What happens when you lose your running mojo?

I want to be absolutely clear. I am no running expert or elite athlete, I am simply a person who loves  chasing the next adventure. Simply put I have been "ordinarily active" for most of my adult life. Most of the advice you read is given by some expert that nails it or achieves greatly. That is definitely not me. I am an average person who loves being active and been fortunate to enjoy and take part in some crazy running and swimming adventures. But this is exactly why I think I am well placed to give some insight from just an ordinarily active woman.

I believe most, if not all, runners go through stages when putting on your running shoes is the last thing you feel like doing. You might have been training too hard and feeling the effects of burnout. Maybe you are experiencing a set back and your training is not going according to plan, perhaps you feel sluggish, or your times are just not improving. A couple of years ago, I hated my running. I was struggling with my asthma, I couldn’t keep up with anyone and I wanted to just give up and throw myself a big pity party. Over the years I have gone through some rough training patches and currently I am recovering from a bad bout of COVID and just not bouncing back as I would normally.

Now I do firmly believe in listening to your body, and sometimes you need that lie in and should take the rest. However, sometimes you lose the joy of running and struggle to find a way through. These are just some ideas that I have used in the past to help me re-claim my running mojo?

 

  1. Be gentle with yourself and look at the whole picture - Perhaps you have had a busy week or a fight with your boss? Maybe you have not eaten properly, or you’ve been up all night with a sick child with little or no sleep. When you go through these patches this affects your running.  Take moment, write off a bad run, take a couple of days rest and then come back for a relaxed run with friends.
  1. Buddy up - Kilometres on the road are so much easier with company. Friends who talk nonsense while you pound the pavements are a true gems. But choose your company wisely. You want to surround yourself with people that are going to build you up not moan and be negative.
  1. Dangle a carrot – Set a reward for achieving a certain weekly mileage goal. When you hit your mileage you get your reward. However, I would advise against spending your family’s life savings on a Ferrari all in the name of recapturing your running mojo.
  1. Keep a log – It is great to look back over the week/s and realise that you have reached your mileage. Strava never lies.
  1. Summer is on the way… Motivation, I think?
  1. Find a good playlist and go for a solo run. As much as company and friends are good. Sometimes a solo run can lift the spirits. You don’t have to be meet anyone at a certain time. Be spontaneous. Grab your shoes, plug in your favourite running tunes, crank them up and head out the door for one of those runs that puts a smile on your face.
  1. Run for a reason or find a race and enter it -Having a goal can often motivate you to train. Although road races are few and far between because of COVID there are still some amazing trail runs taking place. Putting a goal in place may help to get you motivated. Even better run for a charity or cause that is close to your heart and there is no way you are staying in bed.
  1. Get playful- Skip another steady run and replace it with a fartlek style of run “speed play”. Warm-up, then run hard between two telephone poles, then slow down for three, then speed up again. Then see if you can sprint to the corner or for a section along the boardwalk. There are no set rules so have some fun.
  1. Read or listen to some motivation – read a well-written blog or book about running. There are also some amazing podcasts out there. These stories are bound to have you lacing up your shoes in no time.
  1. Pump the music in the car- Nothing will get rid of running cobwebs like a bit of “Chariots of Fire”. Download the famous Vangelis theme and blast it out in your car tomorrow to give you some running motivation.

These are just 8 simple/ fun suggestions that I have found worked for me over the last 15 years of long-distance running. Obviously, if you are struggling with your health or injury, you should go and consult with a professional. Oh, and heed their advice, we all know runners are particularly bad at following advice.