Getting Motivated

Getting Motivated

May 18th, 2011 @ 3:46 pm by Mrs. Sparkler
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Today I received a much anticipated phone call, hive. The phone call I’ve been waiting on for a pretty long time… SIX months to be exact. After I hung up, my brain processed the information I’d just received in this exact order:

My dress came in today.

Oh my God.

MY DRESS CAME IN TODAY.

I AM FREAKING OUT.

Yes, I’m freaking out from happiness and giddiness and girly fun, but I’m also freaking out because… y’all… that dress is going to be snug. And I just said “y’all,” so you know it’s serious.

Getting Motivated : wedding chicago fitness 1 1

Awesome typography via Neuarmy

It’s a classic bridal story really… I ordered a dress in one size, and now I’m afraid I’m another size. What’s a girl to do?

GET HER BUTT IN SHAPE!

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a runner at heart. I love to run as far and for as long as possible. But lately, I’ve been lacking motivation. Why? Well, I think a lot of it has to do with being burned out. Last fall, I ran a TON of races (marathons, half marathons… anything I could sign up for). And while it was a lot of fun at the time, by January, my body was basically begging for recovery.

Getting Motivated : wedding chicago fitness 2 2

Me, Sparks, and Sparkler Bro after the Chicago Marathon…

Getting Motivated : wedding chicago fitness 3 3

…and Sparkler Bro and me crossing the Marine Corps Marathon finish!

So I took a break.

A month off turned into 2 months, into 3 months… and now it’s May. And the feeling of being “burned out” turned into feelings of resentment towards racing in general. Why did I have to be the best? The fastest? Or achieve a new personal record with each race? Somewhere in my recovery, I had forgotten why I like to run at all.

So today (with a big white dress in the back of my mind) I’m vowing to get back to the heart and soul of running. Where I not only love to run, but I’m doing it for the right reasons. Not to be the fastest, not to always get a better time than the last… but to feel good about myself and to really connect with the road again. And to fit into that dress!!!

I’ve got about 5 weeks until I pick up the dress from my Mom’s house, so I think this is an achievable goal. I’ll be keeping you posted!

Any other runners out there? How did you get back to the “basics” of running? Did anyone else just get the call that their dress came in?

Tags: chicago, fitness |

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24 Responses to “Getting Motivated”

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Member

franks.katie (message) 335 posts, Helper bee

Yay!! So happy for you that you’re dress is in. I know the feeling about needing to get your butt in gear. I’m a runner, but I took time off and then the dress was T-I-G-H-T. I started switching up running and weight training, and in no time, I was almost too small for the dress - best of luck!! You’ll have no problem with it

5/18/11 @ 3:51 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Cinnamon Bun (message) 1,100 posts, Bumble bee

My dress came in, and it is a little big, so it’s been hard not to just eat everything I want because ‘it’ll still fit!’. I want to get it altered smaller, not puff up to fit!

5/18/11 @ 3:52 pm (reply)

Member

SouthRNComfort (message) 119 posts, Blushing bee

My dress isn’t in yet, but I ordered mine knowing I’d have to lose 0.5-1 inch off my hip. Now I am NOT a runner. But I’m going to gym classes and calorie counting. Today is week 2 and I have until October, but good to start now. I envy runners, I just don’t have the endurance. Good luck!

5/18/11 @ 3:59 pm (reply)

Member

Acorn13 (message) 23 posts, Newbee

I totally understand feeling burnt out, that’s why I made the rule that I will not force myself to run or go to the gym if I am just not feeling it that day. Turns out when I don’t think of it as a chare I end up working out so much more!

5/18/11 @ 4:02 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss High Wire (message) 754 posts, Busy bee

I was really into running last year. I ran 8 races!! But my heart was never 100% in it. I was just doing it because that’s what everyone else was doing (or at least all the bloggers I was following). I stopped cold turkey after my race on Thanksgiving morning and haven’t felt one twange of missing running whatsoever since then.

I’m more of a group exercise, yoga, cardio, walking my dog kind of gal. Lately I’ve gotten into weight lifting so I am experimenting with that currently!

5/18/11 @ 4:06 pm (reply)

Guest

CameraGirl87

I had a running burnout for a while (triggered by injury) but I’ve started back. I find it’s really helpful with the wedding planning. It helps me vent, clear my mind, and focus on something other than wedding planning.

5/18/11 @ 4:09 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Seal (message) 1,179 posts, Bumble bee

I’m like Highwire…my heart’s not into running like yours. I kinda just do it because I feel like I’m supposed to? Like it’s the ultimate measure of being fit or something. Silly, I know. Anyhow, glad to hear you’re going to start running for YOU again, Sparks You’re going to look fabulous in that gown!

5/18/11 @ 4:37 pm (reply)

Member

Ladydazl (message) 120 posts, Blushing bee

I love running (but I’m nowhere near able to complete a marathon or even a half marathon!) and like you I’ve been struggling for motivation at the moment. I think its because its getting a bit cold (Australian winter) and I’d prefer to stay indoors in the warm than go out running in the cold rain… but your post has inspired me to run home from work tonight, and then hopefully it will kick start me into a training program for the 15km race I’m doing in August. Thank you for the motivation!

