Today, I had an easy 2-mile run on my training calendar. After logging 14 long miles yesterday, the last thing I wanted to do was run, but I knew that a “shake out” run was just what I needed to loosen up my tight, stiff legs. Some days the goal is just to get out there and run– just like Mal’s Road ID says:
He constantly struggles with his motivation to run”” mostly because he doesn’t really like it. (I know, right? Why can’t someone like me, who loves running, have his amazing running abilities!?)
On the days when I’m just not motivated to run, here’s what I do:
- Just Do It. On the days when I’m just not feeling a run, the hardest part is usually changing into my running clothes and physically getting myself out the door. Instead of thinking about the run too much, I just do it. My brain goes on auto-drive: I get dressed, throw on my sneakers, walk out my front door, and start running. Often times, I don’t even bother with my Garmin or other running gear. I just do it.
- Set My Alarm Clock. Similar to the tip above, setting my alarm clock for an early morning run gets me out the door and running. I’m usually half awake, so getting dressed and starting my run happens without much thought. Plus, if I put off my run until the afternoon or evening, I’m more likely to skip it.
- Explore My Neighborhood. I typically run the same few routes near my house, so after awhile, they’re not as exciting to me. When I feel blah about a run, I create a new route on MapMyRun or randomly explore side streets on my run. Exploring my neighborhood always seems to keep things interesting!
- Keep It Short. I tell myself to run to the end of my street and back. If I’m really not feeling a run, I only wasted about 10 minutes”” and 10 minutes is better than nothing, right? Usually, when I get to the end of my street, I realize that running a little bit more won’t kill me, so I end up continuing on.
- Make It a Run-Walk. There’s no rule that says I have to run for my entire workout. When I’m not in the mood to run, I take walk breaks in between running intervals. I like to alternate 5 minutes of running with 2-3 minutes of walking. Doing this mixes up the workout and gives it some variety, which keeps me motivated.
- Run a 5K Race. When running seems dull, I spice up my workout by challenging myself to a 5K race in my own neighborhood. After mapping out 3.1 miles, I warm up and then run the route just like I would a regular 5K. Thinking about my run as a race definitely spices things up!
- Make Yourself Feel Guilty. This is Mal’s tip for getting out there and running. When he wants to skip a run, he makes himself feel guilty about it. He’s currently training for the Bay State Half Marathon and following a Hal Hidgon plan, so he knows that each run counts toward his goal. If he wants to skip one of his scheduled workouts, a little guilt trip gets him out the door.
Lunch
For lunch this afternoon, I ate Overnight Oats in a Jar. They’re not just for breakfast! In the mix: oats, banana slices, vanilla soy milk, chia seeds, and walnuts. As always, they were delicious and satisfying.
Snack
I spent the next couple of hours working, and then took a break to join Mal and Murphy outside for a beverage in our backyard. (We’re kind of obsessed with hanging out in our backyard and sitting in our Adirondack chairs. We do it a lot.)
I made myself a Skinny Piña Colada minus the rum, so I guess it wasn’t a piña colada at all”” just coconut water, pineapple juice, and ice. It was still delicious, but, obviously, not as fun.
The pug was exhausted from lounging around the house all day.
As soon as Murphy realized that I picked a couple of cherry tomatoes from our garden, he woke right up. He doesn’t even like tomatoes, but any sort of food gets his attention. This dog is totally motivated by food!
That was a nice little break, but now it’s back to work!