Today’s Tuesdays on The Run is all about motivation! What a great topic and I think it might actually get me out of my writer’s block. I haven’t written in days and that’s very weird for me so excited to be getting something out there into the big wide universe! Be sure to check out the other great bloggers as well HERE.

Motivation is a big word.

Definition: The reason or reasons one has for acting in a particular way.

Well, that makes this post actually rather easy for me because instead of discussing the ways to keep your motivation, I think we should look at why we act this way. Because it’s a little odd, honestly, running all the miles, getting up before dawn, or, as many of you are experiencing right now, running miles and miles to nowhere on a treadmill.

I studied acting for a while when I was young. I took many classes and attended a ton of workshops and I wasn’t, in fact, all that good but one thing you heard over and over again was “what’s your motivation?”

This applied to everything – even blocking of a particular scene. Walk across the room seemingly for no reason and all the sudden you’re an actor. Walk across the room because you’re upset and trying to escape the person you’re in the scene with and looking for the closest exit? You’re playing the part and the audience only sees your character.

So, Friends, What’s Your Motivation?

I don’t know yours. It could be weight loss, or fitness, or to prevent an illness like cancer or rheumatoid arthritis from taking it’s toll.

Here’s mine:

To ward off depression. 

I’ve suffered from depression since just after the birth of my twins when a bout of postpartum threatened to destroy me. It’s a very real threat and running keeps it at bay. Depression is funny because you literally never know when it’s going to strike, but I know if I run consistently, get enough rest and eat well, it’s far less likely to strike. That’s a strong motivator as my depression can hurt every area of my life. (here’s a post I did when I first started blogging about that journey)

To get time alone.

Even on the days when I’m sore and I don’t want to get out the door, because I’m a girl who needs her alone time, running is that one 30 – 45 minute piece of my day where nobody can bug me (unless it’s an emergency) and I can be truly alone. I know some of you can relate – my life is very full and blessed with my family but there are a lot of us, and alone time is tough to find. Running gives me quiet.

To keep my weight in check.

I come from a long line of women afflicted with the ZAFTIG TUSH. (no, we weren’t Jewish and yes, this is Yiddish but trust me, it applies). What this means is that my weight can be a struggle and even though my metabolism does tend to more closely resemble my father’s side of tall, skinny people, as I’m getting older my weight can be a struggle. Oh, and the tall skinny people on my dad’s side had a bit of a heart disease problem and my dad had his first heart surgery before his 50th birthday (despite running 3 miles a day) So I’m highly motivated to keep my weight in the healthy range. I don’t need to be a size 2 but my hereditary lottery ticket says right on there “don’t gain too much weight.”

To be ready for races in fun places with my friends!

(which makes me think we need a parody to Friends in Low Places – “I run races in FUN places where the girls are fast and the bling chases my blues away . . . and it’ll be ok)

But seriously I believe it’s evident that I really like my friends and I really like running races, so if I’m fit and can run a half marathon any time, I greatly increase the chances of this happening. Could we all get together without running a race? Maybe. But I think we’d feel guilty. I’m not Catholic either, but maybe the running is our penance for all the celebrating? I don’t know. It makes sense if you don’t think about it. I try to always have a  race on the books. Have you ever run a race without training properly? I have. ONCE. Never again. If I have a race scheduled, I’m GOING to run.

I think motivation is a very individual thing. I’m not sure why you run. But I know you need to figure it out. Because if you don’t know why you’re doing it, you’re an actor playing a part. And that’s not likely to get you into your running shoes and out the door.

Happy Running!

Jen