For some of us this is the level of motivation we need to get out and train. But not you, dear reader, never you. You are full of vim and vigor and fortitude and probably some flatulence from the bean burrito last night. But, regardless, flatulence powered motivation. But, the honest question to be asked is what inspires us to train and get out there when we may feel a case of the Monday blahs? My argument will be for us to amuse our collective selves one way or another.
I have 3 life rules for a successful, healthy, and vibrant existence on planet Earth. Ready?
1. Don’t go to Prison
2. Don’t end up in a Shipping Container
3. Amuse yourself because the World won’t. A day you haven’t found a way to amuse yourself is a wasted day.
Now, being trapped inside a shipping container setting sail for parts unknown does have its advantages. You get to travel to exotic places, work with demanding but performance based managers, meet new and different people on a daily basis…..you can see the silver lining here. But, for most of us a life abroad in a Shipping Container might not be the romanticized version we’ve dreamt up and therefore we have to stay more grounded.
So how do we turn the Monday Blahs into the Monday Ahhs? I think first and foremost it is a mindset shift to thinking that the beginning of the week is absolutely an opportunity to get after it quickly and early. Because your competition is doing the same. Whether it be in business, at school, or your neighbor mowing his lawn into a topiary maze reminiscent of The Shining. Your competitors are out there and they want to work harder than you given the opportunity. So snatch up your own and run with it. Literally and figuratively. But humor might be the bridge point between the Blahs and the Ahhs.
- Make Running Mentally Great Again
As basic as it seems simply stating to yourself that you WANT to be out there is important. Some people grudgingly get to the trail and slink out of their car and don their shoes and sort of huff and then get to it. No. Jump out of that seat, voice to the world “I’m excited!”, storm over to the trailhead and sprint out of the gate. Now, you’ll need to turn around because you didn’t realize you were going the wrong way. Stop. Go the right way. Laugh! And start again.
Alternative inspiring phrase: Channel Eddie Murphy from Coming to America and shout out loud “I am very happy to be here!!”
2. Smile
An experienced Ultra runner friend of mine has made it well known that her best move during a serious endurance event is simply to remember to Smile when she knows she should not. Hurt, tired or miserable due to weather or terrain she will simply smile. No shit. Studies have been done that showcase the power of smiling and a positive attitude make an enormous difference in performance and avoidance of a dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish). So remember. You are HAPPY to be able to be out there doing it.
3. Gratitude
Gratitude is my move and you can’t use it you Goddamn copycat!! In my own personal experience merely showcasing gratitude for the ability to run and train often is enough to bang it out and have a great time doing it. Because you could be cleaning Port-o-potty’s in Sri Lanka awaiting a promotion to become Elephant dis-impaction guy.
I have a mantra while I’m running the hills that sort of reiterates to the universe how thankful I am for my life, my children and my God given ability to tolerate other people on the trails. And I have yet to push anyone off the mountain as far as the authorities are aware. I’ve made up songs about my kids. I’ve crafted lewd haikus and limericks. I’ve skipped, I’ve boogied, and I’ve even moon walked. Why? Because I can.
4. The all powerful absurdity of the Universe: Humor
A dear friend of mine, who for the purposes of this article we shall refer to as “Andrew” to protect his identity (his real name is Andrew), has probably provided me the best advice I could hope for in this regard. His statement of fact is that during a long run, an Ultra event or something equally arduous and challenging the sheer fact of understanding the “absurdity of it all” is truly powerful. Why is that you ask? Because life is full of pain and suffering but if we choose to partake in it don’t we dissolve its power against us? I think the answer is a resounding YES! So if it’s mile 18 and it starts to rain on you sideways remember how absurd that is. If your feet feel like they are melting off the desert heated terrain….realize how laughable it is that you made the choice to be out there. If people are huffing and quitting and crying just laugh at the reality that it will end at some point and do you really want to give the race or the challenge that much authority over yourself? Or do you want to smash it in the proverbial nutsack and have a well deserved Impossible burger when it’s all over? (Don’t eat impossible burgers…..I swear it’s just Soylent Green repackaged).
So Get Excited, Smile, Show Gratitude and Laugh Abundantly during your training and on race day!!! Because the reality is that if it wasn’t a little bit horrible….would it really be worth doing anyway? (**Prison and Shipping containers aren’t worth doing).
**The author is an adventure OCR Obstacle racing enthusiast, Ultra runner, and general lover of pain and suffering. Follow my journey here and on instagram for more pithy updates @drshepherdvfps
Shep: The SpiderMonkey Chronicles 