Dare You To...

It's Monday, again! In the past few weeks, some fantastic guest bloggers have shared their personal stories. What about you? How did you first begin running?  What keeps you going?  I want to know! Email me (dareyoutoblog (at) gmail (dot) com) if you'd like to share your story.
My own love-hate relationship with running can be foundhere at Angela's blog.  A refresher: I don't necessarily love running, itself, but I love the challenge and the ability to keep going, keep trying, keep reaching for better.  Nothing beats the feeling of running farther and longer than you thought you could.

I've said before that music motivates me.  Make a playlist just for running (or other workout of choice). Let the music, the beat, the lyrics push you further.  Here's 100 Running Songs to try.

If you need an extra push, come up with a personal mantra to get you and keep you moving.  Try these motivating words:


No matter how slowly you go,
you're lapping everyone on the couch!


A…

Good morning, friends! This Monday's Running Motivation is brought to us by Kelley. Like our guest blogger last week, Kelley has overcome the physical limitations of her body and shares her accomplishments below with pride, and encourages us to change our perspective on disabled athletes.

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Hey Everyone, I'm Kelley the voice of Sheisonarun.wordpress.com and @Sheisonarun.  I'm a differently abilied runner, blogger, and an ambassador for both Fitfluential, Sweat Pink (Fit Approach), Girls Gone Sport. I started running in October of 2011 and have never turned back. I've had a very different experience then most runners though because I have Cerebral Palsy.
According to the MayoClinic.com,cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth. In the simplest turns it means that the body does not work that way that it is supposed to and makes the simplest things har…

Monday Motivation:Time for another guest post for our Race Season Series! Today, Taylor Ryan shares her running story. Read on to learn how physical obstacles can be overcome with a careful approach and a can-do attitude.  Let her achievements motivate you this morning.

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Telling The Doctors & Husband to Shut It: Finding the Courage to Run When Everyone Says Not To

I was 15 years old the first time I remember it happening.

It was in the middle of cheerleading tryouts. I was on the ground, sitting with my legs outstretched. I took a deep breath in and as I exhaled I reached for my toes.  It was something I had done a thousand times before. As a gymnast and cheerleader “touching my toes” was effortless. Except for this time. All of a sudden, it felt as if a knife had been stabbed into my lower spine and I couldn’t move... at all.

Just like that cheerleading was out of my life.

 After a few x-rays and physical exams, the doctors told me I had a herniated disc. Something I thought t…

Happy Monday!  Still celebrating the fall racing season, here, and it's time to get some perspective on motivation from Miss MollyRitterbeck.  Below, she shares her story of becoming active, running her first 5k, and finding profound motivation for being healthy and strong.


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So today I am your guest blogger! My name is Molly Ritterbeck and I blog over at Miss Molly and I am so blessed to be writing as a guest today!

What I am going to talk about today is motivation. What motivates you? Let me tell you about what motivates me!
I am a working mother who has two beautiful daughters and a husband that serves in the military - that is enough stress in itself isn’t it? Well let me tell you with the bills that come with kids and life in general and job changes to boot I was getting stressed. My tension headaches, anxiety, and sore shoulders (my stress goes straight to my shoulders) I just didn’t know what to do. I was also starting to really lose myself in taking care of everything …

Monday + Music + Motivation.  .... + Me, Meredith! 

Who wants to work out in silence?  Hmm... Who wants to listen to others around them panting, grunting, chatting, sniffling, etc.?   Ummm.... Who wants to listen to music that provides a steady beat as well as physical and emotional motivation? Me Me Me Me!  Now, I know there are some people who prefer to go without headphones, to listen to their breath, to focus on the road, and that's great for them!  I'm just not one of them.  Yes, I've tried it.  It's doable.  But I much prefer music; it keeps me going in ways that my huffing and puffing just can't.


This weekend, a friend asked me what's on my playlist?-- do I have a post for running music?  Good news, Cait: This one's for you!


Continue reading for tips on choosing songs, as well as what's on my list...