Motivation for runners

There are as many forms of motivation for running as there are runners. What motivates one runner to run is not "better" than what motivates another runner. For example, a runner who is beginning to run is just as "motivated" as one who has competed for years. The desire for both is pure and something to be respected. Anyone who is doing something instead of watching someone else do something is worthy of respect. Too often, "elite" runners look down their noses at the slower runners, (and I include myself as someone who did this in the past), getting annoyed at those people who are getting in their way.

Motivations for runner can change. For example, a runner whose motivation in his 20's was based solely on competition and who derrived all his or her enjoyment of running from results and times may evolve into a runner who enjoys it for its own sake. Is there any doubt that what motivates Alberto Salazar now is different from what motivated him in the late 1970's and early 1980's? Knowing what motivates a running is a key component to the planning of training by a coach.

Example 1. A woman in her 40's who has never been particularly athletic has become inspired by Oprah running the USMC Marathon. She also wants to lose weight. Should her goal be to run a marathon after a few months of running? Probably not. Is her goal to run in races and eventually work up to a marathon? Is it to simply lose some weight and have more energy to live her daily life? Determining the goal of this woman and whether it is a realistic one has to be accompanied by determining what motivates her. It is a symbiotic relationship. Without a goal, there is no motivation to change a lifestyle or a training plan. Without motivation, how can she reach any sort of goal?

Example 2. A man in his 30's and plays basketball wants to improve his conditioning and his game. In this case, his goal and the motivation to achieve that goal appears to be simple. However, can his goals be more specific? Such as, does he want to play better defense, have better lateral movement or to get more rebounds? Here, the coach must determine if reaching these smaller, more subtle goals is motivation enough to convince the basketball player to run.

Example 3. A woman in her 20's who has been a competitive runner in high school, but stopped in college. After working for a few years, she realizes she misses competition. Is she motivated by posting personal records? Is it the plastic and marble trophies she craves? Does she want to beat other women in her age group? Does she wonder how good she could have been if she had dedicated herself to running? All good questions and ones that the coach should ask during the initial interview.

As shown above, there are clearly many forms of motivation for runners. Having a clear goal and the motivation to attain that goal is one of the bricks in the foundation of success.