Runner lost my mojo

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

I used to love running, I was never fast but it gave me such a buzz. I did a very slow marathon last year and since then I’ve just lost my love for it. I’ve started caring too much about how fast everyone else is and now haven’t run for months. I was supposed to be doing the same marathon next month but haven’t trained for it so there’s no way that can happen.

I hate the thought of never running again but at the moment equally I hate the thought of running and it actually gives me anxiety.

Any tips to get my mojo back or should I just leave it and see if it comes back on its own?

Do you have strava?

if so get off it 😅

I would think about your ‘why’. Go for a mile in the woods and see how you feel.

Longer you leave it, the harder it will be to come back to running but also, if you hate the idea, it will be difficult but that running love wont appear on its own, you have to make the effort.

A Marathon is daunting, as is the training, why don't you do some Park Runs? join a club?

Tips? enter an event months away, say a 10k or a 1/2, buy some nice kit, shoes etc
Have this as your target... and set goals, realistic ones, say 5k in under xx mins, a long run, do some off road running, run a forest trail, a coastal path... do some x training.

Just re read, if you re getting anxious, try some long walks and have a think about how running used to make you feel and why?

Do you have a friendly club near you? My local one has six training groups based on 5km time (including 40-45 mins) plus a couch to 5km group. So there's a group for everyone, including the really fast guys. Having structure and friendly faces to run with while improving fitness has helped me a lot.

I’d say forget about doing events for now. They add too much pressure. Also remember everyone else has a different body so comparing times is fruitless as you’re essentially using different tools. Put some music on and just go out, no goals or pace in mind. See how you feel.

Sorry, missed out some detail. I am a member of a club, and I’m one of the few people who have never progressed beyond the beginners group. Our local parkrun is too big for me (700+ runners most week) and my run club always publishes the results and im
usually last (before walkers).

This is really petty, but each year we have an award ceremony and I really thought me running a marathon would get some mention but it didn’t, but a runner in a different group got an award for running London marathon. It just got into my head that my marathon was a joke (it did take me over 7 hours due to a combination of factors). And now I’m in my head I’m not sure how to get out of it.

My 5k pb is 34.15 and my husband (who is a qualified runner coach) said he could train me to under 30 minutes but I found the pressure too much. I am neurodiverse and have mental health issues too so stress and pressure are definitely my enemies.

Op stop putting pressure on yourself. I don't belong to a running club. I put my music on go out and run alone and get some peace. (sometimes with my dog) There are always faster runners, who cares! You are out there getting some exercise. The most I've ran is a half and that was hard work. You've ran a marathon so that is really impressive. Start going out again just do a 5k and work up. I have also slacked a bit since my half, the training was a bit full on. I've been going up to 10k but no more. Try and go three times a week to keep the routine up, just take it easy. I can honestly say no one cares apart from you about times. I always love to see other runners and smile or wave most people just appreciate others are putting some work in. For me to really nail down I need to enter an event so I may do a 10 miler further along the road. It will help your mental heath to get back out there I run for those reasons.

I used to run decent distances. An injury stopped me and I thought/was told to forget running ever again.

started again last year. I go to park run every week mostly but I don’t bother with a barcode scan. I’m not as fast as I was and I can’t go as far at the moment, so all pressure from others and myself has been removed. If people ask about times I say I’m just there to enjoy it and I run with my dog now, so can focus on him rather than myself.

I’d be a bit pissed off too if I wasn’t getting much flair from my club and I’d ran a marathon!?? It doesn’t matter how long it took, you did it. Well done.

I’m jumping in as I’m currently injured, and terrified that this might be “it”, what if my mojo isn’t there when i am ok to run again, etc.

The right club can be really positive but your doesn’t sound all that inclusive. In ours there are various different prizes at awards night and slam awards which anyone who has completed the races for example the easiest one is a 5k, 10k, 5 miler and a half marathon in that year would get a mention and a prize. No matter what time they did them in. In practice pretty much everyone got their chance to go up and get a prize. Also the lady who won the club championship isn’t by any means the fastest at all. She’s just consistent and shows up to every race that counts. Also, who posts times from park run?! Ours doesn’t even do that for races. People get a mention if they place but no one is listing people fastest to slowest! All sounds a bit weird to me.

is there another club locally you could try? Or a friend you could get out for some gentle runs with as the weather gets better? A nice trail run on a sunny day is good for the soul and you don’t worry much about pace on the trails.

Bless you, I don't blame you for feeling a bit shit at the moment. They should have acknowledged your marathon 🏅.

I'd get back out there. Take the shallow route, some new kit and a refreshed playlist. I'm not a fan of running but two 5ks a week do me the world of good when I measure it over years.

Thanks all. They are generally a friendly bunch but the beginners group does tend to get a bit…overlooked. For example once they posted out that the other groups were doing a time trial at training and that my group was ‘welcome to join them’. Plus they do a parkrun series over winter and summer which is mainly results based, apart from a couple of ‘guess your time’ runs so basically if you’re not fast you have no chance of winning it.

I’m feeling a bit disillusioned with it. I mean, I didn’t do the marathon for anyone but myself but still…it was a big achievement and it seems to have been forgotten completely now.

