The Return of the Missing Mojo

[Razouski]

Having had a couple of weeks with no desire to run, and a few runs that have been completely meh, I was determined to get out the door this morning and run, even if my mojo was still in hiding.

Thanks to some encouragement from Hidden , Oldfloss , IfIcandoit, SueKen Joy57 , Whatsapp , Mummycav and Mummarunna , I sat down yesterday evening to draw up a plan of attack. “If the mojo won’t come to Razouski, then Razouski must come to the mojo!” was my thinking, especially as I’d looked under my running shoes and in my gym bag several times and been completely unable to find the blessed thing anywhere.

#1 Get my favourite leggings, vest, sports bra and socks hanging on the radiator, so that they would be warm in the morning. ✔

#2 Read through the lovely advice (including my own) on the forum about fining mojos. ✔

#3 Put together a new playlist (with tracks stolen from @jancanrun) and others inspired by the links you find on you tube, making sure I don’t give myself an opportunity to hear any of the tracks, as I’ll have to wait for my run if I want to listen to them. ✔

#4 Drink plenty (only one glass of Prosecco 🍾, then gallons of water… I would have preferred it the other way round 😂 ) ✔

#5 Put running shoes👟👟, belt, headphone, hat, jacket and water bottle by the front door (so I won’t be able to get out of the door unless I am going for a run!) ✔

#6 Decide on a route I haven’t run for a while (I’ll need a short drive, but it will avoid having to look forward to a horrid 1km steep incline for my homeward walk – which is enough to put anyone off) ✔

#7 Charge phone ✔

#8 Set alarm ❌

#9 Early to bed ✔

So with nearly all the points on my plan executed, I drifted off to sleep secure in the knowledge that with or without the errant mojo I would be running.

This morning my failure to execute only one of the points on my campaign plan nearly scuppered my resolve. I had failed to set an alarm, and didn’t get up until quite late. However I decided that, as everything else was in place, I had better just get up, get a move on, get ready, and get out there. And it worked… no faffing… no arguing in my head about missing mojos, and although, Mojo was still nowhere to be seen, I was going out.

I parked my car, and was soon on my way, walking towards the cycle track. Just as the 5 minutes had elapsed the first treat on my playlist came on, I Feel Love (Bronski Beat’s cover of a Donna Summer track). And immediately it did feel so good. The beat was just right to get my legs moving, and I was beginning to think I might be feeling the love of running again. I was on a role and looking forward to the rest of my new playlist.

Next up was The Communards cover of Never Can Say Goodbye, and I decided to dedicate this one to my Mojo…

🎶

I never can say goodbye, no Mo-jo,

Never can say goodbye.

Every time you think you’ve had enough, stops me heading for the door,

Puts a very strange thought in my mind, “I don’t want to run no more”.

It said, “Turn around you fool, you know you love the sofa more.”

Tell me why? My mojo…

I don’t wanna let you go.

Chorus

I never can say goodbye

I never can say goodbye, no Mojo, no Mojo, ooh oh

I never can say goodbye

I never can say goodbye, no Mojo, no Mojo, ooh oh

🎶

I never can say goodbye, no Mo-jo,

Never can say goodbye,

I’ve been thinking running problems soon are all gonna work out,

But without my Mojo with me, there’s been anguish, there’s been doubt.

It’s that uninspired feeling, Mojo, when you’re not with me I pout.

That is why, my Mojo,

I don’t want to let you go.

🎶

And as if by magic, my Mojo made a reappearance, and, with no apology for abandoning me, or explanation of where it had been (so I don't know if it was partying with with your Mojo Ificandoit ) , helped me on my way. It was an out and back route, and before I knew it I had run 7km (including my 5 minute warm up walk) and thought I had better turn back. I wasn’t sure how much of the return route I’d be able to run, but other tracks on my new playlist kept me going (@jancanrun, antet , GingerBohemian I hope you may approve of some - especially the ones I stole from your list Jan), such as:

•Love on Your Side (Thompson Twins)

•Enola Gay (OMD)

•Just Can’t Get Enough (Depeche Mode)

•A Little Respect (Erasure)

•Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (Soft Cell)

•Baby Don’t Cry (INXS)

And the track that kept me going for the last leg was Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, which had my Mojo and me almost dancing back to the car together.

So thank you everyone for your encouragement last week, when I was struggling.

Happy running.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Those blinking Mojos...! I am telling you they hang out with the Gremlins!

Well done you, and what a great post... I love the song!!! You are so like me... I love making up running themed words to go with songs...I did an Ode to my Knees, set to ABBA's Chiquita! Maybe we should put a C25K compilation together!

I am so glad your mojo returned and that your run was a good one...7K, wow..not bad for a gentle run Well done you!

An extra glass of Prosecco sounds in order!

[Razouski in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks, @Oldfloss. I actually ran 13.5km as the 7km was just my turn round point to run back. I was really pleased with that as last week I had struggled with a 5k. 😀

[Hidden]

Brilliant mo jo rediscovery and 13k. Wow that is amazing, so I am shifting my sorry butt out of bed, to see if I can manage a sneaky 5 or 6.... I ought to aim for 13k but my feeble excuse is it would break all the 10% rule.

More than a little respect to you, clearly you didn’t stop until you got enough...

Great run, great report, great lyrics.

[Razouski in reply to Hidden]

😀 Thanks, and thank you for sharing your playlist on your Blog, as it gave me lots of ideas for tracks to include.

[Decker]

Great post and a great run Raz. Glad you were able to get your mojo back!!

[Sarah_lou18 Graduate]

If you happen to come across mine, could you post it back to me please? Haven’t been out in 8 days and can’t be bothered. No idea what’s going on. X

[Razouski in reply to Sarah_lou18]

Mine had been missing for about three weeks, and it was a real effort to get out. Getting myself organised in advanced helped me get out of the door (even though I was sill pretty reluctant), but the change of route and new music really made all the difference. If I see yours lurking in the undergrowth on my next run I will catch it, pack it and send it back to you.

I hope you find yours soon, as it's miserable when they're missing.

[antet Graduate]

Great to hear I’m not the only one to lose mojo. Loving the playlist especially Erasure and INXS 😀

[Razouski in reply to antet]

Thanks, I don’t know why I’d never put these tracks on a running playlist before. 🎧

[Joy57 Graduate]

See - I knew it would come back! 😄

[Razouski in reply to Joy57]

Thanks Joy, it just needed coaxing out of hiding. Fingers crossed for my run tomorrow. 🤞🏽

[Ificandoit Graduate]

Wow! What a difference - I’m hoping my mojo turns up too tomorrow.

[Razouski in reply to Ificandoit]

I hope your mojo has made a reappearance today. 🤞🏽

[Ificandoit Graduate in reply to Razouski]

Absolutely! - I tried to think of new places I could run if I drove further from home but in the end went back to running straight from my back door - haven’t done that for a while and there was my mojo waiting for me! The sun was shining, it was really windy and it felt great!

[Razouski in reply to Ificandoit]

Yehay! You found it, and just hiding behind your back door. Glad you had a good run. Let’s hope our mojos behave for a while. 🤓

[Mummarunna Graduate]

🎉🎉yay!!! Mojo 1 Gremlins 0 🙌🏻xxx