I spent most of the week at work doing this:
A forester’s winter tires
With this guy:
Porter waiting for me to catch up
So my post-work motivation was kind of low all week.
I guess that is just an excuse. But anyway, that is my excuse for feeling like putting on sweatpants and sitting on the couch after work instead of bundling up and venturing out into the snowy darkness for a run, or hopping on the trainer.
But I did it, even if some of it started kind of half-assed.
I did it.
And I am glad that I did.
The hardest 3 steps of any workout are always the ones out the door (or up the stairs to the trainer).
It is always worth it.
One time this week, I started out really soft pedaling on my trainer. I wanted to be on my couch with Porter. But after about 15 minutes, something clicked, and I dropped into aero and finished the workout in Zone 2.
Just as planned.
I think pushing through those little dips in motivation are like cresting a tough hill. If you put your head down and get it done, one way or another, you eventually will end up at the top of the thing.
Once at the top you can enjoy the fruits of your hard work, looking back on what you did and…well, feel pretty darn good about it.
Let’s face it, it always feels better to do a workout (even if it is something as simple as an hour on the trainer or 30 minutes running in the cold dark) than it does to blow one off.
Having a race coming up soon really helps with the winter doldrums.
I am super excited about my first race of the year, the 10 Mile Mid-Winter Classic. We will see about a PR (I hope, but who knows?), but I am really excited about seeing a lot of my blogger, twitter, and triathlon friends. Plus, I am volunteering at the packet pick up, which is always fun.
Let me know if you are going to be there, I would love to hook up!
Thanks for reading!
Porter is so adorable! Love him!
I would love to do the 10 miler, I just wish I could make it home to Maine in the winter (other than Christmas).
Way to keep getting it done!
I sense a PR in your future!
Totally agree. When it’s cold and dark it is hard to get out of a comfy bed in the morning or when it’s cold and dark in the evening it is hard to change and get out the door—however, I completely agree, I never regret it! Even when it’s so cold that the dripping snot (TMI) freezes on my face–haha!
Good job pushing through! You’ll reap the reward at your races this summer
honestly, i’d be a hot, lazy mess if i had to do the majority of my workouts inside. i try to remember you when i begin to complain about the heat. great job sticking with it when motivation wanes!
Who doesn’t want to hang on the couch with Porter?
It must be something in the air, I had 90 mins on the trainer for Saturday, I screwed around all day, ignoring my workout, finally at 9pm, feeling guilty but also not feeling like workoing out, I got on the trainer and got it done, despite wanting to get off it a million times, but I didnt miss it, sometimes these low motivation workouts add to mental toughness training
Good job pushing through! You hit the nail on the head – the hardest part of a workout is often getting started. Sometimes when I have a hard workout on tap and I would rather skip and be lazy, I convince myself I need to at least get on the bike (or in the pool, or out the door running) and I can always adapt it to my energy level or bail if I’m feeling lousy. But 99% of the time once I get in the groove, it ends up being a good workout and I’m so glad I didn’t skip it.
Also, your “co-worker” is much cuter than any of mine!!
I don’t know how you do it, but I’m proud of you for pushing through. There’s no way I would have the motivation in that cold mess up there! Keep up the good work!