Ever find running a bit samey?
One way to rediscover the joy of running is to mix it up.
The usual routes, routines and end goal can become a little stale. They’re also a recipe for repeat injuries.
Variety is the spice of life after all.
Fortunately, all it takes is a few tweaks here and there. It could be exploring a new running route or re-exploring an old neighbourhood. Taking more pictures on your runs. Changing the time of day you run. Embarking on a new running challenge. Revisiting the back catalogue of Joy Runs themes to run to. A fresh podcast. Even a new item of running gear.
Instead of the usual new year, new you pressure, this Joy Run theme is about the small things you can do to reinvigorate your running.
How to Run This Theme: New Running Routes or Routines
A good place is to start is jot down your typical run. Then think about how you can tweak the individual components to add more joy.
It could be:
- the injection of new running routes
- new podcasts or playlists to listen to
- a new running partner or group
- recording your runs with a photo or journaling
- a new post-run reward
- squeezing a run in during a lunchbreak
- exploring a new city on the move
- picking a new landmark to run to
- heading out when you least want to
- mixing up your paces
…the possibilities are endless.
One trick for turning your runs into adventures is to tune into and flip the many default decisions you make before, during, and after your run. Ask ‘What if’ more often. For example, what if you tackled that new terrain? Or detour? Ran in the rain, instead of waiting for it to stop? Or stopped midway for that brunch you’ve been eyeing up?
You’re the author of your own story, so you might as well make it a fun one.
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Where My New Running Route Took Me
It snowed as I settled on this theme so I took myself on a snowy run.
A free-range route whether looked prettiest in the white stuff.
There’s plenty of reasons to stay indoors in bad weather, but that’d be selling yourself short on one of the most playful running experiences going.
The cold is soon replaced by the joy of an untouched white canvas and the delicious crunch of snow under every footstep. There’s random encounters with snowmen and straight-from-Narnia landscapes. Dodging snowballs and splashback from cars. The laughter of families playing in the park and the nod of approval from fellow runners braving the elements.
Snow has always brought me an instant rush of childhood joy, and it turns out that’s multiplied when running.
The snow was also a great equaliser when it to routes. It’s all too easy to complete the same familiar loops of your house, but snow created new obstacles and neutralised these old habits. Suddenly everything and everywhere looked different. More exciting. The perfect pattern cleanser for a new year.
