How to Stay Motivated

Staying motivated to run long distances while juggling constant demands from work and family is very hard. Here are a few tricks that I have found along the way.

1) Compete in Local Races-- Join a running club that sponsors local events. I belong to the New York Road Runners, which hosts racing events almost every weekend throughout the year. Competing in a race forces me to stay on my training program. 

2) Virtual Coach-- When I am training for a long-distance event, and even if I am not, I always sign up with a Virtual Coach. Each night I get an email telling me what my workout program is for the next day. I don’t have to think about it. I just do what the coach says (more or less). 

3) Cross-Training— Running high volume miles consistently week-after-week can take its toll and, frankly, it can get boring. To mix it up, I weight train, ride a bike and participate in body sculpting classes for core strengthening. Over the course of a week, I complete my long runs, while getting a full-body workout. 

 4) Stretching and Yoga—One of the best ways to ward off injury is to incorporate a stretching routine into your daily workout. This could be done in the morning or night. I usually go through a set of classic runners stretches for hip flexors, hamstring, and quads. I also like to include some basic yoga poses to both stretch and strengthen core muscles. 

5) Virtual Training Partner—I find it impossible to coordinate my training sessions with another equally busy person. Instead, as a commitment device, I have a friend that I email before and after my long runs and before and after racing events. Being answerable to another human being, even if virtually, pushes me to complete the task, especially when I am tired and hurting. 

Copyright © Sharyn O'Halloran (2014) womenontherunblog.com. All rights reserved.

Apartment Hunting in Dublin, Ireland

One of the best ways to learn a new city is to apartment hunt. Once you have figured out your budget, size needs, finding the location is a journey. In Dublin, the city is divided into neighbor hoods designated into districtions Dublin 1 and 2 are considerd City Center, Dublin 4 radiates out and so on, as shown on the map below.

Over the last decade, Dublin has experienced a makeover. In fact, City Center has become quite international and recently ranked in the top 10 places to visit. As I go through my hunt, I discribe the criteria and tools I use. As I am currently in the United States, I will start my serach online and see how far I get. Here is to happy hunting, Slainte!