I love to run. If my body and mind (and some days my stomach) would let me, I'd run everyday. I love the feeling you get when you finish, I love the mental strength you have to have when you're pushing through a long run and I just love the way I feel.
With that said, we all know what it's like to be in a rut. You know what I'm talking about..that period of time when your brain, body and soul are talking different languages which leaves you in the middle just trying to get motivated enough to do something, ANYTHING to get active. Sometimes it happens after you've just completed a major goal and sometimes it just happens.
Coming out of a Rut can be difficult. It can take a day or it can take weeks or even months. There are so many ways you can try to force yourself out of it. Here are some of the ways I always try:
1. Active Rest - Do anything BUT run for a few days or even a week (sounds scary I know). Bex talked about putting herself on a Gym Diet. Same basic thing. What happens when you deprive yourself of something? You want it worse right?!
2. Mix up your runs - Distances, speeds, the people you run with, or the location. Anything to "spice' things up can help. It's the old married couple syndrome. "It's just not exciting anymore". Well, make it exciting!
3. Set a new goal - If you're coming off a major goal, give yourself a week, and then set a secondary goal. Maybe it's to get a little faster or to run in a fun run (warrior dash, pretty muddy, etc). Whatever it is, sometimes it can feel like you've just jumped off the high dive into the deep end and have no where to go. Setting that secondary goal is like having someone on the side of the pool, directing you over.
4. Reflect - sometimes you just have to figure out what's causing it. At work we call it "Root Cause Analysis". A big term which basically just means, try to figure out why. Maybe there has been a life event that has you down or work is really stressful or something. Figuring out what that is and working to resolve it could mean a clear conscious. Maybe try some meditation.
5. New Stuff - Ok, I know, sounds superficial and it could probably be classified under #2 but for me, it is sometimes a way to get amped about running again. A new pair of shoes, shirt, shorts, gadget..whatever it is, just being able to try something new out might be just the thing you need.
So those are my recommendations for breaking out. So my questions for you are...Do you ever find yourself in a rut? Am I the only one? :) How do you breakout?
OH...and make sure you head over to the Endorphin Warrior Giveaway post to see if you're a winner!
Timely post! Having just finished Tough Mudder, I'm in the weeks after... when energy is low and I don't really know what to do next.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, what is there after Tough Mudder?
Same here girl, I signed up for a half just to have a new goal to work towards, but I'm not anywhere near as motivated!
DeleteThese are great suggestions. I was in a rut with running after I ran Boston...I actually took a full year off from running which is very extreme I know but I started up with spinning again and then got pregnant. Let's just say I was more than ready to lace up my sneakers again!!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! The 2 things that always get me out of my running rut are signing up for a new race. Training plans always keep me focused. I also have found new sports to focus on just to get a break from running. That's where I found aerial yoga, barre and spinning.
ReplyDeletenew stuff from tunes to SOCKS really really help me as well.
ReplyDeletei love your advice and ideas!! those are great tips, because i think we all find ourselves in ruts from time to time! spa love!
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I rarely find myself in a rut. But I think that's because I go the preventative route--after a big event like a marathon, I take my downtime. I think that when you keep pushing when you should be taking it easy, you get to a physical and mental point of burnout.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! SPA love
ReplyDeleteI really love these suggestions, I think most of us find ourselves in a rut at some point in time.
ReplyDeleteChanging things up helps so much!
ReplyDeleteMy workouts change with the seasons. Like summertime is when I spend most of my time outside cycling (usually training for something) and then Fall and winter I head back into the gym to focus on weight lifting. I actually look forward to the changes now.
Agh I so needed this! And you're totally right about the whole "wanting it more". You always want what you can't have!
ReplyDeleteTotally in a rut right now. Now that I don't have physical therapy and I finished JCORE, I'm left to my own devices and not sure what I should focus on. So I'm not really doing much of anything (plus being sick doesn't help). I'm such a planner that if I don't have a goal, schedule or something that I'm working towards, it's hard for me. Thanks for this.
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