What is the most important thing you can do right now to get better at running? It’s no secret, but the simple act of turning the doorknob, getting out onto the pavement, and getting a run in – regardless of the distance – is the easiest way to progress. I’ve written before about the importance of making running a habit. Consistency is the key ingredient to improvement; you can have the best training plan in the world, but if you don’t take the time to execute it then you won’t make any real progress.
It’s important to be internally motivated to run, but sometimes even the strongest wills fail. Sometimes a little rain, a few inches of snow, or a blazing summer sun can be enough to convince you not to venture outside.
We all know the feeling. We know we should be outside, getting our run in. We crave it to a certain extent but dread it just enough – for whatever reason – to convince ourselves it’s better just to stay inside. We can run tomorrow. Our internal motivation fails and, with it, our running progression.
This is where accountability becomes essential to building consistency in running. Because it’s difficult to lean solely on yourself to stay motivated, it helps to have someone else reminding you why you run. This can be anyone, but it helps for them to be somebody you interact with daily, so that they can easily ask you how your plan is going. For many people this might be a spouse. After all, who knows you better and can easily sense when you might be feeling like skipping a workout? Other good options might be a roommate, a coworker, or a parent depending on your individual situation.
This might look different for different people. For some folks it is good enough just to let their accountability partner know they are trying to run four or five days a week. Runners who struggle with discipline in workouts might want to share their running plan with their spouse or roommate. After all, it’s easy to go out for a tempo run and not hit your threshold heartrate either because you ran too slow or because you got excited and ran too fast. If you don’t have accountability, your long runs on the weekend have more of a tendency to get shorter and shorter.
Another good option is to run with a group or with a running club. This has the added benefit of sharing the workout with others, which should greatly contribute to your overall motivation. Not to mention that when you plan to run with others it is a lot harder to decide not to run simply because you aren’t feeling it. There are a few other ways to build accountability in running, though they certainly aren’t for everyone. Logging your runs on apps like Strava and Nike Run can help because they allow your friends to see what kinds of miles you’ve been putting in – or haven’t been putting in. Though I love Strava itself, I’m not a fan of using the app as your accountability function. It can too easily become an unhealthy relationship with running in that you are just trying to foster an image of you as a runner. These apps can be a great training tool, but that’s about all they should be used for.
If you’re struggling with motivation to run it can be useful to ask someone, you’re close with to help you stay accountable. Sometimes we all need someone to ask us how our training is going to stay on track. After all, it can be difficult to stay faithful when the snow is coming down or the thermostat reads triple digits. Having a buddy along is a great way to keep consistent in your training.
Do you have a running accountability partner? How do you stay motivated and consistent when the conditions aren’t ideal?
If you liked this article, check out: How to Build Your Running Baseline (And Why It’s Important).
How is your training going?