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I’ve run 15 miles this week. All at once, late at night. That’s it.
I just haven’t been able to get my butt up and out in the morning. There have been excuses – Tuesday morning’s 13-miler I skipped because I was recovering from Sunday’s half-marathon race. Yesterday’s 5-mile recover run I skipped because I had run 15 miles late the night before and then I ran out of time later in the day. Then I couldn’t get out of bed for this morning’s 10-miler because, well, because I had a headache and was tired. Really? A headache? and because I was tired?
Where has my mojo gone?
When the alarm went off at 4AM this morning, I rolled over and went back to sleep. I dreamed about the Around the Lake Marathon coming at the end of July. But the dream wasn’t about excitement. No, despite the race being almost 2 months away, I dreamed that it was 10 days away and I was telling myself I needed to be tapering and NOT running the 10-miler I missed this morning. What the Hell does that mean?
Motivation is low and I don’t know why. I can’t even get the Run To Remember race report done (and I love writing race reports).
Dude, where is my mojo?
Maybe it’s the change of seasons. Maybe it’s the other crap going on in every day life that is starting to creep in. Maybe it’s the R-Un-Apture? Maybe I just need to run it out. Whatever the reason and solution, if you see my mojo in your travels, please tell it it is missed and needs to come home. I miss my morning runs.
Have a great weekend everyone. Whether you are racing or training, run strong and run happy.
Run Luau Run 
Dude do I have to pull the Brooke card? Ya know what I mean, when you don’t FEEL like doing “IT”, you think of Brooke, or in my case Aidan, and get it done. Come on now I will pull the card, if need be…….
🙂
I am so glad to see that someone else is feeling this way! My friend and I have scrapped some longer runs and had some overall discussions about how we’ve been feeling the runner’s burnout. I was telling her that you are running this ridiculous program having you run these CRAZY miles and that I don’t understand HOW you’re motivated to go out for 12’s every morning!!!
I can also tell you that our conversations have bounced between taking some time off, maybe stepping off the marathon…running a different plan…or maybe we’re just lazy!!! But maybe we’ve just lost our mojo too!! Yeek. if you happen to find your running motivation let us know we’ve got a race June 18th! so….. hopefully we can pull it out!
I will let you know when I track my mojo down. In the meantime, I’m just gonna keep running wherever I can squeeze it in. Good luck on your June 18th race. What are you running?
Your mojo is un a different un-run road. Try out some new trails, explore new neighborhoods and routes. You’ll find it.
Thanks Cuz!
*on
Adam stopping his running streak and you not getting out of bed for a run — it MUST be the end of the world.
You are so blessed with a body that can run Luau and the only thing standing between you and your morning runs is attitude. I’m glad to know you are human (and I’m sure Jess is too ‘cuz she always chides you about your stamina and your incredibly positive attitude) but let’s get that Luau mojo back. To quote Wayne Dyer – “Excuses be Gone.” There is always a fine line between listening to our bodies and honoring what they are telling us and knowing when what they are telling us is bull crap.
Your “If you are new to running” sidebar just jumped out at me – Here’s the Pitch – You can Do It! Join the Party PERSIST — sometimes we need to remember what we share with others.
Are you cross training by the way because that is just as important as the runs.
Get in another yoga class, stretch, open up and let go of the ‘crap’ and make room for the joy. Run it out. Run angry – it’s better than no run at all – run any way you choose to run but I have a hunch that mojo is sitting right on the grass on Heartbreak Hill. That’s where I found a Helen Keller quarter during a Boston Marathon training run stuck in a crevice. Now that should give you some motivation to get out there and reclaim your mojo.
Love you Luau – M.
Thanks Mary! I think that I will take this Sunday’s long run up Heartbreak to see if it’s still there! Thanks for the reminder to heed my own advice. ❤
We all go through phases like this during training. I went through a rough patch in February. My coach put it in perspective for me by telling me to listen to my body because it obviously needed a break as I had been training CONSTANTLY for 6 months by that point. Look at it as your “mini-taper” before the your serious, high mileage training begins. Enjoy the rest, heal a bit, and re-focus for your upcoming effort. We’re all behind you bro!
thank you my brother!
I feel your frustration. Today is the first day of summer vacation. No lunches to make. No bus stop to hit. I could have made the coffee and been out the door for 2 hours. What did I do? Nothing but goof around on the computer. What a waste of a beautiful morning. Of course we both did write something. A little mental exercise is good some times.
The mental exercise makes us better and more well-rounded, right?
https://runluaurun.com/2011/05/13/the-price/
point taken!
Be patient. Your Mojo will return. Sometimes the body tells us a long rest is in order. When you’re ready to really hit the road again, the excitement of trying some new training routine or new routes will creep into your head and BAM! – you’ll look forward to the 4AM alarm…well, maybe you won’t look forward to the 4am alarm but once you get up and out, you’ll have a good time 🙂
You know, it’s funny, I actually did look forward to those 4AM alarms, so hopefully that will return as well. Thanks for the support Joanne!
You know, lack of energy and motivation are signs of overtraining… considering how disciplined you usually are my bet is that is your problem. Take a few days off and don’t feel guilty about it! When your mojo comes back all on its own you will know you are recovered and ready to go 🙂
RunnersWorld article about over training, it talks about the emotional and motivation side effects as well as physical —-> http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7120,s6-238-267–12200-0,00.html
Jennefer –
That has actually crossed my mind, and in fact I saw a lot of what was in the article in my personal life over the last few weeks. It’s funny, last week, almost instinctually I decided to rest instead of run on a couple of Recovery Run days thinking, “if it’s supposed to be Recovery, let’s let the legs really recover.” I am going to try to incorporate more rest days into my training schedule. Hopefully that will help.
Thanks,
Luau
Matt – just stopping by and saw your post. I’m just now pulling my head out of a 4-week period where I just couldn’t tap into my “mojo”.
It will return as mysteriously as it has gone into hiding, sometimes I think our bodies and minds know what is better for us than the schedule taped to the refrigerator.
Take it day by day and do what feels right for a week or so. You’ll get it back Matt, no doubt about it.
Hang tough.
I’ve been lurking over at your blog and remember reading about how things just didn’t seem “right” for you lately. I’m glad to hear that you are coming out of it.
By the way, you’ve been racing very well!!!
I concur with the other recent replies. You’ve been hitting it hard for a while. Body’s probably just asking for a break. You’ll be back.
hate it when the mojo runs away from us! It will be back soon, i promise! Get some good sleep and try looking for it the morning after!