finding your lost mojo

Who knows how it happens.  Perhaps it is a lack of sunshine.  Or too many errands to run.  Or getting off your training schedule and staying up too many nights.  Maybe it is a lack of a motivating goal, or a long stretch between races, or a nagging injury that just won't go away. Whatever it may be, the result is the same - you lose your mojo.

I'm missing mine right now. 

Life is getting in the way of running, which is usually does.  But I also don't have that extra drive to make it happen anyways, and that's what I think running mojo is really all about.

So what's a runner to do?

1. Give yourself space to be in a funk.
I'm taking a few days off to get things done, to wallow in my frustration, and to let the feeling pass.  If I wait long enough, that desire usually starts showing back up after a few days.  If I force it too much, I find that the funk lasts longer and my training suffers more.

2. Think about establishing a new goal.
I am going to get my four stars for Marathon Maniacs on the 4th of July - it just might take me awhile. But for whatever reason, this goal is not motivating me.  Neither is my 50 miler in October. I need to come up with something in the interim that gets me excited about getting out there.

3. Watch some inspirational video.

Every time.  These videos should be my alarm clock.  I'd never miss a run again.

Whew.  Feeling better already.

What techniques do you use when you are having troubles getting motivated to train?