into I have a dress on the back of my bedroom door that I will get into. I also have a diary entry pinned to the fridge door showing that I weighed less at 16 weeks pregnant with twins than I do now--. Its about finding something thats important to you (health / weight loss / de-stress benefit) and having it somewhere prominent so you see it all the time.

I love running but also sometimes struggle with motivation.

What helps me:
Having a goal and a training plan. You then know what you are doing and not running aimlessly. That said post race I also love the no pressure runs where I just go for the enjoyment! But if I didn't race then I wouldn't get that enjoyment iyswim!

Ditto planning it in diary, getting kit out ready, going at the time of day that is good for u (mine is am as I usually cop out if eve run!)

Having good tunes to listen too or exciting new route to run.

It does also get easier. Once u break that walk/run and can run non stop for 20 mins then I think things change. Once you've done a race you want to come back and do it faster or go longer. It's such a great personal achievement!

Also knowing the first 10 mins of a run are the hardest as u r cold. Once u get your rhythm it's easier, so it's good to bear that in mind.

Start slow, tell yourself you'll just go for a short time. Once you get started you'll be fine and happy to carry on. For me it's just needing the initial kick up the arse.

Strava strava strava !
Parkrun.
Book a race to scare you into training
Join a club / get a running buddy
Routine routine routine. I run on a Tuesday night.
Remember how good you will feel after
How crap you will feel if you don't bother.
When you get up put your running kit on. Amazing what an obstacle having to go and get ready can be.
Read Runners world / online articles about running
Picture yourself looking lean and healthy
Buy running kit you like to wear
Tell yourself you are going to do a short run. Once you are out you may feel differently.
Running is the best thing you can do for your mental health.

I've heard that because of circadian rhythms exercise / sports performance tends to be better mid afternoon.

It was mentioned here if anyone is interested

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b038c5qj

Build it into your routine
Enter something and plan a prize for yourself when you complete
Try a Park Run?
Run in the evening so you don't have the extra inertia of getting out of bed early? I prefer to avoid running first thing in the morning!
Find a nice route (footpaths not pavements)
Get an app like mapmyrun so you can see the miles/kilometers mounting up

Then come back here and tell us so we can praise you!

I don't try to go early in the morning, I know I'd be setting myself up to fail. I go in the evening when DH gets home.

If I don't feel like going I only allow myself to think about the actual getting ready, getting changed, having a wee, setting the Garmin, rather than the actual running part. By the time I actually set off down the road I'm OK.

If I need to motivate myself to restart running after a long break I do the shallow thing and buy myself some new running wear, then I look forward to going out in it.

I have just done my first run in months and I feel amazing. I was feeling low lately and suddenly I remembered what an instant buzz running gives me and I just got up and went on my treadmill. It was hard but I am feeling high and happy.

I just need to remember this feeling on thurs when my next run is planned for.

I read this book 'Run fat bitch run' by Ruth Field and it helped me a lot with motivation.. Good luck!

I agree that entering something is a great way to motivate yourself - then you have to get out

Just make it part of your routine.

Do you prefer to run later in the day?

I love running and find it hard not to even when it's painful, injured or whatever. I wouldn't bother if I didn't enjoy it, I'd do some other exercise instead. NOT first thing in the morning though. I wake up with a massive hangover most days despite rarely drinking alcohol.

Why don't you start by going for a 10/20/30 minute walk in the mornings and progress to a run as you adjust?

Like brainwashed I always regret if I don't go. Three things work for me: 1. Putting my kit on when I get up 2. Planning my day around it (though I usually go after drop off) and 3. Telling myself if really reluctant that I'll just do 20 minutes or whatever. Once I'm out I usually enjoy it.

Burning calories also quite satisfying...

I think about how much I enjoy it when I'm out, how damn hot I will soon look in lycra, how it makes me feel less hungry, and how fast I will be able to escape from zombies come the zombocalypse.

All good, valid,sensible reasons

Find someone to run with. I have a. Running buddy and if I don't go I know she can't/won't.

I enjoy running but there is no way on earth I'd be able to make myself get up early and go for a run. I can only run in the evening, I wait till the kids are in bed and then go out.

Maybe you need to work out which time of day you feel most motivated.

I use a lot of techniques mentioned here (getting everything ready the night before etc.) but I've also set myself a yearly miles goal.

This year, I'm going to run 500 miles in a year. Works out at 42 miles a month, or around 9/10 miles a week. I write down every run distance on a spreadsheet (sad! ) and have a running total and countdown that helps motivate me to get out there. I don't want to get behind!

It's really satisfying to see the miles count down...

I don't think about whether I want to go or not. I just go. I just get up, put the gear on and go. It's just a fact that I will go as part of my morning routine before work. If I stopped to give myself choice or reasoning I'd choose to sleep in, stare in to space and drink coffee. But I just accept that it's what I do as part of my routine and I'm not prepared to have put in so much effort to lose weight and get fit to let it all just go and then sit about feeling miserable that I'm fat and unfit. Mentally it completely keeps me sane and I start the day on a positive. As far as I'm concerned my day actually starts after the run.

I've never regretted going for a run but I have regretted missing one...I just keep that in mind if I feel like not bothering.