What inspires you to continue your endurance activities and training?

Question

I like to play the game! I like to push myself mentally to a physical discomfort to see how far I can go. I was lucky that I picked a sport that allows one to continue into their 40s or 50s at a competitive level. As an athlete and coach, I’m always pushing myself and others to do more — to continue even when the urge to stop is overwhelming. What gives you the inspiration to keep going?

Answer 1

This is a great question! I am running my first marathon ever next weekend and I have done some long races at this point. One 28K and one 33K, and what kept me going was the story I had told to myself on training days: I can do this and I will finish. It is easier to quit, but I won´t because I want to taste the beauty of crossing the finish line with a smile!

That is the story I keep telling myself everyday, and I believe it. When I am near hitting the wall, I tell myself to jump over it. When things are not going 100%, I ask myself to give a bit more and remember that I have succeeded before. When failure hits, I remind myself that there is room for improvement and opportunity tomorrow. Every mistake brings with itself the seed of a better perfomance. I try to nourish that seed.

If I am healthy and I am not seriously injured, I know that pain is just there to tease me. I keep going and recall all those times when the urge to stop was playing tricks with my mind, and I tell myself the story that I know better: You will make it!!!

My respect to all those people who are not pros but they get out there and do something that has traces of greatness and perseverance.

Run like there is no finish line, and play like if this was your last game. Enjoy every minute on the road, field, or court!

Peace!

Answer 2

funny you should ask that because I just started a new class this week at my gym. It's appropriately titled bootcamp. Boy did it kick my butt! I could tell I was getting a way better workout than my regular ellptical/treadmill ones and so I was thrilled about that. The class was tough and lasted for 60 minutes, but I did it and I felt good. When I came back for the 2nd class I was huffing and puffing attempting to keep up. ( it will take a while until I can do it as well as everyone else) On a water break the instructor and lots of class members said how great it was that I came again. they said most never come for a 2nd time and some even leave midway through their 1st. It made me feel great. They invited me to the kickboxing class that was today and when I showed ( it was lots of the same people) the cheered and said yeah you came!!!!!!!! I have to say that made me feel wonderful! I enjoyed the workout so much more! If people would only realize the effect their attitude and the words they speak have on others, this world would be a much better place. I have to say their kind words were great motivation for me! I am excited about my classes next week even if they do hurt a little!

Answer 3

There was a period in my life when I was very depressed, and put on a lot of weight. It was a vicious cycle. I moved to a new town, and had no car, so I rode my bike everywhere. The depression lifted. The depression always seems to abate when I exercise. I’ve been at a healthy weight for almost 10 years now. In fact, I’m in better shape now, at age 37, than I’ve ever been in my whole life. When it’s time for me to get up at 5:30 AM to work out on my elliptical trainer, I really don’t want to. But after my workout, I have such a great high, and my day is always better when I exercise. I feel pretty proud, too, when I mountain bike and conquer the hills, or about the fact that I ride my bike to work, rather than drive. So I guess I’m inspired by two things, carrying on my good mental health, and seeing the fantastic body that I’ve developed through my own hard work.

Answer 4

Call me crazy but are sports, activities and training all there for your enjoyment. If it was a job where you were miserable and the urge to quit was overwhelming would you stay, if your marrige was horrible and loveless, what makes your activities fall outside that zone. Take some time off if the drive is there it will come back with a lot more passion that you have right now, if not then find something else to do, you could always play profesional checkers.

Answer 5

I swim in the Special Olympics sense I was 8. We only have one swim meet a year. A friend at the YMCA told me about Masters Swimming because I wanted more competition for myself. I manly swim for the great fitness it bring. The great than about swimming is you can swim in till your 100 if you want to. Although I am large boned and overweight I still lap swim. Swimming is the only really the only form of workout I get. I bowl and am trying Long distant Walking too. I will see if I can walk 12 1/2 times around a track. In the Special Olympics I am a athlete, volunteer, in ALPs (Athlete Leadership Program): Major Communication. For some reason are County has trouble getting younger athletes. That's what I hope to change and let more people know about Special Olympics. If you have any questions email me or go to are local site.

Answer 6

Recently, I realized that I gained 25lbs since I graduated high school. It's been 10 years and in reality, that's not that much; however, if I gained 25 lbs, EVERY 10 years, my 5'3" frame will severely suffer. An invitation to my class reunion is what finally got me going. Now, while I can't actually go, I started to see the changes with the work out that I'm doing.

I think that when you SEE the fruits of you labor is when you have the drive and desire to continue on with the workout. Things are already fitting a tiny bit differently and I like that. I think that whatever pushes you to finally get going and you can keep going, then you just focus on it and it helps.

Answer 7

Im not sure exactly, I just do push myself beyond my(percieved)limits. I guess I get a kick out of that in itself: being able to go beyond the point at which I stopped last time I trained. Got be careful with that though, because Ive learned that pushing yourself all the time in training is counter productive, you just end up burning away the muscle youve trained hard to develop in the first place, which is a very silly thing to do. You dont wanna see your physical strength dip so a balance has to be achieved. I used to run long distances but I found that its much harder and takes a lot more mental effort to run faster over shorter distances. So i'll time myself and try and beat my previous best. Id have to say overall, that making it a competition with myself is what keeps me interested.

Answer 8

I'd like to say the obvious that most others are replying to you, but in the end, beyond the vanity of "losing pounds", beyond the benefits of staying healthy, and apart from dealing with the stresses of life. I push myslef to the limit and back everyday for the LOVE OF MY SPORT.

Soccer is my life. I play every chance i get and give everything i have everytime. whatever sport it is that you love it will impact you the same way it has to me. it pushes, urges me to be the BEST I CAN BE. TO GIVE 100%! I can't stress this enough. regardless of soccer but in football, basketball, and tennis as well.

True love. True passion. Running eveyr night about 3 miles non stop. always ending each run on an uphill sprint. watching what i eat and eating essential organic food.

In playing soccer games at a high competitive level, you realize that in a soccer game you only have the ball at your feet for a total of about 5-6 minutes total for the entire game. so when you do get the ball you must prove yourself instantaneously. I optimize my state of mind, my body, and my performance overall for those 5-6 minutes that i am destined to shine on the field. and the game loves me back. and so on...

i love this game. do you you love yours?

btw, i have a try out for the la galaxy and the chivas usa in the middle of november. wish me luck

Answer 9

Knowing that I don't want to end up with heart problems by being overweight. Looking back a pictures a few years ago seeing that I was alot thinner and wanting to be that person again. Watching shows like the Biggest Loser knowing that even though I'm not significantly over weight, but if they can do it with their struggles of overweightness then I should not complain but get in the gym and just do it!!

I want to be healthy and happy during my late 30's and 40's and the rest of my life so exercise will have to play a big part of that to maintain my lifestyle.

I work out on the precor, treadmill, weight machine, rowing machine, and sometimes the bicycle

Answer 10

The depression always seems to abate when I exercise. I’ve been at a healthy weight for almost 10 years now. In fact, I’m in better shape now, at age 37, than I’ve ever been in my whole life. When it’s time for me to get up at 5:30 AM to work out on my elliptical trainer, I really don’t want to. But after my workout, I have such a great high, and my day is always better when I exercise. I feel pretty proud, too, when I mountain bike and conquer the hills, or about the fact that I ride my bike to work, rather than drive. So I guess I’m inspired by two things, carrying on my good mental health, and seeing the fantastic body that I’ve developed through my own hard work.