It can happen to any of us. You fall out of love with running. You find yourself just going through the motions. It all feels a bit ‘meh.’
Perhaps you’ve been dealing with an injury. Or you’ve had to start over again after a break. Whatever the reason, running’s become a chore.
Or maybe you never felt the love in the first place. You’re struggling to even get out the door.
In this first of two posts, I’ll talk about some ways to find a bit more joy in your running and re-discover a mojo that’s gone missing.
More to come on how to find that mojo in the first place…
1. Make time for recovery
Stress is not all bad. The stress that running puts on your body is what causes it to adapt, to get stronger and fitter. But too much stress and not enough recovery can break us down rather than build us up. And drain away our enthusiasm for training.
Prioritise sleep. Take rest days. Recovery is when the magic happens. When you build back stronger. Make time for it.
2. What’s your ‘why’?
When you hit the running ‘blahs’, it can be helpful to take a step back and think about why you run.
What got you running in the first place? And what’s kept you going since?
My starting point was a place in the London marathon and a dream of crossing the finish line. What kept me going was how running made me feel, the sense of achievement from chasing PBs, and the friends I made.
When I started Chi Running, I took to heart the idea that I should focus on the process and not external goals. Maybe a little too much. My ‘why’ was all about enjoyment. Thinking about speed and PBs just didn’t feel very ‘chi.’
These days, I’ve found a better balance, I think. I still get a buzz from racing. As I age, I find myself becoming more competitive, not less. But getting pleasure from my training is also really important. Whether that’s finding somewhere beautiful to run, or playing with different ways to make my running feel just that little bit easier.
There’s nothing wrong with PBs and race wins. But if that’s your only goal, perhaps try sprinkling in some ‘whys’ that focus on the process as well. Like learning to tune into your body as you run. Exploring your local area. Or improving your skill as a runner so you can stay lighter on your feet. More on running as a skill in just a moment.
Or maybe you don’t really have a ‘why’ anymore, and running’s just become a humdrum habit. In that case, adding in a new challenge could spice things up. Such as training for a distance you’ve never run before. Getting comfortable on the trails if you’re a road runner. Or trying a tri.
3. Reframe running as a skill
When I first started running, technique wasn’t something that we ever talked about or thought about. You were either naturally gifted with good running biomechanics, or you weren’t. And if you weren’t, then tough.
Thinking of running as a skill that I could get better at has probably had the biggest positive effect on how I view my training.
I don’t have ‘good’ runs and ‘bad’ runs anymore. Every run is an opportunity to learn something new. Even after 11 years of Chi Running, I’m still finding ways to make it feel easier. To go faster without trying.
It keeps me curious and interested. It makes running fun.
4. Get ‘naked’
Nope, not the kind that’ll get you arrested. But running without Garmin, Strava, or even a stopwatch feels amazingly liberating.
Running tech is a helpful tool. But it can also suck the joy out of your training.
It keeps you focused on ‘how far’ and ‘how fast’.
It disconnects you from your body.
Try leaving the gadgets at home, and just run for enjoyment. Body sense your effort level, rather than relying on the numbers on your wrist. Go as far and as fast as feels good. How far and how fast? You’ll never know. But that’s OK.
5. Run mindfully
Mindfulness doesn’t have to be about sitting quietly in one spot.
T’ai chi, which Chi Running draws from, is described as a moving meditation. And using your run as a focus for mindfulness is a really nice way to bring more enjoyment to the experience.
It could be as simple as focusing on your breathing, or the feeling of your feet landing on the ground.
Or one of my favourite ways to stay in the moment is to take my attention off my running and tune into the environment around me, through my senses.
This works really nicely in a green space. But it can be done pretty much anywhere.
I focus first on what I can hear: birdsong; the sound of the wind in the trees; distant traffic.
Then on what I can see: the different shades of green of the foliage; the shapes of the clouds in the sky; the insect life, from butterflies to bees.
And finally on touch: the feel of the breeze on my skin; my feet on the ground; my clothes moving against my body.
A mindful run connects me to the world around me as I move through it, and keeps me present in the moment.
6. Try a different form of running
There are lots of different ways to run, and they don’t all have to involve running a particular distance at a particular speed.
Hashing (the Drinking Club with the Running Problem) and orienteering are just two alternative ways to get outside and have fun while you run.
I hope this has given you some ideas to play with if your training’s feeling a bit stale. What are your favourite ways to combat the running ‘mehs’?