There have been a few ups and downs on my comeback trail but finally I seem to be getting back into a regular routine. The fact that I’m registered to run the Miami Half on January 24 serves as a huge motivation. I at least want to look like I attempted to train for this race.

I know that it will be ugly and most likely my worst half marathon time but I’m ok with that. I am after all starting from the very beginning. I’m rebuilding my conditioning and my confidence. Finishing a half marathon will serve as a good reminder that I need to keep working at this and that I can get back to being a runner.

I’ve had to really push myself this week to get out and run. Some days are easier than others but it seems that old adage of when you get out the door and start putting one foot in front of the other will allow things to follow.

A little visual and monetary reminder that I do indeed love to run. (c) Stacey Cooper

Finding other motivational tools has also been a help. I recently a small article in the January/February issue of Runner’s World about a runner who put a dollar aside for every mile she ran. This helped her train for a marathon and she had a nice stash of cash to splurge on something.

I thought this was a pretty cool idea. But instead of just using it for one race I figured I would do it for the whole year. That can add up to whole lot of cash!

So I found a mason jar and pulled out a bunch of the stickers I get in my monthly StrideBox and made my running motivation jar. The stickers finally became useful! Now if I can only find something to do with those strange energy enhancers that StrideBox gives me I’ll be all set.

Anyway, I’ve been doing this for two weeks now and I can honestly say that it did help me get out the door yesterday. I bailed on my morning running with my running club, Front Runners New York, but felt guilty that I would not be putting as much money in the jar as I could be. So last night I put on my running clothes, stepped out the door, and went for run. When I got back home I immediately put my weekly dollars and change in the jar.

The freakin’ jar worked!

My weekly mileage is very modest right now. I am starting from the very beginning but I am looking forward to a big week when I do the Miami Half and plan to keep building up my weekly total. I feel energized about the nice payout I can get from this but also about how I feel physically.

I really enjoyed running this week. My conditioning is still no where I ultimately want it to be but let’s be honest, I really haven’t put any effort into running for a year. This is what finding that motivation is all about. The goal of putting money in the jar helps but knowing that I’m enjoying this again and look forward to improving is really what I’m looking forward to.