Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!
Now let's get started by talking about an emotion that can help you run better. What is it that emotion you might ask? It's joy! Which, as defined, is the strong feeling of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. Does that describe running or what? At least most of the time... there are definitely those runs that don't seem good and are only satisfying when they're over right? But speaking of joy, check out the photo above. Do you recognize those two hooligans who are smiling from ear to ear? That's Ed Green and Jody Rhoads, past Bass Pro Marathon pacers, who measured their Monday run on the ‘joyometer’ (yes I made up that word) and it came up a 10! Why? Because, as Jody said in her Instagram post, "We found a pair of scissors. Perfect for cutting our leukotape at next months run." Jody later added in a personal text, "Ed made a joke about not being able to run with scissors. I told him he needed more than that to get out of running." Do you just love that or what? With all the miles those two have been running lately getting ready for their next hundo, you can see that joy and laughter has been key to their success.
Which brings me to my point. Sometimes when a runner starts to get more serious about running, starts running longer distances, or wants to improve, they can get so focused on measuring the success of their runs by pace or mileage that they end up losing some of the joy and the fun. This can lead to running feeling like a grind, a chore, or something they just have to get through. And where’s the fun in that?
So now that we've established that runs are many times better measured by the joy they bring us than by our performance, check out these 7 ways to find joy in running (with my two cents thrown in of course):
Why did you start running? Maybe it was to get in better shape, lose some weight, find a social group or a team, or just to challenge yourself. What was that original reason and did it bring you joy? Or did the thought of what you wanted to accomplish with it bring you joy? For example, losing weight might not evoke a sense of joy, but having the strong and fit body that you desire would. Maybe your reasons for running have changed over the years, and you haven’t really thought about this in awhile. Reconnecting to your why can remind you of what you desire and what you want to get out of running now.
*Another thing to remember is this... you don't HAVE to run, you GET to run. Running is a gift that not everyone has. Hope that puts a smile on your face!
2. Set a non-race-related goal
You don’t have to have a race on the calendar to make progress. Sure, races can be helpful, but if you’re not motivated to race right now, that’s ok too. What is something else that you might want to accomplish in your running that is not race-related? Maybe you want to be able to run longer distances, maybe you want to improve your strength, or maybe you want to transition from a run/walk to a straight running approach. What sounds fun right now? Set a different type of goal that will motivate you and head that way.
3. Try a different type of race
4. Join a group
Find some running friends! A sense of community is a great way to bring more joy to your running. You can find in-person running groups in most cities and even smaller towns. If you’re not sure where to look, check out your local running store or do an online search in your area. There’s probably runners like you nearby just looking for a new running pal! If an in-person running group doesn’t sound appealing, look for an online community. There are so many online running communities where you can connect with other runners, post about your runs, ask questions, and just connect with other like-minded individuals who understand you and your running journey. Believe it or not, we’re not that different. Regardless of your pace or distance, running is running and runners get it. Having people that understand the struggles, the highs and the lows makes a huge difference in how you feel about your running journey.
6. Look at the bigger picture
There are different types of fun and different things that lead to joy. Level one fun is fun in the moment. You enjoy it as you are doing it. Level two fun is something that might not be super fun in the moment, but you can look back on it and appreciate it for the joy that it brought you. Running can be both. Sometimes things are worth doing because of the long term rewards and the life that we want to create for ourselves in the future. Running leads to growth, and growth is often uncomfortable as we are doing it. Even so, it is totally worth it and one of those things that we all strive for. There can be immense joy knowing that you are challenging yourself and evolving. Going back to that definition of joy, we can find joy as we think about the prospect of something that we desire. What kind of person do you want to be? What goals do you want to achieve? Find your joy in striving for those things.
2. Set a non-race-related goal
You don’t have to have a race on the calendar to make progress. Sure, races can be helpful, but if you’re not motivated to race right now, that’s ok too. What is something else that you might want to accomplish in your running that is not race-related? Maybe you want to be able to run longer distances, maybe you want to improve your strength, or maybe you want to transition from a run/walk to a straight running approach. What sounds fun right now? Set a different type of goal that will motivate you and head that way.
