Running is Boring Me Right Now… and That’s Okay!
“Running is boring. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I have something to admit. Something that’s very hard for me to admit, but something I need toget off my chest: running is boring me right now. It’s terribly, horribly, mind-numbingly boring tome right now. And instead of continuing to deny that, I am not only admitting it, I am announcing it.
For the last two (plus) decades of my life, running has become a mandatory part of my everyday. My Strava run streak spans years at this point. I have averaged six to eight miles aweekday and anywhere from six to twenty miles every weekday for as long as I can remember. How do I usually get to work? I run commute, either one or both ways. My day has not been complete until I get at least couple miles in, and sometimes I’ll have anxiety about not hitting my daily mileage due to life and schedules, and I’ll do a quick double session or take one of my dogs for a mile or two just to hit self-imposed distance goals.
For years, I have completed one marathon and immediately signed up for the next one. In fact, due to big life changes, last fall was the first marathon season in eighteen years that I did not run a race—but had run two marathons and an ultra earlier in the year. My identity has been MARATHONER, RUN COACH, RUNNER, ULTRAMARATHONER for my entire adult life.
However, with taking a break last season and re-entering my Boston Marathon training cycle this winter, I was faced, for the first time, really conflicted emotions. Granted, it was freezing cold and the majority of the winter was spent trying not to slip and fall on black ice and/or jumping through and over huge snowbanks, but the thought of doing long runs on the weekend was starting to feel like a serious chore. The first couple long runs of this block, I thought maybe I just wasn’t listening to the right podcasts or was possibly getting burned out of doing the same loop. My shorter runs during the week—the six to eight miles or my run commutes—were great, but the long runs were starting to border on unbearable.
I was faced with a bit of an internal dilemma. Was I starting to not like running anymore? Was it becoming something I had done too much of? However, instead of continuing to fight these feelings, I really started to lean into them. What was I feeling? Serious overkill of something that for so long had brought me so much joy. I felt like my priorities were shifting and devoting two to three hours (and sometimes more) to a long run on my only day off from teaching each week was something I was dreading, not looking forward to.
For years, when I had two days off from teaching, I used one of those days to do a lighter workout or shakeout run, and the other day was devoted to the “church of the long run.” This was my opportunity to not only log miles, but get some alone time and explore new running routes and test my pace. However, in the last year, many things in my personal and professional life has changed. I have loved my shorter runs during the week, I’ve really ramped up my strength training, and above all, I now only have one day off a week—and I want to spend as much time on my day off with my family as possible. Gone are the days where I have the energy or the desire to spend hours and hours doing a long run on the weekend, coupled with the fact that I just turned 40, so logging tons of miles at once doesn’t feel as good on my body as it used to… and I was training through one of the most brutal winters Boston has seen in years.
And while this may sound like a long list of excuses, it was in reality, a list of reasons why running long distance wasn’t bringing me the same joy as it used to. It felt boring and monotonous. And you know what? That’s okay. Getting boredom with something isn’t a reason to quit a sport you love (well, in some cases it may be!), but it may be a reason to change your approach.
So does my boredom with running mean I’m totally over it? Absolutely not. Last month I ran a half marathon in Miami (and did a blog post gushing over how much I love that course) and had the best time. The sun was shining, the views were spectacular, and it felt so good to run with other people. I also love my run commutes each day, and when I took a day off from running last weekend, I felt extremely off and couldn’t wait to get back out there the next day.
So where is the disconnect?
For me, I think it’s a product of burnout and the need for change. Coupling a few miles and doing some weight training? I have so much fun. Spending hours on a weekend going for a long run? Not so much. And these feelings are totally normal, and I know I am not alone when I say that I need a change in how I train. Instead of slogging through miles that are unenjoyable, I am trying to find a fun balance that makes working out fun.
Since I am on my strength training kick (and to give me a chance to get out of the cold), I have started mixing in more cardio and conditioning work to supplement some of my longer runs. For instance, I have been doing a medium-long run (think 8ish miles) and a lift on Saturday, and a longer run or some cardio work at the gym on Sunday. A few weeks ago, the ground was still slushy and slippery, so I did ten miles outside and then did 45 min on various cardio machines at the gym. This not only felt better on my body rather than fighting black ice and being miserable staring at the slushy ground for hours, and also was mentally more appealing because it gave me a change of scenery.
If what I am saying resonates with you, I have some suggestions on how to combat the running doldrums. If you have been training for a particular distance and are sick of the long hours and need a change, here are some ideas that I too will be putting to work to find some of the joy in running again.
Seek Out a Coach
First and foremost, work with a coach. As a coach myself, I know how daunting and, for lack of better words, blah a goal can seem without a plan. A lot of the online training plans I have found are a long progression of gradually increasing long runs with minimal variation in workouts. I purposely curate my plans for my runners with a variety of speed, hill and tempo workouts—and prescribe a “down week” every month to mitigate burnout and boredom. I am also available to adjust training plans for runners as needed if they are feeling like they need changes or want to incorporate more strength into their weeks to change things up a bit. When I worked with a run coach years ago, I also felt more obligated to actually do the work because I didn’t want to let my coach or myself down. Having someone program work for you and the accountability that goes along with it is far more intriguing and motivating than winging it and trying to program for yourself, in my opinion.
Change it up
Second option? Change up your goals a bit. Have you been doing a ton of training for the same distance? Go for less mileage and up your speed. I have a bunch of runners who are training for their umpteenth marathon who feel slightly burned out and have opted to sign up for a half marathon to try to get a PR. The training feels lighter as the long runs aren’t as time consuming, and the speed work is different because, well, the distance is chopped in half! I have even had distance runners change to a 10k or 5k to really work their speed and also include more strength work to build the fast twitch muscles. Alternatively, if speed isn’t your thing, go longer! If you’re a seasoned half marathoner, why not try a full? And if you’re a full marathoner, time to try an ultra! Or, you can move laterally in the distance and change the terrain. A trail race for a runner who’s used to the road is a fun challenge.
Take a break
Third option? Take a break! Sometimes the mind and the body need a hard reset. If you’re feeling like running isn’t bringing joy to your life at the moment, cut back a bit. Even if you don’t stop running altogether, take a season off to not train for a specific race, and focus on moving your body in ways that feel good for you. If you are someone who is used to running five or six times a week, replace a couple of those days with a HIIT workout or strength training class, or even go for a long walk. Want to keep running but also want to take some pressure off? Ditch the watch, and just commit to 45 minutes to an hour of movement.
I will never, ever, ever stop running—it is my first true love in terms of movement and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I have plans to run the Boston Marathon, the Maine Coast Marathon, and the Chicago Marathon this year to get me to 50 marathons, and then I am taking a long break from the marathon distance. I am already eyeing some half marathons and shorter trail races in 2027, but want to listen to my body and find what brings me joy, which may not be road marathons at this stage of life.
But as I always say, the beauty of running is that it has so many layers. When one goal or way of training doesn’t work, change it up. Take a break. Move in ways that feel good, not in ways that feel like a burden or cause unnecessary stress. And if you need help or guidance (or want a coach to help you train and hold you accountable), please reach out. Remember, if it’s not fun, why do it?
Xo