Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!
Now let's get started by talking about challenges... something winter running is full of and something that has a lot of people's motivation waning this time of year. But since winter training produces spring PR's, let's discuss how committing yourself to a group challenge can be just what you need to put some pep back in your step. So a challenge that I really enjoy doing and have done for many years is Taji100. This is a free challenge (believe it or not, although you can purchase the swag) where teams (we are on the TEAM RWB Fort Leonard Wood Team) compete against one another and individuals within the teams push themselves harder than usual to complete 100 miles (and more) in the month of February to propel their team to the top of the ‘leaderboard’. The challenge stresses commitment, honor, and integrity while raising money for military veterans and promoting health and fitness. As you can see by the smiles on the faces of our Saturday run group (photo above) on February 1st, getting in those Taji miles is fun for all because a person can run or walk at their own pace (like our Saturday run group does).
And don't worry if you didn't start the challenge on February 1st. You can jump in today and still get in 100 miles (running, walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, rowing, or a combination of all of these activities) by the end of the month. If running/walking/hiking is your choice that means you could complete 4.2 miles every day until the end of the month and reach your goal. You can break that up into several workouts throughout each day as well or do more miles on one day and less on others. You’re in charge on this challenge!
So if this has you wondering what the allure of the challenge is and how it came about, this is what their website had to say… the first Taji 100 was held at former Camp Taji, in Al Taji, Iraq, in February of 2010. The once-thriving American military base was located in a rural region approximately 20 miles north of Baghdad. During the Saddam years, the camp was an Iraqi Republican Guard base central to the production of chemical weapons. Camp Taji was heavily bombed during Operation Desert Fox, and came under American control in 2003. Captain Carole DiPardo, 211th Military Police Battalion, created the friendly competition for her fellow troops in Camp Taji with a simple goal: Run 100 miles during the month of February. Although DiPardo originally established the challenge to promote cardiovascular health and fitness, the run was also instrumental in helping stationed U.S. service members relieve stress and boredom during what were often long and tedious deployments. With nearly 300 registered runners and walkers its first year, the inaugural Taji 100 was a huge success. And it has continued to grow!!! The idea of having something enjoyable to do in one of the coldest months of the year has been embraced by thousands of patriotic runners around the United States for more than a decade. That's what you get though when you combine free, fitness, friends, and fun. So join us! You'll have some miles to make up but it can be done! This is the last year the challenge will be held so make it the year you complete 100 miles in the month of February.
If Taji isn't your thing though, there's a challenge out there with your name on it! Here’s one you might enjoy. Check out the OMRR runners in the photo above. Angie, Karen, Stephanie, Jill, and Jozie started the "5k a day" challenge on February 1st and plan to hold one another accountable on running a minimum of 3.1 miles a day every day until the end of the month. Smart right? These girls know that Bass Pro Marathon/half training will be here before they know it (begins in July) and they want to be ready!
If this is a challenge that has you saying, "I can do that one!' follow the example of these ladies who know that doing hard things with friends always seems easier than when you're doing it solo. And to make the challenge more appealing, plan to reward yourself with something special when it's completed. Like maybe a spa day with the girls, a night out with the guys, or dinner and a movie with your favorite person. On a side note, determining what that reward will be ahead of time will make you more apt to complete the challenge since you can envision receiving the reward when you're tempted to skip your workout or drop out before it's done.
But if neither of these challenges interests you, find one that will send your motivation soaring! Here are some free and fun ideas that come to my mind:
1. Set out to complete a 30 day run streak. That's at least one mile for 30 days.
2. Aspire to complete a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and a full marathon in 30 days. Enlist your family and friends to be your cheering squad and reward yourself at the completion of each distance with the reward getting bigger and better with the longer miles. Perhaps even use the challenge to raise money for a local organization in need. Helping others is always a great motivator!
3. Run naked (without a watch) for 30 days and concentrate on the experience rather than the time. Journal your thoughts on this.
4. Leave the headphones at home for 30 days and take in the sounds around you. If you can, run in quiet places where you're likely to hear less traffic noise and more sounds of nature. Pause to listen to a bubbling brook or to listen to the sounds of the wind rustling the leaves.
5. Practice mindful gratitude on your runs for 30 days. Spend each run counting your blessings and looking for new ones. Journal your thoughts on this one too. I guarantee that you’ll come out of this time period amazed at the many things you are now thankful for that you took for granted.
6. Create a race bucket list (that includes Bass Pro and/or Dogwood Canyon of course) and sign up for a few runs in the future. Getting skin in the game will motivate you to keep training through all weather conditions.
And there you have it friends. A strong spring is earned in the winter as the saying goes. So find your challenge, make a resolution to see it through, and then let it motivate you to keep getting out there and logging those miles. You'll be so glad you did!
Happy Running!
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