How do you motivate yourself to train alone all summer?

You just do it. You think about what you want to accomplish in the fall everyday and how that run that you are about to do will help you accomplish that. Find someone to run with once a week. Where do you live? I am sure there is someone on here or a training group that you could do your long runs with. Most importantly its just about disciplining your self. Make up your mind that you are going to do it and do it.

I don't know the answer to this, but a few summers ago I was running 100+ MPW all on my own. So it's not impossible... but I have no idea what motivates you.

Just develop an everyday routine and stick to it. No wondering/questioning if you're going to run today, just go out and run and don't even think about it...

i think about all of the people that i'm going to own in the fall

First, congratulations on your honesty. There are too many runners who try to kid others, and themselves, about what they are/will be doing in summer training. You're honest enough to identify a problem, which is the very first, and maybe most important, step to solving it.

Second, are you in a team situation? When you talk about "coming home for the summer," does that mean you're in school?

Assuming that it does: DON'T train "alone" all summer! If your teammates aren't around, get in touch with them by email/AIM/phone/whatever and "talk" with them every day. (If you don't have their contact numbers, I'd bet your coach does; ask her/him for the info.) If your teammates can't be with you on the roads, at least have them with you in your head! Don't you guys have plans for this fall? Don't you *know* that you can have a tremendous season if everyone does his/her job during the summer training? (God, just imagine how it'll feel to hoist that team trophy in November!)

If your coach doesn't have a method of staying in touch with you during the summer (i.e. periodically sending in training logs or whatever), then *you* start it! Or you can be the focal point for your team's summer training. Over the summer, can all of you (together) put in enough miles to cross the US? To circle the globe? To get from your school to your biggest rival school? Keep track of everyone's totals, and let everyone know how the TEAM is doing this summer. If you're the focal point, I guarantee you're going to want to get the job done, just so you can keep pace with (or set an example for) your teammates.

However, be alert. If you truly get into a situation where "my body feels fine but I can't get my mind into the run," that boredom is often an indication of a *physical* situation--typically the body signalling its need for variety. Can you do alternate-aerobic work (bike, swim, water running, elliptical, rower, etc.)? Are you running at a mix of speeds and terrain, or is it generally the same route, same speed, every day? (Your body *needs* variety--it gets bored with the same-old-same-old because doing just one thing will tend to create an injury situation. Experience speaks.)

"I train alone during the summers because of my erratic work schedule and because there is no point in running with people who don't have the same goals as me." No point? Why? Who cares if the runner in your neighborhood has different aspirations and abilities? Can't you get together, even once every week or two, and run together? Maybe your run on a "short, easy" day would be his "long, fast" run--still, it wouldn't hurt to have the company once in a while, as long as you're able to get the workout that you need from the situation.

Believe me, I'm with you on this. It can be *tough* to keep it going in the summer. I've known that as a runner and as a coach. But you know it's what you need (and, deep down, what you want) to do, to reach your goals. Use your imagination; use your coach; use your teammates; use your neighbors; use local clubs and colleges (whose runners might also be looking for an occasional partner); use variety; use your goals (write them down and post them in places where you're going to see them); use this site; use the summer, and all the running/training opportunities it gives that you won't have, once you go back to school.

Good luck. Please bump this thread occasionally and let us know how you're doing.

You must eliminate the option not to run in your brain. It is not a question of whether you will run today it is simply a fact. It will happen. You will run.

Everyone else has the same trouble you do but they have decided to over come it. You must know this in your own head. You cannot think it is easier for this guy or that guy because he loves running or whatever, its not easier he is just fully committed.

so summer is starting now and its time to commit fully to the task at hand. One run at a time. You are sore and tired you run anyway, you got home from work and ate a chili dog so what get your ass out the door. You hung out with that cool girl from work and one thing let to another and its 2am and you had 10 on the schedule while do it one more time to wake up and get your ass out the door for that 10.

Write a list of every reason you think you may not want to run this summer and one by one go for a run in spite of them. Over come the barriers and with each time you do the reality that nothing will turn you from the task in front of will become stronger and more complete.

Part of your new found success this fall will be because of your improved base but part of it will be from your improved will.

