Be Clear; Motivational Tool Kit and Keeping Perspective
If you can consistently answer the question: “Why do I want to train for and complete Ramblin’ Rose?”– you will be prepared to push through the times of doubt or dip in motivation. In keeping with my commitment to help people walk their talk, I also encourage you ask this question so that you can know for sure that you are doing this for the right reasons — for you; not reasons that you have assumed from others. Your motivation will follow your identified reasons if they are from within you. Congratulations on taking the step to participate in Ramblin’ Rose! The whole experience is a gift you have given yourself and I want to encourage you to make the most of this gift. To start, it is important that you are clear with yourself about why you are doing this. There are many reasons that people may decide to train for and participate in events and this clarity can be a powerful tool for staying motivated throughout the training.
For the times between now and race day when you have to find motivation, it may help to go ahead and prepare a motivation tool kit; your strategies for staying motivated. This can include anything you have found helpful pushing through something in your past or anything meaningful and connected to your Ramblin” Rose experience – a quote, slogan or poem, a physical list that you can reference regularly, a picture of something meaningful (mental or physical), or a specific or series of songs if you use music for your workouts. It may be helpful to document your story behind this experience. Your tool kit will most likely involve the support of others. Take some time to think about what kind of support you need from others and how you will put this support in place.
Lastly, let’s visit with our old friend – PERSPECTIVE. Keeping your perspective throughout this experience is very important. Being clear about your reasons as well as regularly checking in with yourself about your expectations will help you keep your perspective. In addition, it is important to stay in touch with the “mood” of your training. I anticipate that it will be very normal for your days from now to race day to fluctuate between positive and negative, inspired and questioning, high energy and low energy, empowered and defeated, and more. Your perspective is your magic carpet to riding out all of these shifting feelings and emotions. Through all the ups and downs, keep your focus on the overall experience and your reasons for doing what you are doing. If your carpet gets too low, and you find yourself too serious or negative, broaden your perspective to include the big picture and remember to have fun.
Happy Ramblin’!
Mandy Beard
