Regardless of whether you are running for fitness, for fun, or are in the midst of a training cycle, there will be days when you can’t be bothered running. It happens to us all. It could be your body’s way of telling you to slow down, or you could just be feeling lazy and needing a push out the door.

Here are some tips that I have found helped me….

If you are running first thing (and specifically for those runs that you set your alarm super early for), the night before I would lay out my clothes/shoes/Garmin/hydration belt (including filling up my water bottles). This way, as soon as the alarm goes off, all I need to do is throw my gear on, and get out the door. No thinking required.

Don’t think about not wanting to run – just lace up and go. I find it’s when you start thinking about the pace/distance/weather/that you are tired – that’s when you are likely to talk yourself out of going. Don’t let those thoughts take hold – you are going running, and that’s the end of that!

If you are laced up and still can’t be bothered, apply the 7 minute rule. It’s as simple as it sounds – run for 7 minutes, and at the end of the 7 minutes, you will either feel fine and carry on with your run, or if you don’t, then you can head on home. I find 9/10 times, I am happy to carry on with the run. If you do decide to turn back, then don’t be hard on yourself. Take the time when you should have been running to relax, have a bath, or do something that will make you feel better and try to fit that run in tomorrow.

Some runs, you’ll get the mileage and pace spot on but feel blah the whole run. Who knows why these runs happen, could be a number of reasons – but they suck. Just grin and bear it, and know that you will be a stronger person after this run – it’s these crappy runs that really show you what you are made of.

Do you have any other tips on what to do when you are in a running funk?