5/18/11 @ 6:44 pm (reply)

Member

stephbonthego (message) 687 posts, Busy bee

I was a size 0…in 8th grade!

Seriously though, I know what you mean about self-committment and appreciate how everyone here shares with each other- that is motivating in itself!!

5/18/11 @ 7:26 pm (reply)

10.

Member

oatmealpie (message) 152 posts, Blushing bee

Bless you. I have never understood people who enjoy running, but I’m glad you exist.

5/18/11 @ 7:31 pm (reply)

11.

Member

licelot13 (message) 94 posts, Worker bee

this friday is my last fitting and i’m freaking out because they take in on the top (chest area) and now what i wanted a trumpet style dress might look like an A liner!!! oh no, no! well that’s what i have in my head!

5/18/11 @ 8:19 pm (reply)

12.

Bee

Mrs. Tartlet (message) 3,207 posts, Sugar bee

Good luck, Sparks! I’m totally not a runner, but am always impressed by those like you who can be so dedicated to the sport!

5/18/11 @ 8:38 pm (reply)

13.

Member

Georgia Bee (message) 1,576 posts, Bumble bee

I wouldn’t run to Ben & Jerry’s if they were having a sale, so God luv ya!

My dress was a size to small, but that was a great motivator to watch the calories and exercise.

It will be worth it when you look at your photos/video and like the way you look.

Now if I could just find the motivation to keep it off!

5/18/11 @ 8:41 pm (reply)

14.

Member

laundromatchic (message) 10 posts, Newbee

As a fellow runner, I think the best way to get back after a slump is to join a local running club. Meeting other people who are passionate about the sport will spur your motivation, annnd having a group to run with once or twice a week switches up your weekly routine

5/18/11 @ 10:54 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

Liz

http://www.thebestcolleges.org/most-beautiful-campuses/#more-2361

Elon ranked #1!

good luck with the running!

5/18/11 @ 11:11 pm (reply)

16.

Guest

Liz

http://www.thebestcolleges.org/most-beautiful-campuses/#more-2361

Elon ranked #1!

good luck with the running!

5/18/11 @ 11:11 pm (reply)

17.

Member

mkewed2010 (message) 508 posts, Busy bee

I totally understand your burned out feeling as a runner. Last year I did TONS of races, just because for the past 5 years I didn’t know anything different. After my last marathon I was burned out. I still did a half marathon and a handful of races after that but my heart wasn’t into it. I told my FI to not let me run a race this year because with wedding planning its too much work. I feel pretty unmotivated to run too. Good thing I have a corset back! I have started weight training and spinning, but I agree with you. I need to get back to running because I want to run. Not to get another PR, or try to place. Just run because I enjoy it. My friend and I plan to do the Big Sur marathon in the next couple years and I think that will be a great race to enjoy running not run to set a record. Good luck getting back into running!

5/18/11 @ 11:24 pm (reply)

18.

Member

vtbride2010 (message) 152 posts, Blushing bee

I am totally a runner too! I have run only a handful of races and only 1 marathon - and that was enough for me. When I was training for the marathon - it just consumed me! I was spending ALL of my free time running or doing yoga to strengthen up my core so I could run better! That was back in 2007 - I took about 6 months off after that and realized that I just missed running. It is the only time a day when I can be by myself, with my thoughts and the open road! During all of this wedding planning, I have found running to be my only outlet (well running and chocolate) - it has helped me SO much. Currently I’m running 4-8 miles a day 3 or 4 days a week. I don’t know what I would do without my runs! Probably go crazy and gain weight with all of the chocolate!

Good luck finding that perfect balance!

5/19/11 @ 7:57 am (reply)

19.

Member

runninginpink (message) 39 posts, Newbee

You can probably tell from my username, I’m a runner, but I TOTALLY get the feeling burnt out and needing a break. It happened to me after my first marathon, when I first started dating my fiance, and then right after we got engaged. Thankfully planning a wedding is a perfect reason to remember to work out and although I have not yet received my wedding dress I have plans to pick one out soon and I want to be in the best shape for that.
I actually found that NOT signing up for any races has motivated me a lot because I don’t feel any pressure to be ready for a certain distance or speed. I still run five days a week, but If I need to miss a workout or two it doesn’t stress me out because I’m not screwing up my training plan for anything.

5/19/11 @ 10:24 am (reply)

20.

Bee

Miss Gazelle (message) 994 posts, Busy bee

Oh my gosh sparks, welcome to my world! I am so there with you. The worst part about all of this time after being unmotivated and burnt out is just how much running hurts! My pace sucks and I feel like I’m just lumbering along. Maybe we should tweet each other if we are flagging on motivation? To help each other get out there and get moving? Like today I need help because it is overcast and raining out…!

5/19/11 @ 11:40 am (reply)

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