Lost motivation to run

Why don't you get in to ultras?

How bad do you want it? Whatever it is that you want I mean.

[quote]Ho-Hum wrote:

My running has taken a dramatic dip since July. I met my current GF in July and we have been seeing a lot of each other ever since. Things are going very well! I started running back in 2004 (never ran in HS or college). I have slowly worked my way up to the marathon, with my fastest time being 2:49 and ran the Boston Marathon last year in 2:52. I miss running but feel like I'm basically starting over again. When I go out for a run now it's hard to believe I ran a marathon in 2:49 at one time. I'm having a hard time letting running go. I feel that just putting in 4 or 5 miles a day is not worth it, but that is what I'm doing now to keep some level of fitness. I hate lifting weights! I've thought about cycling as that might be a new challenge. Anybody experience something similar? I guess I'm addicted to running and having withdraw symptoms![/quote

Get a f***ing coach, you slow ass jogger

There is nothing wrong with doing 4 or 5 miles a day. If it makes you feel good there is no reason not to do it.

You could try throwing in some quality, maybe do a shorter race like a road mile or a 1500 in an all-comers track meet. Even a 5k. You might find this more fun than running a marathon. Or you might not.

But what the hell? Try different things! Experiment! Have a good time! Just run baby!

your not alone, plenty have gone through this before. the only thing that you really can do is give up running and anything, literally anything, running related up. even if its wearing a pair of running shoes as walk arounds, stop. now when i say "give up" i dont mean forever. just stop running, stop looking at running websits, dont even think about running, stop doing anything that reminds you of running for like a week, 2 weeks, a month if needed.

while your in your "cleansing" process, do whatever your heart desires (excpet run!) and eat whatever you want. of course you can still go to the gym but just dont do anything running related.

after youve gotten ur head cleared and havent thought of even putting on a pair of running shorts then you can start running again.

i know this sounds a bit odd but trust me, it works. i went through the same slump a few months ago and did this, got all my motivation back and felt better than i did before. you just need a brake, thats all. you made running too routineish and it became just another thing you did. getting into a running club or getting a coach or partner too will help you out as well.

watch this and tell me you're not motivated to put on some running shoes and go out the door.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkBOI4lNfYs

Losing motivation is a completely normal, albeit disappointing, aspect of every training phase. Others may disagree, giving it the derogatory label, "amotivational syndrome," but this is hyperbole. Lack of motivation is completely normal.

Now where did I leave that bong...

4 or 5 miles a day is much better than marathon training.

Even 3 miles a day is still optimal amount of exercise. If you are a bigger guy then 2000kcal is not even 3 miles per day.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Exercise_your_right_to_health.htm

Now if you'd just lose your motivation for posting mind numbing dribble on a running website we would all be happy.

Definitely know how you feel. It seems reasonable to have different priorites at different stages in your life. I used to never miss a day of running no matter what - now I skip days all the time and fortunately no longer feel guilty about it. My job and family are my priorities and running is a distant third. I have no motivation whatsoever to train and race but do like to still run some so I try to be realistic about how much running I can and want to do. I try to run 3-4 days a week and if some days the run is only 2 miles so be it. For me at least, if I don't have motivation to run I don't have motivation to do other exercise so I'd think twice before dropping a big chuck of change on a bike - I've got a home gym I'm trying to sell on craigslist to prove it.

Get drunk, usually gets you back on track

Very punny.

random runner12345 wrote:

4 or 5 miles a day is much better than marathon training.

Even 3 miles a day is still optimal amount of exercise. If you are a bigger guy then 2000kcal is not even 3 miles per day.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Exercise_your_right_to_health.htm

Yer dumb.

Ho-Hum wrote:

I guess I'm addicted to running and having withdraw symptoms!

It sounds like just the opposite of being addicted to running. You would still be running if you were addicted. You have chosen your girlfriend over running and there is nothing wrong with that, but if you were truly addicted you wouldn't do that.

Wait till the gf dumps you.. that always does the trick

Your post was a several years ago, but maybe my reply will still help someone...

After 5 years of consistent running, and many successful races, my wife and I both lost motivation to run this last Summer. No idea why since we both enjoy it.

To help us out, I decided to make a YouTube video to motivate us.

Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDW8oASIUAo

Putting it together started getting me excited to run again. Perhaps you could try doing the same thing. I'm Looking forward to next year now.

Hope this helps you.