A punch for running two miles!
July 21, 2010 9:36 PM
My wife wants my help motivating her to take up running again and wants to use a punch card. Help me thing of rewards!
My wife and I did great training for a 10k a few months back. She mentioned she wants something to motivate her to keep running again and I'm fully supportive. She specifically said she'd love to get a "punch card" where she'd earn rewards based on the number of punches she gets. She wants some sort of tier so for example 10 punches gets her x, but 50 gets her y.
I'd love some suggestions on rewards! Money is tight (but not unbearable) and would love some free or low cost ideas. What would motivate you?
My wife and I did great training for a 10k a few months back. She mentioned she wants something to motivate her to keep running again and I'm fully supportive. She specifically said she'd love to get a "punch card" where she'd earn rewards based on the number of punches she gets. She wants some sort of tier so for example 10 punches gets her x, but 50 gets her y.
I'd love some suggestions on rewards! Money is tight (but not unbearable) and would love some free or low cost ideas. What would motivate you?
- Offer to do something for her that she usually does, such as cook a nice dinner, do a specific chore (or all the chores for x number of days).
- Indulge in a really nice dessert from a local bakery
- Take a "vacation" in your town -- spend the day/weekend looking up all the interesting spots (nice cafes/bakeries, art galleries, museum, etc.).
- prep everything for a nice picnic
- offer breakfast in bed
- make a reservation at a nice, but not too expensive restaurant.
- if you like them, spend the day at a themepark.
- or if you prefer, go camping/hiking together
Just do something nice and heartfelt and that's a little out of the ordinary routine that you are used to.
posted by joyeuxamelie at 9:53 PM on July 21, 2010
- Indulge in a really nice dessert from a local bakery
- Take a "vacation" in your town -- spend the day/weekend looking up all the interesting spots (nice cafes/bakeries, art galleries, museum, etc.).
- prep everything for a nice picnic
- offer breakfast in bed
- make a reservation at a nice, but not too expensive restaurant.
- if you like them, spend the day at a themepark.
- or if you prefer, go camping/hiking together
Just do something nice and heartfelt and that's a little out of the ordinary routine that you are used to.
posted by joyeuxamelie at 9:53 PM on July 21, 2010
Does she listen to music when she runs? If not, get her the iPod nano w/ the sport strap. If she already has an mp3 player, get her some iTunes to load that baby up.
posted by contessa at 10:01 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by contessa at 10:01 PM on July 21, 2010
20+ year runner here. I'll approach your question from two angles.
First angle: I don't have anyone cashing in cards for me, but I still find running rewarding. On a couple of occasions I fell off the wagon and stopped running for two or three months, usually because of some insane work pressure. Here are my observations: the more you run, the more you like running. So it is only hard grooving the habit at the beginning, it pulls you along after. Some of the things that really reward me are (a) getting a PR (personal record) in a certain distance (seeing measurable improvement); (b) running a specific race with friends that becomes an annual tradition; (c) running a race in a far away place, as a short vacation. Summary: keep a training log, occasionally run the same routes or pre-measured distances for time, do races, travel to races and turn them into mini-vacations.
Second angle: the punch cards, or what I'm thinking of as the "World of Warcraft" approach where she is getting achievements/XP for running. I love this idea. Things to give punches for, besides just rolling up the miles would be consistency (x many days per week or x many miles per week) and maybe improvement (new PR on the neighborhood loop) and trying new routes (too keep it interesting). For rewards, I'm sure there are lots of non-monetary things you can do that would be appreciated (massage those tired legs, cook dinner, do the laundry). For monetary things, there could be the occasional treat like a new pair of running shoes or a trip to the Lululemon store for a new outfit. If you buy my theory that the more you run, the more you like running, you only have to get rewards figured out for the first month or two.
posted by kovacs at 10:02 PM on July 21, 2010
First angle: I don't have anyone cashing in cards for me, but I still find running rewarding. On a couple of occasions I fell off the wagon and stopped running for two or three months, usually because of some insane work pressure. Here are my observations: the more you run, the more you like running. So it is only hard grooving the habit at the beginning, it pulls you along after. Some of the things that really reward me are (a) getting a PR (personal record) in a certain distance (seeing measurable improvement); (b) running a specific race with friends that becomes an annual tradition; (c) running a race in a far away place, as a short vacation. Summary: keep a training log, occasionally run the same routes or pre-measured distances for time, do races, travel to races and turn them into mini-vacations.
Second angle: the punch cards, or what I'm thinking of as the "World of Warcraft" approach where she is getting achievements/XP for running. I love this idea. Things to give punches for, besides just rolling up the miles would be consistency (x many days per week or x many miles per week) and maybe improvement (new PR on the neighborhood loop) and trying new routes (too keep it interesting). For rewards, I'm sure there are lots of non-monetary things you can do that would be appreciated (massage those tired legs, cook dinner, do the laundry). For monetary things, there could be the occasional treat like a new pair of running shoes or a trip to the Lululemon store for a new outfit. If you buy my theory that the more you run, the more you like running, you only have to get rewards figured out for the first month or two.
posted by kovacs at 10:02 PM on July 21, 2010
Zo....mai...gawd, foot and calf massages are like crack for runners. Or at least they are for me. And they can really help her training by reducing swelling, relaxing those muscles, which overall will help prevent injury.
