Vickie Leff

 

It happens to all of us: We start on a routine and suddenly we are stuck – no motivation, no progress, no interest. Sometimes being stuck leads to giving up, other times it brings our enthusiasm down, and it always brings our energy down. There are some easy, quick fixes to being stuck. Try these solutions before you get both feet stuck in that mud.

 

First you need to take a moment to figure out why you are stuck. This will direct your attention to the best solution. Here is a list of the possibilities, and you may need to add your own:

  • You are bored with the same run over and over
  • You are not making the kind of progress you thought you would
  • You feel like you are moving backward in your goal
  • You don’t have a short- or long-term goal for running
  • Your runs feel labored 
  • You’re not having fun
  • You dread every run

Perhaps you are experiencing several of these problems, hopefully not all of them! Well, you are in good company; I’ve yet to meet a runner who doesn’t go through these “stuck” periods. The good news is that you can easily get unstuck and re-vitalize your runs.

 

There are three ways to revitalize your runs. Using these quick-fix methods, you can be out on your run, enjoying yourself again in no time. The most important thing that needs to change is your experience of success. If you don’t feel successful from your run, chances are you will get bored, stop running, or not invest as much and stay stuck.

 

The first fix involves setting a new, very short–term goal for yourself. Using time or distance (doesn’t matter), pick a number that you KNOW you can accomplish – no matter how short! For instance, I am in the middle of marathon training and recently got a bad summer cold. I ran 13 last weekend, now can barely run four miles. I am very frustrated and unhappy. My NEW goal: Run 2.5 miles for a few days. This is substantially different from what my training says to do, but I need to experience a good solid run and feel success. It’s a short-term, immediate fix that will help get me back on track.
The second fix is to revisit your long–term goals. Do you have a goal in mind as you run? Are you training for a race, a 5k, 10k? If you don’t  have a goal, get one! It will help keep you focused and excited. Pick something you will enjoy and that is realistic. If you have a goal already and you are feeling stuck, you will need to re-think that goal. Sometimes life gets in the way and you need to change your goal. Be honest in your self-assessment. Tell everyone what your new or revised goal is – being accountable to others will keep you on track and add excitement.

 

The third fix strategy has to do with mixing things up. Find a new running trail, buy a new pair of fun shorts, log your miles using a Garmin or FitBit, load totally new songs onto your iPod. Choose something that is fun and different to break up and change your routine. Doing the same thing over and over again can contribute to being stuck or bored. Changing just a few small things will inevitably change your attitude and approach to your runs.

 

The other day I combined the first and third strategy – defining an immediate, attainable goal of shorter mileage, and wearing a new running shirt I had recently bought. Mission accomplished. I finished my 2.5-mile run feeling good and loved wearing my new shirt. It helped to clear out some of the cobwebs and gave me that “I’m really glad I run” smile again.

 

Don’t stay stuck. Running should, for the most part, be enjoyable. It brings so many positive things into our lives, so don’t let it weigh you down. And finally, don’t be ashamed or embarrassed by getting stuck. The “running police” are not coming for you. It happens to everyone; it will happen to you more than once. Use these quick-fix strategies to get out of the mud and onto the road again!

 

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Vickie Rance Leff, LCSW, CCM, is the mother of two children, ages 18 and 16. She is the author of “RunnerMom: On The Go,” which is available on amazon.com. At 44 she ran her first marathon (Camp Lejeune Marathon) and won her age division because she was the only one IN her age division. She has also completed the 2002 Chicago Marathon; the 2002 New York Marathon; the 2003 and 2005 Boston Marathon; the Marine Corp Marathon 2011; and is in training for her second New York Marathon, 2012. She’s a back-of-the-pack runner who never comes in last. Visit her website at www.runnermom.com.