Finding Motivation
Lately, I’ve been realizing that the hardest part of running isn’t the miles—it’s just getting started. And honestly, the second hardest part is actually convincing myself to do the run once I’m “ready.” Over the past few weeks, I’ve gotten really good at making excuses.
When I signed up for the Disney Wine and Dine 10K, I truly thought that committing to a race would flip a switch and suddenly make me motivated again. Instead, I kept finding reasons to put it off. First, it was the cold. I live in Florida, so yes, I know it’s not that cold—but for a Floridian, it feels brutal. Then it was the heat, even though I’ve absolutely run in worse conditions before. After that, grad school applications became the excuse. Then it was not having enough time to shower before work. One excuse just stacked neatly on top of the next.
Some days, I’ll even sit in my car at my usual spot and scroll on my phone instead of getting out. The amount of mental energy it takes just to open the door feels overwhelming. I keep telling myself I’m trying—but if I’m being honest, I know I’m not trying hard enough.
So I’m switching things up. I’ve decided I need smaller races along the way—something to keep me accountable and give me that external push. Planning a 5K or two each month feels more manageable, and once I’m signed up, there’s really no backing out. I don’t want to lose the momentum completely.
I’ve also noticed that instead of running, I’ve been shopping. I keep thinking a new piece of gear will be the thing that fixes everything. A vest sounds tempting because my pockets barely hold my keys, phone, and wallet. I just bought sunglasses because the sun has been intense, but since I wear glasses, that opens up a whole new debate about contacts. At some point, I need to stop buying motivation and actually use what I already have.
Right now, I’m leaning toward signing up for my company’s corporate 5K at the end of the month. Having a race on the calendar might be the push I need to finally lace up and get moving again.
For those of you who’ve been here before—what helps you get out of a running slump like this? What actually gets you out the door when motivation feels nonexistent?
