This is the part of marathon training that can sometimes get a little tough.
Am I really going running again? 
I have been at it for 11 weeks, I still have 5+ weeks to go. I know taper is getting close, but I also still have a few BIG weeks to put in so I can’t look too far down the training schedule. The race excitement is definitely getting here, but so is the exhaustion, the constant hunger, the aches and pains, and the crankiness that come with training.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE running and I absolutely love training for marathons, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it, but it’s definitely not easy and no one ever said it was. There are many days where I just want to stay in bed and sleep. There are days when I want to go home and sit in front of the TV and not run. There are days where getting out the door is just a plain struggle.
I know at the end of the day, I am always happy when I get out for a run. I know when race day comes that I will have put everything I can into training to get to the start line and will be proud that I did everything in my power to set myself up for a successful race. So I continue to get out of bed in the morning and I go run instead of watching TV.
I also have some tricks I use when I get to these points in training and I just need a little extra help getting myself going.
I keep my eye on the prize.
Remind yourself why you are training and what you are working towards. Having that goal in front of you will keep you motivated.
I mix it up.
Try a new route. Run your regular route backwards. Run at night instead of the morning or visa versa. Run on dirt if you usually run on pavement. Changing up the routine you have been in weeks can sometimes be a little spark starter.
Kerry and me! 
I get a little help from my friends.
I always enlist my friends when I need some help or motivation. It always helps getting out the door when you have someone to meet. Put requests out to your friends, even if it’s just for part of your run or the beginning, it will help keep you accountable and get you started.
I run with a group.
I love running with groups! You meet new people and have a ton to talk about, you get potential future friends to run with (see above), and it’s just a great way to get out the door and be motivated. Plus many group runs have incentives for running with them, and that always is a plus!
Cookies motivate me. 
I reward myself.
You are working your butt off training for a marathon, make sure you reward yourself. Sometimes I make deals with myself that if I get up to run then I can get a good coffee before work or go out for lunch that day or buy a new piece of running clothing. Find something that motivates you and use it to your advantage!
How do you push through the tough points in training?
Cookies are the best motivation aren’t they?
A great read! Alas all of us runners are only human. Thanks for so poignantly sharing both your struggles and your tips.
“Am I really going running again?” Yeah, that’s my question of the day, too! I think finding new routes is the most motivating thing for me at this point-running my same old routes starts to get REALLLLY lame at this point! Good luck!!! I love your tips!
Great ideas here. I know exactly what youmean about different parts of the training cycle. I’m just entering the “am I really going running again” state myself. Hopefully, the rain lets up today or my Friday run will be really old. Already thinking about new routes to try.
By the way, you and some other bloggers were in a dream I had last night. We were all getting “runner” style pedicures in Boston. My friend who lives in Boston was the pedicurist…bizarre!
Haha I love this. I have had other bloggers in my dreams and was thinking I wonder if I am ever in anyones dreams! lol. They really should invent runner style pedis
I hear you, this week has been tough for me too…
I’m in the middle of a tough mental time right now. Can’t convince myself that I really have to get up at 4:45 am to go swim. I’m just going to rework the regular schedule and pick some different times.
Thanks, I needed to read this today – it is exactly what I needed. I am not feeling my 14 I have scheduled for 3:30. I think I am going to mix it up and listen to some new podcasts, and do the opposite – run alone! I have been running with the club so much, maybe I should run by myself and zone out
YES! I have actually been running with people so much, that I do look forward to my long run on my own to zone out. Have a great run
man, i’m in a tough spot too! i just tell myself that it’s all worth it in XX weeks. usually that’s enough to keep me going. i wish i had people to run with though. that’d make it so much easier. at the moment, knowing that i’m going to get to meet such cool peeps at boston gets me out the door.
CANNOT WAIT!
I talk to a lot of friends (to keep me sane), spend a lot of time in the whirlpool (helps mentally too!), get massages, make sure I am getting enough sleep and most of all, relish my rest days!
Blah, the “monster month” is upon us! I get overly tired and excessively worried as the race gets closer. I begin to doubt myself and then I usually have a mini-breakdown. I’m so used to this happening during the last few weeks that I should just consider it part of my training plan!
HANG IN THERE!! you’re so close and making it through these tough times is what makes us stronger/better runners.
I’m totally feeling you on this week being a tough week – but the funny thing is – I turn to YOU for motivation
Whenever I read your blog it reminds me of why we love this sport so much. I’m going to GChat you today – be on the lookout 
I felt the same way during my training with about 5-6 weeks to go. Like, am I done yet? It was all about eye on the prize for me. You worked so hard to qualify for Boston, why let your race prep slip? Also, I treated myself to a massage when I hit my taper
Suck it up and quit your whining girlfriend! LOLOL
Cute pictures, by the way. <3
So true, some weeks are tough but you’re doing amazing! Honestly, I think about when I first started reading blogs and how you were so motivating training for your first marathon and now, wow! Your story is really inspirational. You’re so dedicated and put so much heart into training—it’s great to read!
I also love that you’re willing to be my morning text buddy since I don’t have many friends up here that are morning worker-out’ers. Yay for friends across state lines.
great ideas. i totally motivate myself with food or whatnot (bad but i’m marathon training, its okay). but i do think that sometimes it’s okay to skip a run, depending on circumstances. for instance, last weekend i had a conference and i couldn’t run in the AM before it because it was storming when i got up. i didn’t get home til late and then it was raining and like 30 degrees. no thanks. i had already done my long run friday in the pouring rain, so i said i’d skip sat’s run & run on sunday. i was just too exhausted after a presentation and another day of the conference… it was the first marathon training run this cycle i’d skipped. first in like 10 weeks. and you know what? the world didn’t come crashing down and i had a good week of training this week, probably due to some extra rest.
The part I am most worried about is the mental aspect of getting out there for the 16, 18, 20+ mile runs. The other day I was only doing 4 and didnt want to get out of bed! Mental toughness is the best to have!
Boston is around the corner
If it’s written on a pice of paper (training plan), that is motivation enough. I am a slave to a piece of paper.
UGH, I really hate this period in training. You body is so broken down and you’re so exhausted that it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel! I love your list and I think leaning on friends is absolutely the #1 best way to stay on track!
I keep telling myself it’s only a short time before the race. I can push through these tough training runs.
You’re right. What starts out as such excitement gets old and all those questions and challenges come up. But we get there.
Boy do I know this feeling (and I don’t need to train for a marathon to get there). Lately I’ve been thinking that I need to focus less on workout motivation and more on sleep. In other words, I’ll be less likely to choose sleep over workout if I chose sleep over TV the night before.
The routes do get a little boring at this point, but you are so close to taper!
This was a fun post. All things that help us keep motivated. EYE ON THE PRIZE!
Great post. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? But your tips and strategies for combating the tough weeks are AWESOME. And, I’ve found that they apply, not only to the blah periods in training, but also to blah periods in general. A while back–with no races on the horizon–I was having a little trouble finding my running mojo. I ended up using several of these tactics to get that mojo back. Now I’m in my happy running place again
These weeks are like those miles in the upper teens in a marathon – you’ve been out there forever and yet there’s still a long way to go.
Rewards, mixing things up and running with friends definitely help me too!
I’m going through that too! But luckily the SUN is making more and more appearances and the warm weather are going to make it easier!
I love running with friends. It definitely helps!
cookies motivate me, too…lol
This post seems to apply to everything from running to school…sometimes it’s difficult to stay focused on the goal, even when we love what we’re doing. Great tips for staying motivated! I’m definitely going to utilize all of them when I start marathon training (or when I work on my thesis).