Boston Champ Lisa Rainsberger on How to Stay Motivated

Lisa Rainsberger crossing the finish line in Boston; her 1985 victory stood as the only American female win until Des Linden broke the tape in 2018.

By Cathy Engstrom

Lisa Rainsberger is no stranger to disappointment. True, she won the Boston Marathon in 1985, the Chicago Marathon in 1988 and 1989, and the Twin Cities Marathon in 1993. But Lisa is well-acquainted with heartache and derailed plans, including her Olympic dreams as a swimmer during the 1980 boycott of the Olympics games in Moscow.

When Covid-19 restrictions hit, Lisa’s roles as mom and coach were especially stretched. She was dealing with the losses of an NCAA Indoor Championship meet for Katie, her All-American daughter and the high school senior year traditions for her son, the multiple events that were cancelled for all the athletes she trains, and her own personal running plans, including a long-awaited trip for Hood to Coast.

With so many epic races on hold, and the crisp, fall days passing by without much fanfare—and the temptation to eat ice cream every single day while staring at my running clothes hanging off the back of a chair—I reached out to Lisa to see if she had any words of advice.

What would a Boston Marathon champion and coach tell us mortals to do?

Turns out there’s no magic genie in a Nuun tube. Marathon winners aren’t hoarding secret methods the rest of us know nothing about. Instead, Lisa offered simple, practical tips that will help get you out the door and make fall races feel a little less humdrum:

Allow yourself to grieve. “When Hood to Coast was cancelled, we were all disappointed,” Lisa shared with me. “We thought about deferring to the next year, but most of us had uncertainties about our schedules for 2021. We were doubly disappointed when we were told Hood to Coast would not refund the $2,000 registration fee. Eventually, we were able to ‘sell’ our registration to another team, but not without a lot of work. We did not get together as a group for any kind of virtual event. I am personally holding out to race when we can do so in person.”

Lisa Rainsberger in coaching mode—and loving it.

Set different goals for yourself.  “My running goals this year have certainly taken an entirely new look. I started the year training for Boston with the goal of sub 4 hours, run Hood to Coast, and stay fit enough to keep up with the youth runners that I coach. Now my goals are based around staying healthy, getting consistent runs in throughout the week, and using my dogs as a reason to get out the door. They have a great way of guilting me if my running shoes don’t get put on.”

Look for a new training group in your area. “Small groups of socially distanced runners are still getting together. Check for groups on Facebook or at your local running store to see if there are any new people for you to explore training with. New runners can add an element of challenge and excitement, like the feeling you get when you pin on a race bib.”

BAMR Meg and her ardent fan base celebrate a strong finish in a recent Love the Run event.

Create your own spectators. “If the race you signed up for has been changed to a virtual event, get few of your runner friends to join you and some family and friends to support you. Create aid stations, cheer stations, and finish line tape!”

Design a racecourse that works for you. “I recently ran portions of the virtual Boston Marathon with a friend. We planned a route to be an easy and favorable course—meaning NO HILLS! Running at altitude is hard enough, so we decided to run a downhill dirt trail. No traffic concerns, plenty of portable restrooms along the route, and it was close to home. The most interesting aspect of the course were the cows that cheered (or rather “mooed”) at certain sections.”

Run point-to-point. “Arrange to have someone drop you off somewhere and race a point-to-point route. You can do this for your workouts, as well. It gets you out the door, and there is only one way home!”

Retail therapy. “We bought an Airstream travel trailer! Since we are approaching retirement and have 4 kids and 5 grandkids, we decided to be the fun grandparents and travel to see our family. Hoping to take the Airstream to Eugene next summer for the US Olympic Track and Field Trials.”

Don’t worry if an Airstream is not in your stay-motivated budget. Lisa also highly recommends new running gear. “Shopping for a new pair of running shorts, tights, or a sports bra adds a bit of fun getting you out the door.”

I will add one final suggestion to Lisa’s list:
Celebrate the achievements of others. Lisa is one of the most positive people I know, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she is also one of the biggest cheerleaders. Her attitude of joy watching others accomplish their goals is infectious.

So find some BAMRs, cheer wildly for them, and invest in the training cycles of other women. It gets you out of your own head and lets you swim in the endorphins of companionship. I will never forget texting my AMR friend Britt Parker as she was making her way through a very tough race. Knowing she was out there, putting one foot in front of the other, and imagining her smile when her phone was blowing up with texts from friends and family who were encouraging her, made me feel invested in something so much bigger than myself.

“We are living in unique times,” marathon champsion Lisa Rainsberger says. “But running can be a constant source of enjoyment. You just might have to think outside the box and create a new running normal.”