Are you quite competitive , it does feel like you want to win and you want recognition,and that’s your primary driver right now and as you’re not getting that you don’t want to do it, as you see it as pointless. You actually sound sullen they’ve forgotten you ran a marathon, like they should be lauding you for it.

so id think why did you love running, can you go out on your own, enjoy it, or will it always be about the recognition and competition for you?

I have a lot of childhood trauma which has resulted in my thinking I have to be perfect to be accepted. It was actually my husband putting pressure on me to get my 5k time below 30 minutes that really put the kybosh on things.

OP, you're putting yourself under too much pressure. Ditch Strava, ditch your run watch, just put on your gear and go. Who cares how fast or slow you are? It's all about the enjoyment and what it does for your mental and physical health. Some people love to challenge themselves, work on improving their PB, whatever, but if you find it ruins your enjoyment of running, ditch the lot. Put on some music or a podcast or an audio book or nothing, if that's what you prefer, and just run.

OP I don’t suppose you have a dog do you…? I do Canicross. It’s far, far more fun (for me!!) running through woods and trails, in and out of puddles especially with my training buddy.
I would say maybe try trail running. It’s a different kettle of fish - speed is not the be all and end all!
additionally, I know instinct would say to rein back on distance etc if you aren’t fast (and you have a decent enough pace for many!!) but if I were you I would look at doing something bigger. Have a nosey at an ultra - I’m doing 60 miles over three days in the Brecon Beacons soon and there are some wonderful ones. Generally you don’t run the whole thing, it’s not about speed for a lot of people but distance and mental strength. And you don’t fuck about with vile gels etc, I fuel on salted cashews, chocolate bars and fruit pastas! 😂 I know many people are pork pie runners.

If it’s not giving you the love, try changing it up. Remember why you love it!

Oh and I would say maybe try- I cannot for the life of me contemplate ditching the watch, I’m a runner who needs to be training for an event to keep me motivated!

And I’ve never done a park run and your running club sounds pants.

You should get into trail running, book yourself into an event in a few months’ time to give yourself some motivation to get back out there. With trail running it’s not really about the times, as everyone is so much slower than they would be on the roads. Plus the terrain is so varied, if it’s an event you haven’t done before then you’ll have no idea what your time is going to be, so you don’t focus on it as much.

I think you’re AMAZING to have run a marathon. Who cares about timings? As others say, just choose a beautiful route & some music you love (if that’s your thing) & take it super-slowly. Hopefully you can rediscover your initial buzz if you keep at it regularly for a few weeks

Your running club sounds rubbish and much too “clubby”. Some are more relaxed, people just getting together for the social and the added benefit of fitness - yours sounds like it’s more competitive.

Just leave it. Run for fun - find your love again in your own way and in your own time!

Im trying to get back into running after a break due to life getting in the way. I’m not fast, more Shetland pony than racehorse, and I’m an antisocial runner! Stick my earbuds in and off I go, trotting along solo just enjoying the nature, the dog walkers, the weather, feeling the sun or rain on my face. I’ve run a solo half marathon (a long time ago) and was so proud of myself.

I can only manage about 3-5 miles currently but every time I run I think well I’m not on the sofa. And no one cares how fast I am and what I look like. Park Run is my idea of hell - did one once and never again, it was far too peopley!

I really empathise with you - my running mojo is something that has come and gone over the years. I have twice tried joining running groups but it never works out for me.

Recently I’ve been using the Nike Run Club app which is free and has loads of guided runs. You can do a plan but you can equally just do a one off run. The shortest one is a one minute run which is actually great fun 😃 I like having a voice in my ear and the encouragement is great.

I am almost certainly neurodiverse and have recently found out that having pressure of any kind of targets really has a bad effect on me. I find it difficult that a couple of years ago I could run much quicker….but I was also in a worse state mentally. I enjoy the feeling when I’ve done a run and also sometimes during the run and I’m trying to enjoy those things.

Oh my god, the pace police can pi$$ off! Running is incredible, whatever pace. I am 40, fat and slow and my 5K PB is 34 minutes too. I would never join a club. I started running last year and I did couch to 5K and hated it. Then I heard about “jeffing” which is run - walk - run and I have managed to build myself up to half marathon by doing 45 seconds running, 30
seconds walking and my pace is faster than when I’m running continuously and I don’t feel
absolutely dreadful but I get all the endorphins and
cardiovascular benefits. I did 20km last night doing that. It took me 2.5 hours but the pressure to go fast really destroys my enjoyment of it and my heart rate is in zone 3/4. Everything has improved! I’ve lost weight, improved my V02 max and my testing heart rate better. I use his app and he tells me when to run. Try a 5km distance doing 30 seconds running, 30 seconds walking and see whether you enjoy it! Go for it!

Why did you start running in the first place OP? Before Strava and run clubs and marathons? What made you put the trainers on?

When I feel like this I try:

Telling myself I’ll just do the short loop (2.5 miles) then come home. I invariably get into the groove and do longer!

Look at the album back catalogue and put something on from my youth and listen to the whole thing whilst running.

Ditto a musical or film soundtrack I love.

Sometimes a half hour comedy podcast.

I also love a version of interval training but using music. Basically walk or slow jog the verse then run / sprint the chorus. Great fun!

In short: same as everyone else - scrap the times and just run for running’s sake