I look at myself in the mirror while naked. It's all the motivation I need.

I really like running alone, but if you can meet with someone at least 1x per week it certainly helps you get through the reallly tough days.

Even if you meet and run with someone thats really slow on one of your easy recovery days there is value it that. It keeps you slow when you need to be slow.

You need to have goals during the summer just like you have during the season.

What are your goals? Are you trying to hit 100mpw? If you are at 80mpw, it is a worthy goal and will keep you strategizing through the summer. I often think more about how I am structuring my week than I do for any particular workout. Running higher mileage and keeping my body fresh is a constant challenge and keeps me interested week to week.

Doing doubles will take the sting out of some long slow mileage days. Doing an easy 10 miler on wed? Break it up into 4 when you roll out of bed and 8 in the afternoon. It's easier on your psyche and you get a few extra miles in.

Yes I am in school, and the I have to come home to work this job because it's the only way I an pay for school, as my parents make too much money for me to qualify for student loans.

I work shift work, so even when the mental side of me is ready to go, physically I need sleep and to rest.

There really aren't any people in my little town who can keep up with me even on an easy run, and since they are all high school kids they are just in it for fun. I want to run fast and learn how to run by myself.

I agree about staying in touch. Set up an online log at one of the many, many sites and make your log public. Get friends to sign up too, if you've got a coach make sure they know about it and then log your runs every day. It's very motivating to see others logging their runs.

are you serious? Harden the F##@ up!

It helps to know the purpose of each run and cultivate the appropriate psychological orientation towards that day's run. Are you building mitochondria? That takes time and patience--the "patience phase." Are you keeping your speed alive by throwing in 5-10 30 second strides? Are you simply putting in the miles that will make you a champion somewhere down the line?

Buddhists know that boredom, restlessness, lack of focus, are just familiar dodges that the mind uses to avoid being present. Luckily running doesn't ALWAYS require that we be present. Maybe you should get an iPod. Download some new music. Or listen to the radio.

Run one race a month. That will add feeling-tone to ALL the runs from 10 days out, and for the 3-5 days following. That's half your month.

Cultivate patience, and a willingness to be present where you actually are. Boredom and resistance are common; they're no big deal. They usually result from an unconscious reluctance to be present in the moment. You want to be somewhere else, and try to wriggle free, mentally. Try relaxing INTO where you actually are, and planting yourself on it. I like rainy days for this reason: there's no escape. You're just out there in it.

If all else fails, glance at the side of the road and realize that in about a hundred years you'll be nothing more than a bag of rotting bones. Confronted with that stark fact, it's possible to get pretty psyched up about even the worst of runs, since ANY run is better than the alternative.

Cheers, mate.

Some good suggestions here.

For me, I make sure not to go home before my evening run is complete. Bring a change of clothes and run from work or drive to where you need to run. Hell, even park your car in your driveway and run from there. But do not step foot in the house. Too many distractions and temptations that may result in you not running or wasting time (nap, TV, internet, snacks).

Also, try to remember that every step is beneficial. Even the slow morning runs and your easy days are building your aerobic base and improving your economy.

Finally, try to have fun with it. Mix up where you run - it's summer so there's tons of daylight. It won't hurt to drive 30 minutes once a week to run in that state park.

Visualize two scenarios:

1) Crossing the finish line of that big race and the good feeling of having completed the necessary training.

2) Crossing the finish line and having to shell out a litany of lame excuses.

When I apply this approach, something kicks me out of bed and out the door with a fire in the belly! Excuses are for wimps!

I think what I will try and do is out and backs for when I have to run alone, that way I can make it out the 25 minutes and I will have to come back.

tell yourself how much you'll suck in the fall if you don't

In ther knowledge that while I am not training my competitors are putting in the serious base summer mileage to beat me in the fall!

Beat your mind and get into a serious routine and just run, run, run and enjoy the summer of malmo- It will soon all fall into place-believe me!

Watch the video of El Guerrouj winning the 1500m in Athens.

if you're already asking yourself this, then you might as well not even give it a go. take up bowling or something, and spare us your sniveling and pissing and moaning. seasons are made in the offseason.