Sometimes it’s a good idea to step back and take a look at your running/training. Are you still deriving the same enjoyment from running that you used to? There are times during my career that I have had to stop and re-evaluate whether or not I was really enjoying myself.
HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU AND RUNNING NEED A BREAK
If you are like me, you run to stay healthy, both physically AND mentally. Running is my outlet for stress, anxiety, and just about anything that’s bothering me in life. Sometimes my kids are driving me nuts, and I just need to get out of the house! I want running to always be this type of release for me, and if it isn’t, I know I need to take a short break and re-evaluate what’s going on.
There are times when you get really into training and you can suffer burnouts. You no longer get the release you used to from a good run, instead it stresses you out. It’s okay to dread a workout once in a while, but if it’s happening more often than not, try taking a few days off. Taking a little break isn’t going to result in a loss of fitness (it takes about 2 weeks for that to happen!). When you start running again, you will do so with a fresh perspective!
GETTING YOUR RUNNING MOJO BACK
Other than taking a little time off, how else can you get your running mojo back? One thing I like to do is take off my watch and leave my phone at home before I head out the door. Forgetting time, pace, heart rate, etc. can allow you to focus on simply enjoying your run! So take off your Garmin and hit the road. 🙂
If you feel like your mojo is missing because you don’t really have anything in particular to train for, choose a goal race and put it on the calendar. Having a goal in sight helps keep your running on track and gives each workout meaning.
When you need your motivation back, I also believe that indulging in some running retail therapy is perfectly acceptable. There’s nothing like a shiny new pair of kicks to make you feel like going for a run. If new sneakers don’t do it for you, how about a new running outfit?
RUN HAPPY
In the end, you want to make sure that running is something that makes you happy (at least most of the time!). I know that I want to run for the rest of my life; so if I feel like something is preventing me from enjoying it, I will do whatever I can to get that enjoyable feeling back!
One of my favorite long sleeve technical shirts reads “Run Happy,” and it’s pretty much my running motto. I also have a beautiful Scott James necklace (thanks ZOOMA!) that has the same saying on it. 🙂 Keep it real and run happy friends!
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