Hey, can we just drop the act for a second?
Because I know what it’s like to wake up, lace up, and wonder...
“Why does this feel like a chore now?”
You’re still doing all the things—logging miles, hitting your workouts, ticking the boxes.
But something’s missing. The spark. The aliveness. The “hell yes” that used to live in your body when you ran.
And I just want to say this:
You’re not broken. You’re just not listening to the part of you that started all this.
The Moment Joy Starts to Slip (And You Don’t Even Notice)
It doesn’t always come crashing down.
It’s subtle.
Maybe your runs start to feel more like proving than playing.
Maybe the watch becomes the boss.
Maybe you’ve stopped asking yourself what you actually want from this season of life and training.
And let’s be honest—most of the advice out there says, “Just rest!” or “Grind harder!”
No. We’re not doing that here. You don’t need to blow it all up or push through the funk.
You just need to pause. Look around. Ask better questions.
Why Joy Disappears (And What’s Really Underneath It)
Let’s call it out:
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You’re chasing performance, not presence.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to get faster, stronger, better. But if you’re disconnected from the feeling of running, those goals start to feel hollow. -
You’re using someone else’s version of success.
Maybe it’s your past self. Maybe it’s what Instagram says is “good.” But it’s not coming from you anymore. -
You’ve stopped checking in with your actual self.
You’re executing—but you’re not connecting. That’s a slow erosion. And it sucks the fun out of everything.
Here’s How You Get the Spark Back (Without Ditching Your Structure)
I’m not here to tell you to stop training.
I’m here to help you bring meaning back into your training.
Here’s what I want you to try:
1. Turn Your Workouts Into Invitations
Keep the session, just change the tone.
“Run 4 miles at tempo” becomes:
“Explore what power feels like in your body today.”
See what happens when you soften the command and add a little curiosity. You’re not slacking—you’re opening up.
2. Add a Wild Card Run
Once a week, make space for a run with zero rules.
No paces, no route plan, no expectations. Just... move. Explore. Dance around puddles if you want to.
Think of it as recess for your nervous system.
3. Track What You Feel—Not Just What You Did
Your logbook shouldn’t read like a tax form.
Start noting what mood you’re in before and after.
Ask: Did this run leave me better than it found me?
4. Set a Joy-Based Monthly Goal
This month, your mission could be as simple as:
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“Run three sunrise miles.”
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“Find a new trail.”
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“Run in a playlist-free silence and notice everything.”
Progress can still live inside those goals.
5. Start Every Run With ‘Today, I Run For…’
Fill in the blank.
Today I run for peace.
Today I run for 17-year-old me.
Today I run for the sheer joy of being able to run.
Let that reason change. Let it evolve with you. That’s where the fire lives.
And If You Have a Coach… Don’t Go Quiet
Here’s something I see too often:
An athlete loses joy, feels off, starts spiraling—and instead of looping their coach in, they go silent or ghost the plan completely.
I get it. It can feel awkward to admit things aren’t vibing. You might worry it’ll disappoint them or make you look like you’re not trying hard enough.
But listen—your coach can’t adapt to what they don’t know.
They want to help. But they need access to your reality, not just your pace data.
Try saying this:
“I’m struggling to connect with my training lately, and I think I need to realign with what originally lit me up. Can we adjust the plan so it still supports my goals but gives me space to explore what feels good again?”
You’re not asking for less—you're asking for better. More aligned. More human. And if your coach is any good, they’ll thank you for your honesty.
Some ways to co-create a joyful comeback:
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Add one “free run” each week that’s just for you
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Focus on effort, mood, or movement quality instead of metrics
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Use your check-ins to talk about what emotionally landed—not just what got done
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Ask for shorter cycles or less rigid goals while you reconnect to the process
Communication is the real training hack.
It’s not about changing everything—it’s about tuning back into you and letting your support system adjust around that.
Want Help Making This a Habit?
I made something for you.
It’s called the Joy Audit Journal—a 7-day guided reflection to help you stop running on autopilot and start running from the inside out again.
There’s no pressure, no preachy advice—just space to check in with yourself.
You’ll get quick daily prompts, a way to track how running feels, and questions that actually make you think.
Download the Free Joy Audit Journal here
Let’s bring the soul back to your stride. You deserve to love this again.