I’m not going to lie…my training for the upcoming half marathon has been deplorable. Like I’ll be lucky if my long run is 10 miles – aye aye aye.
I’m still sneaking in workouts, but the truth of the matter is that they haven’t been anything near where they should be. For a while after Boston 2 Big Sur, mustering up the energy to run was an arduous battle. My legs felt like lead and my body was simply run down. I lost a bit of my mojo.
At one point, every runner experiences a “mojo loss.” For whatever reason, you’re just not in the game. I thought reading blogs would pick me up, I thought watching movies would give me that extra umph, but the reality was I just needed a break and that is exactly what I did. With my mini hip injury, I told myself it was ok to just take it easy for a bit and only run because you enjoy it – not because you are training to smash a PR.
On the trail outside of my parent’s house in Reno with my brother-in-law, just enjoying the run. And see, Reno isn’t all casinos!
With this extra rest and cut in pressure, I may be a bit more out of shape, but I am beginning to feel rejuvenated and ready to take on summer training. I am running without my Garmin and enjoying the experience, something we all too often lose sight of. Do I think I’ll beat last year’s SF half marathon time or PR? Absolutely not. However, this rest time allowed my body to recover and prepare for my upcoming fall marathon – one in which I intend to smash.
Have you ever lost your running mojo? What do you do to regain it?
Happy Running!
I don’t know If my comment posted or not so ill repeat.
I lost my mojo after long beach which resulted in me not training for back to back marathons which almost in me not completing them but I dug deep and managed to finish. Pushing your body when it is burnt out isn’t fun but it got me through my mojo loss and am happy as ever running again.
Give it time and don’t rush yourself because if you do it could be a lot worse than you bargained for.
XOXO
This always happens to me after big races. I need at least a month off to really want to run again. Don’t push it when you’re just not feeling it, and come back when it sounds like fun again. It looks like you are on the right path already!
I ran Big Sur and then registered for the SF Half. I did this without counting the weeks between the two races. Needless to say, my half marathon training has been less than stellar fighting family vacations, grade 1 calf strains, the stomach flu, and the HEAT. The Central Valley can be infernal.
I’ve just changed my goals for this race. I’m really trying to train through the summer heat. High of 104º today! If I can somewhat consistently train throughout the summer, I’ll consider myself a winner. I’m just going to enjoy SF.
I’ve definitely had that happen. I tend to take some time off – a week or so – and just chill out – run if i I want, don’t if I don’t want to. I don’t force other exercise to compensate either – I just relax. I find that when I get back to it I’m ready again, mentally and physically.
i tend to have a big dropoff after a big race or long season of racing (i’m in it right now). i just try and do things for the enjoyment of doing them, not because a training schedule says so. it sounds like your mind is in the right place, and hopefully the race itself will kick off a renewed motivation to train your butt off for the fall!
This has happened to me, too! After I ran Boston 06, I was feel exhausted. I didn’t really want to run much. My legs felt like lead, and I was dreading my schedule. As a distraction, I got my Pilates certification (and started teaching), and you know…as soon as I was done with training, I suddenly couldn’t wait to run!
I always used to take a week off after the end of my season and focus on cross training so that my body could get a rest without really getting out of shape. After really tough seasons I would take a little longer off. Mostly I just base everything off of how I feel
It will be back soon, be patient and remember, you have one of the biggest days of your life coming up! 🙂 Enjoy it and don’t worry about running…. You always have that!
You have had an action packed 2011 of running, I mean beating your 5K, half marathon and marathon PRs all within a 2.5 month period is awesome. Losing your running mojo is probably just a sign that your body needs a break from the intense training that you’ve been doing this year.
I think this quote sums up that it’s probably good that you’re taking a mini break from intense running – “I told myself it was ok to just take it easy for a bit and only run because you enjoy it – not because you are training to smash a PR.”
Wedding planning also seems to take a ton of time, you are probably just overloaded mentally too with everything going on. (work, wedding planning, running, etc)
Anyways, it wouldn’t surprise me if you beat your SF half PR from last year – you just seem in really good overall shape this year, though beating your outright half marathon PR probably will not happen.
I’ve only lost my running mojo after doing the SF marathon last year, my body and mind needed a break. I got the desire back after about a month off or so, and then I was back at it.
I will say that I’ve lost some of my overall mojo with this injury that I’ve had, I didn’t realize how much being injured can affect someone. I’m feeling a little better now, but injuries are hard to deal with.
I lost my running mojo after my first marathon which was in December which was quickly followed by my busiest time at work. I was undertained, worn out, and just generally very unhappy with everything and didn’t take a running step for a solid month. The thing that finally busted my slump was some sunshine in the first of March when I ran outside (instead of on the dreadmill) and I was like, “Oh yeah…this feels good. This is why I love running.”
i’ve been there, and sometimes taking a break is exactly what is needed to come back fresh and strong!
Perhaps our running mojos are off on an indefinite playdate with each other. Mine’s vanished too. Blah. I think you have an excuse with the wedding coming up, I’m sure it’ll come back shortly. And when it does… tell mine to come home too. Danke. 🙂
For me, I tend to keep running through it. I figure the mojo will come back eventually and best to be in shape to enjoy it. I would probably try running in a new place or maybe some fun speed work to mix things up. I’ve never tried just taking a break which probably gets you itching to run soon enough, too.
This happens to me at least twice a year. The good news is that it will eventually pass. You definitely did the right thing by giving yourself a little break!
On the wedding dress front, I’m so glad it all worked out. I had a similiar scare a few weeks ago. Long story short, my dress was supposed to come in on April 25th but kept getting “held up in customs.” It didn’t come in until May 23rd (June 10th wedding). When I went to go try it on for alterations, it was completely the wrong dress, wrong style, wrong everything. Somehow they were able to find a Septemeber bride in another state who ordered the same dress as me and I took hers and they remade hers. Ugh. I ended up picking up my dress hours before my plane left for our Key West wedding. You can see the pictures at http://atouchofjaime.blogspot.com It all will work out. You will be beautiful and maybe all of that was a blessing in disguise because you now have the right dress! 🙂 can’t wait to see pics of your day!
I’m mojo-less right now! Glad to know I’m not alone. Trying the same approach – running because I like it, not because I feel the need to smash PRs. Also, trying new routes, etc. Sounds like it’s working for you.
Great job listening to your body and taking it easy. Not every race has to be a PR race, and that’s okay! I recently went through a phase where I lost my mojo too, I wasn’t looking forward to my runs or workouts, and my race performances were sub-par. I decided to take 3 weeks ‘break’ where I just ran on the days I felt like it, and rested for the remainder. I’m still taking it easy, but have actually looked forward to my runs and getting out for as many or as little miles as I feel like!
That looks like a GSP! I love those crazy fun bird dogs.
I think sometimes you have to let yourself slack and then after a period of slacking, you want to get back into it. I don’t know that attempting to run more will bring back the mojo.
Mojo will return. During a 16 week training for a half marathon this year, I was getting tired towards the end, and found my pace was slowing down. I went back to some 12K’s, and PR’d. Now, I throw in some shorter races to keep my mojo going. Congrats on the big day coming up. Your blog is inspiring to read. Thank you!
I’ve definitely been there and basically always look towards my mental strength. That’s what always needs the rest. Once that’s dealt with, I always feel rejuvenated. Good luck getting it back!
Girl, I’m so glad you’ve taken the time you needed to rest and take care of your body! You really will rock the race this fall! 🙂