I’ve lost my mojo ☹️

[Emsworth19]

I need some inspiration. My last run was 11 days ago and I just can’t seem to gather enough enthusiasm to get out and do a run at the moment! I wake up and think right, today but then I have a coffee and think nah, maybe tomorrow! Please someone, give me a kick up the bum! I was doing so well, got up to 6k in 39 mins (I graduated in June) I don’t know what’s happened, but my energy has slumped and I’ve lost my mojo ☹️

[Buddy34 Graduate]

What about trying a new route or some new music to listen to. It's really just a case of putting your running gear on and getting out the front door. Do you remember how good it feels to run and the amazing feeling after a run . Go out now and come back and tell is you did it 😊😊

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Why did you start in the first place?

Have those reasons disappeared?

Are you are at a peak of physical fitness, should some critical illness strike out of the blue?

Go and run somewhere new, beautiful and exciting for your senses, forgetting about pace and distance covered.

Run for fun.

Run because you can.

[Mumpark Graduate]

Oh no this is exactly what happened to me yesterday .I have been running for 10 years this is the first time I got up yesterday and felt like I didn’t want to go for a run I was intending to do 14K.

I thought to myself I don’t want to go but pushed myself out of the door I was running but very half heartedly then I ran to the gate at the opposite side of the park about 1 and a half k.

I stopped and thought I can’t do this it has never happened before.

I walked home and had a cry.

Later on I told my husband and daughter They both suggested I need motivation my daughter is doing a 10K next month and is now trying to persuade me to join her but I don’t know if I can.

Hope you feel better about your running soon

Hope I do.

[Bagpuss72 Graduate]

I have trouble with motivation sometimes, too - especially as I'm not a 'morning' person, at all! It is very easy to make up excuses not to go!!

Like Buddy34 said, it really is just a case of putting on your running gear and just going! Do you have a family event or occasion you can use to motivate yourself? Or sign yourself up for a ParkRun/charity event in a couple of months time so you have a reason to get back to running? It might help if you have a goal like this to work towards?

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

How about trying a change of pace? I’m a huge fan of the Japanese slow jogging technique because it makes the running pleasurable while you’re doing it.

Pop on a podcast or audio book (I like the Feel Better Live More podcasts while running as many are quite long, full of interesting and positive advice), and then just putter along nice and slowly enjoying some beautiful surroundings. You’re running so slowly you can take everything in. And this is a fantastic way of building strength and stamina - so all worthwhile!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...(Not working as expected?)

There’s more to it than just being slow, the landing and short stride are the key parts to it.

Hope this helps to get your mojo back!

[Emsworth19 Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner]

Hello DiscoRunner! Thanks for your advice, I used the Japanese slow running technique today, I have done it before but then I felt like I wanted to run faster. I managed 6k easily, really enjoyed it too and I wasn’t worried about time. I had a couple of little fast bursts in there but overall, the slow jogging helped me today 😁

[DiscoRunner Graduate in reply to Emsworth19]

I’m so glad! It’s a lovely meditative pace, I find I can also enjoy connecting to my new running body and just enjoy the physical sensations of being strong and fitter again x

[davelinks Graduate]

You need motivation, a purpose like others have said, how about doing Parkrun? and entering a race and training for that? Yes, and why you run? to help keep fit and healthy.

[Emsworth19 Graduate]

Thanks for all your comments, I went out for a jog yesterday, did 30 mins, walked a few times as my legs were hurting but took it slowly. We have a lords mayor 5k race next month, thinking of entering it so I have a goal. Mojo is returning 🥳

[Mumpark Graduate]

So glad to hear it.

I am feeling much better as well Mojo might be returning.

I have started to do build up to 10K again seems strange that I was running 14K 2 weeks ago but I did manage 4 today and I can’t believe it myself after Monday but I’ve signed up to the Leigh on sea 10K that my daughter is doing.

I know I really can’t give up after all the years I have been running.

