Running mojo

[LaughingM]

Hoping for some ideas or inspiration to find my running mojo again. Been running for years but I'm not feeling the same love for it at the moment. I'm just about pushing myself out the door for a 5k once or twice a week but I'd love to build that up again - long Sunday runs were always my favourite previously when I've trained for things in the past.

I think the lack of races means I don't have a goal or hold myself accountable! Has anyone found virtual races help with that? Or found any other tips and tricks to push themselves a bit more?

Can you try any new routes or different types of runs? Haven’t tried a virtual race but I do find it easier to run with a goal to aim for. So maybe could you set a goal of running a certain distance one day and pick a nice route to do it, maybe a route that is usually a race? Or challenge yourself to get a on? Or maybe do a charity challenge; there are a few asking you to run a certain number of miles. Or a reward of new kit?!
It is tough just now, I am doing a lot of steady runs and trying to go somewhere new - not easy when you live in a little town!

Try a run logging tool like Strava or Runkeeper. Might help to see your distance increase or the number of runs you do...

I use Strava and sign up to the monthly goals - its getting addictive to get to 100K in a month or do X minutes of exercise in so many days. There are all sorts of challenges to sign up to.

I have also found some virtual team running challenges (Greener Miles on facebook organises some - and they have some "odds & sods" teams as well as the running clubs)

Do you have anyone you can run with? Even if its someone slower - you can do some out and back sprints to work on your speed while they jog along? I have been the trainee and the trainer in that scenario and it's been useful both ways.

We were struggling for a while but virtual races help a bit. DH and I are racing JohnOGroats to Lands End which is getting competitive. We all ran Manchester marathon virtually and DH and DS had a fiercely competitive 10k race earlier in the week.

I've set up a running challenge grid in my running journal for lots of different running distances, weather, environment, things to spot to help me try to keep it varied.

I've managed two races this autumn, but even that's been tempered by things like the county going into tier 2 and not being confident that it was going ahead until a couple of days before.

Trail races are being more sucessful at going ahead, especially if they have a single land owner.

Thanks everyone.

I like the idea of making a grid or list of different challenges (distance/ speed / weather/ terrain) to work through. And maybe once I've got my miles back up a bit I can look for a monthly challenge.

Maybe I might also "need" new trainers...

Virtual challenges, making goals with friends, running with another person, making yourself accountable to someone.