3. Try a different type of race
Not into marathons, half marathons or 5ks? Try something else! There are so many different types of race - trail races, team relay races, odd distances like 4 milers, 15k, 10 milers, etc. Repeating the same race distance is great, but sometimes it can feel a little monotonous and lead to comparison and judgement. By running a distance or type of race that you’ve never done before, you can tap into a spirit of experimentation, fun, and curiosity. What else is out there?
*Check out the other events the Bass Pro Fitness Series has to offer.
4. Join a group
*Check out OMRR (Ozarks Mountain Ridge Runners), FFG (Frog Fitness Group), TEAM RWB, Lake of the Ozarks Runners and DRC (Daily Run Club). They're all in Missouri and have some great folks who would love to have you join them!
5. Ditch the watch
Ah, numbers. Running is a largely numbers-driven sport and all of the current technology makes it so easy to get caught up in our paces, distances, leaderboards, recovery times, VO2max, and so many other metrics. Sometimes it’s helpful to just run. Without the watch. Without the numbers. Without the constant comparison to yourself and everyone else around you. Go out and just run. Look around you. Forget about your pace. Just enjoy the run. Keep in mind that this might be super uncomfortable at first, and if it is, that might be a sign that you need to attempt it on a more regular basis. We can become so dependent on technology that we forget how to listen to our body and just enjoy ourselves. Disconnect and just run.
5. Ditch the watch
Ah, numbers. Running is a largely numbers-driven sport and all of the current technology makes it so easy to get caught up in our paces, distances, leaderboards, recovery times, VO2max, and so many other metrics. Sometimes it’s helpful to just run. Without the watch. Without the numbers. Without the constant comparison to yourself and everyone else around you. Go out and just run. Look around you. Forget about your pace. Just enjoy the run. Keep in mind that this might be super uncomfortable at first, and if it is, that might be a sign that you need to attempt it on a more regular basis. We can become so dependent on technology that we forget how to listen to our body and just enjoy ourselves. Disconnect and just run.
*I coached a runner several years ago who was trying to qualify for Boston. She was trying so hard that she began to hate her long runs because she was so focused on her time. With some prodding I convinced her to leave her watch at home for her last two long runs and run for a set time instead, listening to her body to run the desired pace. Guess what? She qualified at her next marathon and her joy of running was restored!
6. Look at the bigger picture
There are different types of fun and different things that lead to joy. Level one fun is fun in the moment. You enjoy it as you are doing it. Level two fun is something that might not be super fun in the moment, but you can look back on it and appreciate it for the joy that it brought you. Running can be both. Sometimes things are worth doing because of the long term rewards and the life that we want to create for ourselves in the future. Running leads to growth, and growth is often uncomfortable as we are doing it. Even so, it is totally worth it and one of those things that we all strive for. There can be immense joy knowing that you are challenging yourself and evolving. Going back to that definition of joy, we can find joy as we think about the prospect of something that we desire. What kind of person do you want to be? What goals do you want to achieve? Find your joy in striving for those things.
*Remember this too... if you are a parent, your children are watching. If you want to inspire them to take up good habits, model them. We all want our kids to find joy in what they do so show them how much joy running brings you!
7. Connect to a higher purpose
Running is about so much more than just ourselves. We can use it to connect to something greater. We can use it to raise money for charity to help others and use it to create more good in the world. We can inspire others by living a healthy life and taking care of ourselves. You never know who might be watching and possibly changing their lives because of you. The possibilities here are endless. Start to look outside yourself and see how running can make you feel more connected to the world, the universe, and the people around you. Running can bring so much joy to your life if you just open up to new possibilities and ideas that you maybe haven’t thought of before.
7. Connect to a higher purpose
Running is about so much more than just ourselves. We can use it to connect to something greater. We can use it to raise money for charity to help others and use it to create more good in the world. We can inspire others by living a healthy life and taking care of ourselves. You never know who might be watching and possibly changing their lives because of you. The possibilities here are endless. Start to look outside yourself and see how running can make you feel more connected to the world, the universe, and the people around you. Running can bring so much joy to your life if you just open up to new possibilities and ideas that you maybe haven’t thought of before.
So there you have it friends. Now that you've found some ways to bring joy back into your runs, measure your runs by the 'joyometer' anytime you feel your great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying starting to wane. Get out there and choose to be thankful for the beauty all around you and especially for the ability to log some miles. Running truly is a gift that brings so much joy! So what are you waiting for? Put a smile on your face and get out there!
Happy Running!
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