How do you keep yourself motivated during a long endurance workout?

Remind yourself why you are doing it in the first place. :)

I like to pretend I am swimming on a reef in the ocean near an island like Jamaica or Tahiti. I imagine all the tropical fish swimming nearby. My hour swim is over before I know it.

Personally, having someone to work out with works. Someone pushing you or even inspiring you is even better so that little voice in your head gets extra external motivation.

I started working out to lose weight and get back into shape aftery fiancé gave birth. I joined a boxing club, after hearing that boxing provides cardio like no other sports. They were right, now one month after I started working out, I lost almost 4 waist sizes and I’m a lot leaner. Pushing yourself is difficult, but if you can have a coach or trainer, it’s a plus. If you need self motivation to push you, just think of the outcome, at the end of a lap, tell yourself to swim another one even if you’re exhausted.

Now, on a side note, to be successful in getting in shape, you have 50% of it being from what you eat. Eating 3 healthy meals a day will help you succeed.

Good luck!

Thanks. This is my first question and maybe i gave it too much background details. I don’t feel like I have trouble keeping myself motivated. I’ve been doing it for a couple of months now with great success. I’m just wondering what you people out there use for motivation during your workouts. Of course I might try some and see how it works out for me.

As for myself I use motivations like:
* Keeping my eyes on the prize(like @Tink1113 said).
* Trying to get better at it, better speed and technique leading to better times.
* When I do have a hard time, sometimes I just try to keep ahead of someone that is about my level. This also helps because it brings a bit of a game element to the workout.
* I even found that sometimes anger can push me very much, I wish I could be angry all the time!~
* And yes, i have to (shamefully) admit, as a guy it helps if there is a really cute girl there. Macho or not, every guy will want to give it hist best shot.

For me seeing improvement is a big motivator, and switching it up every now and then. Also, music. If there is anyway possible to listen to music while you swim…These? or This thread?

I just keep thinking about the hot fudge brownie sundae with nuts and whipped cream that I’ll have after the workout.

I’ve seen inexpensive (<$50) mp3 players that are waterproof. Music can be a great motivator, and having a waterproof player allows you to listen while swimming.

I got motivated when I took a tumble and realized my body was acting older than it really was and if I didn’t do something I would be dead soon.
I wanted to live healthy enough to roll on the floor with my grand kids some day.
That was 5 years ago and I now have 4.5 grand kids and I can sometimes keep up with them better than their mothers. They are a great motivator for keeping in shape.

@eambos I agree. Music is what keeps me pumped. I use the Nike chip with my iPod and just go running all the time now.

I box and have never been a fan of running yet it is a necessity for building endurance so I usually listen to combat sports related podcasts while humming the theme of Rocky to myself…

So basically I’m a nerd

First choice would be to work out together with my partner. It has always got me pumped to see my partner exercise. Second choice would be listening to some upbeat music. Whatever you like that gets you pumped up…for me its bee-bop music and rock n ’ roll.