Get your running mojo back

There is nothing worse than losing your running mojo! One day you’re raring to go and clock up miles and miles effortlessly, the next dragging yourself out the door is the hardest thing in the world. Trust us we’ve all been there, and we definitely feel your pain!

There are lots of reasons you might not be quite so up for a run, but it’s an issue that seems to come up more often at this time of year – as the days get shorter and the weather gets colder and wetter! ‘The worst thing about this time of year is the thought of training on dark grey days,’ says Run Your City pacer and ultra-marathoner Rebecca Bryant.

Running coach Mollie Millington agrees. ’People can be demotivated at this time of year as the summer holidays are over, so they might not have any fitness goals to work towards, it’s dark when you go to and from work, and the weather can turn bad’. We can totally relate to all of this, but we don’t always realise that such seemingly small things can have such a big impact on our motivation to get moving. We don’t know about you, but just the thought of a cold, grey day makes us want to crawl back under the duvet ASAP!

So what can you do to boost your motivation to get moving? Well you know all that stuff people say about nothing being as bad as you think it’ll be? It’s true!  ‘Once you’re out there and getting into your stride, you’ll find it’s really not that bad,’ says Rebecca. ‘I run to work in the morning and yes, on occasions, it’s difficult to get out of bed in the morning, so I set myself a goal to work towards. That definitely gives me the push I need!’

Mollie seconds this. ‘Sign up to a physical challenge – a muddy 5K, a stair climbing challenge, a danceathon or a run streak are all ways to give purpose to your training,’ she comments. Get a goal, mix it up and get training. Trust us, pretty soon you’ll be loving every minute.

Another great way to motivate yourself is to get your friends involved. If you know your crew are waiting for you then it becomes a lot harder to skip training. Plus, training with friends is always loads of fun. Grab your work buddies for a lunch time 5K, hit ParkRun with friends on Saturday morning or establish a ‘run and brunch’ tradition on Sundays. No runner friends? No worries! There are tonnes of fab running clubs out there to try, and they’re a great way to meet new people.

Don’t fancy running around in the winter elements? Mollies suggests investing in a 30 day gym membership to get you going. ‘Many studios have intro memberships of unlimited use for a certain number of days. It takes 21 days to create a new habit, so if you take full advantage of the offer you might also change your mindset’. Gyms are also a great way to mix up your routine if you’re feeling a little bored – and a new gym means new classes and equipment to try out. Variety is the spice of life after all. Mollie agrees: ‘Maybe you just don’t love whatever you’ve been doing? So try burlesque dancing, ice skating, trapeze, CrossFit, or anything else that takes your fancy and get outside of your comfort zone.’