Fall Back in Love with Running

This is a bit of a confusing title and one that hopefully made you think “I wonder what Rob is talking about this time?” I’ve had a lot of conversations with people that have fallen out of love with running and they often give reasons that aren’t actually reasons at all.

Do any of these sound familiar to you?

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Common Reasons Why People Quit Running

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Information Overload

“I’ve become a slave to the data, I can’t just go out and run like I used to!”
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If you suddenly feel like every run has to be a PB then delete Strava from your phone or leave your smart watch at home. It’s really a quite simple fix!

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Lack of Improvement

“I’ve stopped enjoying it because everyone is getting better but not me.”

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They’re probably not and you should only really care what you’re doing. Better yet, why not just talk to them and ask them what they’re up to? Variety is the spice of life.

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It’s Boring

“Running has become so boring and I just don’t get excited by it anymore.”

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You’re doing it wrong then, maybe choose a new route? Choose a run that excites and or scares you.

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Successfully Achieving Goals

“What’s the point? I’ve already done my marathon now.”

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That’s great – why stop there? If you don’t want to do another one that’s fine but if you enjoyed the process, you can still keep running.

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Me, Myself and I

“I get so lonely on my runs.”

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Sometimes being alone is peaceful, though if it’s not for you then find a group to run with. If you live somewhere with good reception, why not give a friend or family member a call? Sometimes I’ll chat to myself!

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Doctors Orders

“I suffer from asthma and the doc says I shouldn’t do it.”

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Doctors said the same thing to Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Chris Froome… don’t recognize the names? Have a google.

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Money

“All the kit is so expensive!”

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Then don’t buy expensive kit, get what you can afford.

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Injuries

“I keep getting injured.”

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Running isn’t to blame – any movement can cause injury. Mismanaged running causes injuries, not running itself. With a little care given to how often you run, making sure you have the right technique and some strength training, the worst you should ever suffer is a sprained ankle or the occasional blister.

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A very wise doctor once told me that they’d rather treat a soft tissue injury as opposed to a lifelong case of type 2 diabetes!

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Final Thoughts

This is a little tongue and cheek and also a little bit obvious in terms of the answers. The point I’m trying to get across is running can be intimidating, lonely and sometimes expensive – but it doesn’t have to be.

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You define what running means to you and also what you want to get out of it. When you learn to run your own way, to your own rules – there’s nothing else quite like it.

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Fun - Honesty - SIMPLICITY - Smash Life - Mental Toughness - Hard Work