Motivation and Inspiration

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter if you're a lion or a gazelle - when the sun comes up, you better be running.

attributed to Roger Bannister

The above proverb is retold in the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, a truly excellent book on running that I have just started re-reading. When I read it the first time, it motivated me to get up and run - not necessarily an ultramarathon, but to get up and run. I talked about my daughter and I watching American Flyers a couple of weeks ago, and her saying that she wanted to get out on her bike again.

Motivation and inspiration can come from various sources; books, movies, social media sites like twitter and daily mile, podcasts (one that I listen to on a regular basis, and that I enjoy for motivating me is Zen and the Art of Triathlon), cycling and running clubs, even electronic equipment can provide motivation: My Nike+ that I attach to my iPod for running will play a pre-recorded motivational message from a famous celebrity when I reach a certain milestone. Lance Armstrong congratulates me on achieving my farthest distance in a run, and Tiger Woods cheers me on for my fastest mile. Some people find inspiration to excel, or to try something they haven't done before because of the hardships a loved one is going through, or has gone through. They may participate in a charity fundraising ride or event in honor of their loved one as a way to help.

We all will occasionally feel overwhelmed, and loose focus on what our goals are. We all occasionally need a motivational boost to dig deeper, or need to find that inspirational message that prompts us to push further than we believe we can.

Who or What inspires and motivates you?

By the way, this is my 500th post.