I looked up calf massages a while back to give them to my ex (who is also a runner) and I found this short video series very helpful. The video clips are a little out of order but its not too hard to figure it out.
Foot massages are easier, just rub the hell out of those puppies, and stretch and rub every toe individually.
posted by CTORourke at 10:04 PM on July 21, 2010
I looked up calf massages a while back to give them to my ex (who is also a runner) and I found this short video series very helpful. The video clips are a little out of order but its not too hard to figure it out.
Foot massages are easier, just rub the hell out of those puppies, and stretch and rub every toe individually.
posted by CTORourke at 10:04 PM on July 21, 2010
I don't think this is the right approach.
The reward for running should be the running itself. Adding a reward element of any other type is going to detract from getting any kind of enjoyment out of the running itself.
posted by devnull at 1:50 AM on July 22, 2010
The reward for running should be the running itself. Adding a reward element of any other type is going to detract from getting any kind of enjoyment out of the running itself.
posted by devnull at 1:50 AM on July 22, 2010
Lighten up, Francis devnull.
If money is tight, all the more reason to make the reward a luxury like a professional massage. One session doesn't cost all that much, but it's exactly the sort of thing I can't bring myself to spend money on unless I'm feeling really flush. This way she can "earn" her luxury.
I find little bits of running gear from time to time also keep me motivated. Doesn't have to be particularly big -- a key pouch or new headphones or whatever -- just shiny enough to satisfy the inner magpie.
posted by stuck on an island at 3:04 AM on July 22, 2010
If money is tight, all the more reason to make the reward a luxury like a professional massage. One session doesn't cost all that much, but it's exactly the sort of thing I can't bring myself to spend money on unless I'm feeling really flush. This way she can "earn" her luxury.
I find little bits of running gear from time to time also keep me motivated. Doesn't have to be particularly big -- a key pouch or new headphones or whatever -- just shiny enough to satisfy the inner magpie.
posted by stuck on an island at 3:04 AM on July 22, 2010
I like rewarding my running efforts with more running gear, but if money is tight I'd say anything you can do to make her feel relaxed at home after running or anything you can do to free up her time for running would be great. When I go for a long run, coming home to a clean kitchen and my husband offering to cook dinner is the best thing ever.
posted by Terriniski at 5:32 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by Terriniski at 5:32 AM on July 22, 2010
I'm with kovacs. Something she could use to help her run would be a good reward, like a trip to Lululemon or somewhere for a new running shirt or shorts. I think it will get to a point where rewards aren't as necessary, but to start it can be good motivation. I guess that's what I'd like! (oh, and the massage!)
posted by LilBit at 5:58 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by LilBit at 5:58 AM on July 22, 2010
The greatest motivator for me is keeping a running log. I love seeing the miles accumulate, and I get immense pleasure in the act of writing down my run for the day.
I don't love running itself, but I love having had run.
posted by yeti at 9:17 AM on July 22, 2010
I don't love running itself, but I love having had run.
posted by yeti at 9:17 AM on July 22, 2010
A weekend getaway to watch a marathon. Fun and inspiring.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:14 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:14 AM on July 22, 2010
When I go for a long run, coming home to a clean kitchen and my husband offering to cook dinner is the best thing ever.
Is this a hint, dear?
I'm with (my wife) Terriniski, though. She got me into buying fun stuff to make me want to run more. I used to just head out in my khaki shorts and whatever t-shirt I have laying around. Now, I feel so much more inclined to head out with my fancy non-cotton shirt that doesn't soak me and fun shorts.
And devnull, I disagree with that. Rewards can be great as a kickstart to running, especially for someone who hates it. I'm finally coming around, and it's been these little things that have kept me going.
posted by SNWidget at 4:01 PM on July 22, 2010
Is this a hint, dear?
I'm with (my wife) Terriniski, though. She got me into buying fun stuff to make me want to run more. I used to just head out in my khaki shorts and whatever t-shirt I have laying around. Now, I feel so much more inclined to head out with my fancy non-cotton shirt that doesn't soak me and fun shorts.
And devnull, I disagree with that. Rewards can be great as a kickstart to running, especially for someone who hates it. I'm finally coming around, and it's been these little things that have kept me going.
posted by SNWidget at 4:01 PM on July 22, 2010
And devnull, I disagree with that. Rewards can be great as a kickstart to running
True perhaps. But a "reward" for doing something intrinsically rewarding (as long as your baseline needs are already met) normally means it stops becoming intrinsically rewarding.
posted by devnull at 3:05 PM on July 26, 2010
True perhaps. But a "reward" for doing something intrinsically rewarding (as long as your baseline needs are already met) normally means it stops becoming intrinsically rewarding.
posted by devnull at 3:05 PM on July 26, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fshgrl at 9:47 PM on July 21, 2010