It's just another Sunday in autumn and I wake up to rain. What promised to be a calm, peaceful morning for a nice long run has turned into a gray day. I look out the window and think: “Do I really have to go out and run for over an hour in this weather?”. But in that same moment I tell myself “come on… don't think about it, just go for it”. I get dressed, put on my windbreaker, lace up my shoes and get ready for my training session. Meanwhile, I can hear my boyfriend following me around the house, saying over and over, “Are you crazy? Where are you going in this weather?”… I look at him, smile and say: “Off for a run!”.
The rain falls on me with every step I take. The puddles and mud keep me from holding the pace I'd like, but I know today is going to be a great training day. I run along paths that are usually packed with runners and cyclists on a Sunday morning, but today they're deserted until I get there. All I can hear is the sound of my footsteps and the falling rain. It makes me feel special… while everyone else takes shelter from the rain, I'm taking on the weather and the terrain. It'll make me stronger. But the funny thing is that not for a second would I rather be anywhere else. I'm loving every moment, and at the same time it makes me a little sad that most people chose their sofa on this wonderful rainy Sunday morning…
Many of us have faced (and still face) a similar situation, and sometimes we've chosen to keep watching the rain fall from the window. So what decides whether or not we choose to brave the rain?
Generally speaking, what drives us to act is our motivation. If we're preparing for a big race, or we're committed to demanding goals, to our coach or to our team, a few drops of rain probably won't stop us from heading out to train. In this case, we're extrinsically motivated: through our actions we hope to get an external reward, whether that's recognition, living up to expectations, a win or a personal best.
However, if our decision to run is driven solely by extrinsic motivation, then at a time when our performance and/or commitment isn't very high, we're more likely to spend a rainy Sunday morning watching the rain through the window instead of feeling it as we run. But for many of us, running means much more than setting a personal best. Motivation can come from the simple act of lacing up our shoes, splashing through puddles and enjoying every meter we cover. In this case, what drives us is intrinsic motivation, which is defined by the fact that the behavior itself is already rewarding: the activity alone brings enjoyment.
Although it may seem that being motivated by winning or by setting a personal best should go hand in hand with better performance, research has shown that intrinsically motivated people tend to choose fairly demanding tasks, and that after any setbacks they respond with greater persistence and effort to overcome their personal challenges. This doesn't mean that only intrinsic motivation is positive; in fact, the two types of motivation aren't mutually exclusive. But enjoyment and “love” for running are a big factor when we face our training sessions, whatever our level and whatever our goals, because they make our experience much more positive regardless of the weather or our surroundings, and even beyond the result itself.
So, just as Gene Kelly loved singin' in the rain, let's enjoy our sport… running in the rain.
