With the arrival of winter it is difficult to keep motivation alive as the daylight hours are shorter, the cold stalks us, and the rain and wind become the main protagonists of the day. In Runnea we wanted to put the spotlight on one of the most complex and intense sports, trail running, a sport discipline that, during the most wintry days, raises its level of demand to the maximum. For this reason we bring you the 9 tips to keep the pace and motivation in trail running this 2019, not only facing the winter months, they are tips to keep in mind throughout the season!
9 tips to stay motivated in trail running this 2019
When our favorite sport is practiced on the most irregular, wild and difficult trails and terrain, weather conditions can significantly affect the demand of the challenge. It's not just about putting on a pair of good trail running shoes, we must be motivated enough to face long runs in the most extreme conditions with attitude. Here are some tips that can be useful when it comes to keep up the pace and motivation in trail running for this 2019, they say that new year, new challenge right? Let's go for it runneantes!
1. Try something new
If you're used to always running on the same type of terrain, this could be a great time for a change of scenery and practice trail running in an unfamiliar environment. Winter is white in the mountains and despite the cold and humidity, it can be an exciting challenge! But let's not lose our sanity and let's do things right, first and foremost, safety.
2. Participate in competitions
Many mountain running enthusiasts have never participated in trail running competitions and it can be exciting. It is not the same to train without any specific short or medium term objective as it is to train with the purpose of competing at a good level. The fact of setting certain sporting objectives increases our motivation and predisposition, have you tried it?
3. Let yourself be advised
In certain occasions, the lack of motivation is born as a result of the scarcity of results. Putting yourself in the hands of professionals who guide and advise us through personalized training can be a great option! Maybe you have much more potential than you think and you just need to channel it a little...
4. Train accompanied
If you are used to train alone, maybe you should call a friend to accompany you on your trail runs. It's not just about being accompanied, along the way you can learn and observe the qualities of other trail running enthusiasts who may have a different vision and motivation than you! Besides, if you've already made a date to go out and eat up the miles, you won't let the couch get to you, will you?
5. Change your routine
Routines can be demotivating. Give your workouts a twist and if your schedule and obligations allow it, try going for a run at a different time! If you're someone who runs during the last hours of the day, why not try watching the sunrise from the top of the mountain? It can be fascinating and addictive! Try not to always stick with the status quo and try changing up your training routines for extra motivation.
The 6 trail running shoes recommended by Runnea
6. Listen to your body
Don't be obsessed with training, rest, also known as invisible training, is fundamental to obtain good results. Having competitive goals in mind does not mean that we put them before health, far from it! An extra day of rest is preferable to forcing our body and increasing the risk of injury exponentially.
7. If it doesn't motivate you, don't do it
We must know how to discern between what we like and what we don't. If you are motivated to participate in a competition, don't do it. If you are motivated to participate in a competition, do it, if not, don't do it. If you are not receptive to explore new terrains and landscapes, leave it for another time. It is important that our priority is to enjoy ourselves, to enjoy the sport we love the most.
8. Don't let the heart rate monitor obsess you.
On the wrist of a large number of runners it is easy to see the different models of heart rate monitors, devices capable of providing accurate data on the various parameters of our physical activity. It is very important to keep track of heart rate, pace, distance and time, in order to adjust and adapt our training to the different competitive objectives, but without becoming obsessed! Do not let the numbers become a source of frustration.
9. Enjoy the journey
Last but not least, enjoy the journey. Don't just focus your efforts on the end of your training, have fun along the way. To improve our running experience it is essential to have a predisposed attitude and do you have it?
So much for some of the tips to keep up the pace and motivation in trail running this 2019. It is clear that each runner has a personal and unique motivation but there are certain generalized guidelines that improve our performance and attitude. From Runnea we are open to new tips to help us enjoy our favorite sport, do you know of any, runneante? We are all ears!
Photos: Unsplash
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