What motivates you?

[Iris616]

This question is inspired by TxRed's thread about how far she's come in the past few months.

It got me wondering: What motivates other women/ keeps you going in this sport?

When I'm struggling to keep going, or to even get out the door some mornings, this is one of the things I think of to motivate me: I have 3 adolescent nieces, and one Friday night they were sleeping over at our house. I was on the trainer at about 10 PM. They stood in the doorway of my room and one of them said, "When I'm your age Aunt H. I want to be like you."
That's a BIG responsibility for me to live up to, and it keeps me going.

So, what do you use to stay motivated?

[Veronica]

It's fun. I enjoy the training and the racing. But not the butterflies and self doubt before. I like to push myself physically. I love that none of my previous "skinny" clothes fit me now. I've gotten too skinny for them.

I come from a family plagued with obesity and high blood pressure. I want to avoid that. I like that my students have a hard time guessing my age because I'm so fit - and I color my hair.

Veronica

[Zen]

Pie

[roadie gal]

Two things:

1. I love to eat. I exercise so I can eat, not the other way around.

2. I'm the family nut. There's always someone on the fringe in any family and that's always been me. My outdoor activities have always been a source of wonder to them. (rock climbing, telemark skiing, backpacking, now triathlons) I just can't let them down and I can't let one of the young 'uns take my place.

[colby]

Is "insanity" a valid answer?

I think sometimes it's the feeling and memory of crossing the finish line. Seeing people that have accomplished something that's important to them in what's probably an entirely unique way - for some it's a triumph to finish, for others it's a PR, for everyone it's the courage to train and race at all.

It's also something, one of the few things, that I do solely for myself. I can focus on something but still use the mental skills I'm good at - adapting, sorting my way through a lot of inputs at a time, that sort of thing. Sometimes it's nice to do something for yourself and feel like you get a reward for doing so in many ways.

And, sometimes, it's nice to feel like I'm good at something, even if I'm not "the best" I like to see myself improve and be "better than average" or "not last" or "finished", whatever the priority is. Small victories.

[txred9876]

I want to do everything in my power to keep the cancer from returning. I am also pretty competitive (even if it is with myself).

I also see my two daughter gaining weight and want to show them that if I can do this.... they can and I hope they will both start being more active.
Tina

[tulip]

Why do I ride a bike? Because I can. It would be such a waste not to.

Same reason I take the stairs over the elevator, but on a different level.

[tribogota]

Plus one on zen and roadie, mostly I train a lot so that I can eat a lot. I love food.
But now that I have been training for 2 years, I also enjoy looking at my muscle definition...and like veronica, like to keep my students guessing about my age, 39,
and finally, I love being on the bike, I love being in the pool, and I love trying to love running!

[redrhodie]

I'm motivated by how I feel after I ride. I'm so much better (more focused and productive) at work if I bike commute. I'm much happier for the rest of the day after every ride, and I sleep better at night.