A Plan to Motivate Yourself to Always Go Running
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My cross country coach from High School came up with an idea called “the 20 minute rule.” No, it doesn’t have to do with how long a piece of food has been on the ground before you can’t eat it, it’s about getting out and running for 20 minutes everyday no matter what. We all make training and running plans but some days your body or mind tells you that you don’t feel like running. First of all, stop listening to your mind, it only tells you what you want to hear. Secondly, why are you thinking about not running? Well, if you do find yourself in this situation you need to make the 20 minute rule a part of your life. I know you already have enough rules in your life, but this one is different, it is actually for your own benefit. Finally a rule all about you! Well, other than the rule at your local grocery store about not shopping while dripping sweat. You probably should have showered after your run last week before you went there. That was pretty embarrassing.
The reason the 20 minute rule works so well is because it solves every run or not to run dilemma. Some days you feel like you are too busy to get your run in. Not true. You always have 20 minutes. You stayed up late the night before and are not able to get up early enough in the morning to get your run in, now you’re already behind in your daily activities. You have a busy day and don’t get home until 100o at night and still have some things to do before retiring to bed. Go run for 20 minutes right when you get home. Everyone can squeeze 20 minutes out of their day to exercise no matter how busy you are. For instance, instead of watching that episode of Bret Michael’s ‘Rock of Love’ to relax a bit before heading to bed, go on a quick 20 minute run. Running is a better way to decompress and reduce stress anyways than watching a bunch of groupies throw themselves at an old rock star. Man, Bret Michaels must constantly be stressed! He has to run more than 20 minutes a day.
The other situation we all find ourselves in is when we aren’t feeling well physically. The 20 minute rule does not apply to injuries. If you are injured and should not run then don’t do it. However, if you are feeling a bit under the weather but are still able to get out of bed, then you are still able to run for 20 minutes. The point here isn’t to continue to break down your body (you must compensate for exercising while under the weather by taking the right medicine and hydrating), but help you not lose the level of fitness you have built and make you feel better. This is why the rule is based around a timed run. If you are really feeling sick then run 2 miles in 20 minutes, it’s fine. However, I guaranteed that 90% of the time you will feel better, run faster than expected, and often run for longer than 20 minutes. Running cures everything. If not, I’ll give you your money back. The toughest part is just getting out and running, it’s all downhill from there…with some uphills.
There’s always an excuse not to run. Tell me all about it…in 20 minutes.
Tags: 20 minute rule, Motivation
This reminds me of a saying some celebrity had (no clue who, but for some reason, I imagine it was Matthew McConaghy [sp?]) — and that is to “break a sweat every day.”
Kinda funny that we live in a time when breaking a sweat is something you have to set out to do, but truth is that most of us hardly come close in our unbelievably sedentary lives. The 20 min rule seems like a good one, as well.
I had Matthew McConaughey in mind when I wrote this!
Thanks for posting and I’ve learned a lot from this one.
Would it be alright If I add you up in my blogroll?
God bless.
I did the 20 minute rule today and passed it to 24. 3 miles later, got sweat all over me!
That sounds hot. Well, minus the sweat, which is there to cool your body down.
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