Stay Motivated this Winter with Louise Shanahan | WeRun

As part of Intersport Elverys WeRUN , we asked Irish runner and 800m athlete Louise Shanahan to bring us through some of her tips for staying motivated throughout the cold Winter months. Have a read below on what she recommends.

It is that time of year when motivation can start to waiver and excuses can start to creep in, “It is too cold… too dark… too wet…”. Everybody struggles with motivation from time to time but it is important to not let those good habits start to slide. So, what can you do to help you stay motivated? Well, here are some of my top tips for staying motivated this winter.

Set Goals

Sometimes winter training seems like it is never going to end, as the days get shorter and you spend more and more time running in the dark you can easily start to lose motivation. Setting goals is a great way to give focus to your training. Your goal can be anything from running 5K without stopping to making an international vest. Write your goal down, plan how you are going to achieve it and don’t forget to celebrate when you do!

Track Your Progress

Training diaries are great for keeping a record of what you have completed. They keep you accountable and are a very useful tool to look back on to find what works for you. Training diaries also act as a permanent record of your accomplishments. If you are struggling for motivation, a quick look back through your training diary can remind you of how far you have come and give you that little push you need to keep going.

Find a Training Partner

Training partners are great because not only do they make runs more enjoyable but they also keep you accountable. Knowing that someone else is waiting for you is a great way to get yourself out of bed in the morning or off the couch after a long day of work. Training partners can also drive you to the next level by pushing you on when the going gets tough. My fastest reps are always the ones where I am either chasing someone or else running my heart out trying not to be caught! (Extra Tip: Training partners are also great for a post run coffee and chat!)

Small Bits Often

We have all tried to introduce a new habit and found that we went all in for the first week and then never did it again. Whether it is getting out for a run, some strength and conditioning or good recovery habits, the benefits come from consistency over time. Try to start with frequent small manageable bits that you can maintain over weeks and then months, rather than exhausting yourself in the first week and then never doing it again!

Try a New Route

Running the same loop around your house can definitely start to feel monotonous and don’t even get me started on out and back runs. Finding a new running route can add a bit of excitement to your runs and it also offers you an opportunity to mix things up by running a small bit further or adding in a hill. If you are struggling to find a new route, try running your normal loop in reverse, – surprisingly it’s quite different!

Look Good Feel Good

This one might seem strange but there is something about wearing some shiny new gear that just makes you feel good. I believe that looking good gives you more confidence and confidence is a great tool for running fast! I love getting new running gear and I am always super excited to try them out on a test run ASAP. This doesn’t only apply to new gear. I often try to save my favourite items of running gear for the bigger sessions in the week. Knowing that I am wearing my favourite running top gives me confidence and puts me in a great position to smash my session! If you are looking for a confidence boost or just fancy some new gear have a look in your local Intersport Elverys store.

Hopefully some of these tips will help you stay motivated this Winter and help you keep on track for all your running goals!

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