Back in our South Bend days my wife really got into running one year. She even entered and placed in a few races. Mostly, though, she just liked to run around the neighborhood or in the twenty acres of woods behind our house.

My best friend, I will call him Russ (because I feel no need to protect the guilty), loved to give my wife a hard time, and running was just another reason for him to harass her. So she challenged him to a race. On New Year's Day. An unofficial 5k through the neighborhood. One of our college students overhead the conversation, and wanted to run, too. (She was in the Navy ROTC program at Notre Dame.) I claimed the role of race official.

New Year's Day arrived and the three participants convened at the starting line with Russ (his real name) also talking quite a bit of smack. But he was ready. He had eaten pasta for dinner the night before. He had downed a Gatorade for breakfast. And he had downloaded a good half hour's worth of motivational, hard-driving music (think "Eye of the Tiger").

I said an official "Go!" and the three of them ran off together side by side - and it stayed that way through the first corner, which was about as far as I could see from my driveway. About 25 minutes later my wife returned and crossed the very unofficial finish line. A few minutes later the ND/Navy student crossed the finish line. A few more minutes later - and Russ was nowhere to be seen. So I got in my car, drove the race route, and found him walking along. Slowly. Quite a ways from the finish line. I'm pretty sure his music had run out. I offered him a ride - but to his credit he walked it in and accepted the razzing that he had earned.

Now to be clear, Russ started well. He just didn't maintain. And his music wasn't enough inspo (among other issues).

But we often get started in life only to struggle with inspiration.  Especially in February.  It's cold.  It's dreary.  And it is, well, uninspiring.  Life can feel like you are walking through mud.  So how do we stay motivated?  How do we keep our energy up?  The following are some simple ideas.

But I think there is an even bigger question.  How can we stay motivated spiritually?
I think the writer of Hebrews gives us a great idea in chapter 12.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

There's a ton there to unpack when it comes to spiritual motivation. Get inspired by other Christians who have tackled similar challenges. Get rid of the distractions, especially sin. Practice perseverance. But most of all - keep looking at Jesus, both as an example, but also as a rewarder.