Just a few months ago I felt like I was on top of the world. I was on fire! Each day I was excited to start the day and do my workout! Now I find myself thinking about all the other things I need to get done and the thing I love to do, go for a run, has become a chore. What? Are you kidding me? How did this happen?
You know what I’m talking about, right? We have all been there. Sometimes we find ourselves just going through the motions and not really making any progress. What happened and how do I get back into my groove? Read on for the 3 steps I took to change my situation and get out of my slump!
Re-evalutate Your Goals
Maybe your goal doesn’t ring true with who you really are. Give yourself permission to change your goals and bring them into alignment with your true desires. In my case I have struggled with my marathon training. First, I got sick and lost a couple of weeks of long runs, then I found myself up against a couple of important deadlines that messed up my schedule. Next I really struggled to recover the week after my 17 miler so my coach and I tweaked my schedule to give me more rest. Then out of no where I started developing nagging aches and pains in my hip and knee.
Finally, I owned up to the fact that I really was missing 5K training and racing. I was giving up some 5K races I would have liked to have targeted just to run a marathon. AND while I have claimed that this would be my last marathon, I actually have an entry to the 3Bridges Marathon in December. If things went well in Athens, I was leaving my options open to run it!
Develop a Plan of Action
The second step is to develop a plan to get you on track to work toward your new goals. You may not be able to drop everything and switch course yet, but you certainly can begin taking action by doing little things now so you will be prepared when the time is right! This will help renew your excitement and passion which will carry you through your current obligations! In my case, I have already planned and paid for my trip to Athens, Greece and I really want to run the original route of the very first marathon. I have made a choice to accept the fact that I may walk some of the Athens Marathon and have been following two miles of running with two minutes of walking as I put in my long run mileage.
I have also picked a December 5K to become the focus of my training…5K training with a series of some really long runs is how I reasoned it! Whatever works for you to help you get your head in the game! But the biggest thing I did to change my outlook, was to contact the race director of the 3Bridges Marathon and ask him to cancel my entry and decline his offer to defer me to next year. No more mental marathon baggage hanging over my head!
Speak Your Intentions to the World
The third thing to help you kiss your slump goodbye is to not only set a new goal or goals, but to set your intention and to share it with the world. Ok, so this can be a scary step. I mean what if I get injured? What if I fall short? What if people laugh and say my goal is too big? To that I say, “Quit whining! Put on your big girl britches one leg at a time!” Dare to dream a little and think “What if I achieve my goals?” “How will I feel when I accomplish what I set out to do?” Just even typing these words fills my body with all kinds of nervous energy and excitement like those good kind of pre-race jitters where you know you are really ready to run!!
So friends, right here and now I will share my intentions with you and the rest of the world. My December 5K is the Jingle Bell run and an I plan to run a sub 21 minute 5K. Next year, I plan to run a sub 6 minute mile at the Go! Mile. Scratch that, and make that a 5:50 mile! In 2015 I will run a sub 20 minute 5K. I will run in the Masters 5K Cross Country Championship race in November 2015 and place in the top 10! And yes, that was a bit uncomfortable to verbalize my intentions, but it is a huge change in my attitude and my desire to start taking the action I need to take now to reach those goals!
How You Can Take Action Now!
It’s really important when you find yourself in a slump to first off acknowledge it and tell it that it’s ok it stopped by for a visit. However, instead of wallowing in self pity, follow the 3 steps above and nip it in the bud before it takes control and affects other areas of your life. Slumps can and will wreak havoc on your diet! As part of my own re-grouping process, I participated in my Runners 5-Day Detox program. By doing so I felt as though I was really taking time out to nourish my body and my soul. It helped me as I went through the re-evaluation process. I finished the Runners Detox feeling lighter on my feet and more energized! I felt renewed and more vibrant.
Because of my own success and the feedback from the participants of the Runners 5-Day Detox, I have decided to run this Free program again this month. The next group will start on Sunday, October 19th through Thursday, October 23rd. Click Here to get all the details and to get registered for this FREE online program. Join my Free Runners 5-Day Detox and I’ll help you kiss your slump goodbye too!
