There's Nothing Like Peer Pressure

There's nothing like peer pressure for motivation.  Currently I'm coaching a group of girls ages 8-11 in an after school running program.  We started our season a couple of weeks ago and at our last meeting I gave them their first major challenge.  Each girl was to run one mile, without stopping.  Whoever completed the mile would receive a celebratory pin to wear home.

"Can we stop for water?"  No.
"Can we stop if we have to go to the bathroom?"  Yes, but you'll have to start over.
"Can we stop if we have to tie our shoes?"  If you do, you'll have to start over.
"What if we get hurt?"  If you stop, no pin.
"Can we walk really fast?"  No.
"What if we don't want to run?"  Fine, but you won't get a pin.
"What if we walk 2 miles?"  No pin.  You have to run to get a pin.
"What if..."  If you stop for any reason, NO PIN!

I'm sure some of them considered the task a form of cruel and unusual punishment.  My challenge was given, however, not to torture the girls, but to teach them a lesson in pacing.  As long as you start out slowly, pretty much anyone can run a mile without stopping.  Many of the girls are new to running and the thought of running an entire mile without a break seemed impossible.  With this age group, the girls tend to sprint, walk, sprint, walk, sprint, walk, and continue on in the same vein, never building up any endurance.  With the proper guidance and motivation, the cycle can be broken.

I started running with a few girls that thought they'd never be leaving with a pin.  We made it to the half way point and things were looking grim.  Side aches, sore feet, and thirst threatened to derail us from the prize, but with a lot of encouragement they powered on.  Several girls finished ahead of us and continued to run with the colorful pins they had just earned displayed proudly on their shirts.  With their eyes on the prize, my group continued on, slowly but surely, getting closer to the finish with each stride.  It wasn't easy by any means, but we kept going.  I told stories, had them do mental math--distracted them with anything I could think of, trying to keep their minds off the difficult task at hand.  When we rounded the last corner, one of the girls who thought she'd never make it was so energized to see the finish line, she literally sprinted the last long straight-away, all the way to the bag of pins.  The gigantic smile on her face nearly brought me to tears.

Then something funny started happening.  At the beginning of the lesson, a handful of girls had decided they didn't want pins and were happy to take it easy and walk around the track until our time was up.  As they saw the group of finishers growing in membership, though, those pins, that they previously didn't care about, suddenly became much more desirable.  They didn't want to be the only one to go home without one.

"If I start now, is there still time?"  I think so, if you hustle.
"Can I still do it?"  Sure.  Get moving!
"Do you think I can make it?"   Start running and we'll see.  You've got a chance!

By the end of our session, all but one of the girls had earned pins.  The one hold out is determined to complete the task next practice.

Lately, if you've been lacking motivation, maybe you should join a group, or start one of your own.  There's nothing like the threat of being left out to keep you going.

LACE UP, join in, and keep running!