[Emsworth19 Graduate in reply to Mumpark]

Guess everyone has blips now and again. Glad you’re feeling it again though! I did 6k today, really enjoyed it, much slower than my usual pace but feel like I’m getting back into it. My knees are aching now though 😆 Goos luck with your 10k, you can do it!

[GreenLizard Graduate]

Hi Emsworth have you found your mojo? My goes wandering but comes back when called. Try whistling for it? 🙂

[Emsworth19 Graduate in reply to GreenLizard]

Haha, that made me smile! Yes, it returned today, managed 6k, let’s hope it sticks around this time!

[limberlou Graduate]

I know how you feel. I have been running really well this summer and finally got to run 21k in aug 26th. Since then I had a week off then only managed a short run of 1k on 30th and 3k on the 1st sept. Just cannot make myself go out there. The first week I blamed going back to work part time ( I retired March 2018) and I’ve not been sleeping well. But this week I just keep making excuses.

I was going to run this morning and set my alarm, but then woke with a banging headache and have felt as though I’m hungover all day. So have just chilled and crocheted with my cats.

But now I have eaten a good dinner and had a rest to let it go down and and I’m well hydrated so I’m going for a quick trot before I make up my clean bed, have a shower and an early night. I deliberately didn’t wash my hair this morning when I showered after I stripped my bed( I always wash it after a run) and hate getting into clean sheets and pillowcases unless my hair and me is squeaky clean to. So now I have to go and run. No excuse.

[Habley Graduate]

Me too. I have completely lost my mojo in the past week. I was loving running 3 x a week and now I haven’t run since Saturday because I just can’t get in the right frame of mind 😔

[Emsworth19 Graduate in reply to Habley]

I hear ya. It’ll come back, set your running gear out the night before and go when you can, you’ll be glad you did, and if it’s not a great run, the next one will be. I took it much slower today, I’m a bit obsessed with time and distance, but I enjoyed it much more, going to run slower for a bit and build up some stamina and distance and work on speed much later. Good luck

[backintime Graduate]

I think the dark mornings aren't helping. I find the lack of light depressing.

[Emsworth19 Graduate in reply to backintime]

Running in the winter is definitely going to be harder 🤨

[limberlou Graduate]

And I’ve just got back from my run!!! Reading your post gave me a shove in the right direction and off I went instead of talking myself out of it again. Only went out for 30 mins run and still had to walk for a minute 4 or 5 times ( I set off too fast) but I got 3 new PBs even with walking so NEXT run Sunday morning and a long walk planned foraging with my son tomorrow - weather permitting.

[Emsworth19 Graduate in reply to limberlou]

That’s great, glad my post helped you, we all help each other on here. Good luck with your Sunday run.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Hey Emsworth19 ...dont be disheartened, I think most of us on here have lost our mojo at some point or another...I def have and i had my friends on here searching for it while they were out and about and i kept reading their posts about their runs and slowly but surely my mojo returned....how about not having that coffee??? How about getting your kit on first thing and just going?? Make sure everythings ready so you can just set off. Dont think about it too much...and it doesnt have to be a particular distance...just run and finish when you're still feeling good instead of aiming for 5k and not quite making it coz that will not help...set out to maybe do 1.5k...if you feel ok by the end, run a bit further but still have some in the tank?? And always remember that any run is better than no run at all...I think you're over thinking it a bit, sometimes you just have to get up and go, no coffee, no faffing

[Emsworth19 Graduate in reply to Mummycav]

Haha, I like it, no coffee, no faffing! You’re so right, a few times in the summer when it was really hot I’d get up at 6.30am and went straight out without a coffee first, I can do that 😆 My next run is Monday and I’m looking forward to it, think now my boys have gone back to school it’s easier, getting back in the old routine.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate in reply to Emsworth19]

Absolutely....there’s a lot to be said for routine...I’m the same, everyone back to school, me back to morning running...keep at it Emsworth19 , you’ll learn to love it again