You know that moment when you stare at your trainers and think, “I should go for a run…” but your body just doesn’t budge?
Maybe you scroll Instagram for inspiration.
Bookmark a new fueling plan on Pinterest.
Tell yourself, “Next week will be different, I’ll do all my runs then”.
If you’ve ever said “I just need to get motivated again”, I want you to know:
You’re not broken. You’re not lazy. And you’re definitely not alone.
But here’s what might surprise you…
Lack of motivation isn’t your problem, it’s a mindset loop you’re stuck in.
Why Waiting For Motivation Keeps Letting You Down
Motivation feels like the golden ticket to getting things done. And yes, when it hits, it’s magical.
But motivation is fleeting.
It’s emotional. Erratic.
And honestly? It’s kind of unreliable.
Waiting to feel motivated before you run is like waiting for the perfect weather to start training – it might happen, but not often enough to build anything real.
So when motivation dips (as it always does), we assume we’ve failed. That something is wrong with us.
Cue the guilt. The self-doubt. The quiet quitting.
But what if we stopped chasing motivation, and started focusing on who we are instead?
Introducing The Power of Thinking Like a Runner
Let me ask you something:
Do you see yourself as a runner?
Because identity changes everything.
When running becomes part of who you are – not just something you do – you don’t need a big motivational push each week. You just go. Like brushing your teeth. Like grabbing your coffee.
Thinking like a runner sounds like:
- “I really don’t feel like running today, but I know I’ll be so glad I did”
- “I have hard runs and good runs, but I continue to keep showing up”
- “Even a short run counts. Consistency builds trust”
It doesn’t mean you always want to run.
It means you’re grounded in the habit and identity of someone who does it anyway.
Start Here: 5 Mindset Shifts to Try Today
If you’re ready to run more consistently without waiting for the motivational wave to hit, try reflecting on these:
- What would a runner do today?
Take the decision out of “should I?” and ask from the identity you’re growing into. - When do I feel most like a runner?
Morning solo runs? Running with friends? Parkrun vibes? Create more of those moments. - What would I do if I believed I was already a runner?
Try acting from that version of you – even if you don’t fully believe it yet. - If I couldn’t quit running, how would I treat myself on days were I wasn’t motivated to run?
Imagine it was part of your life no matter what. Would you be more compassionate? - What story am I telling myself – and do I want to keep believing it?
Maybe it’s time to rewrite your narrative around what consistency has to look like.
One Last Running Motivation Thought (and a little story)
There was a time when races were the only thing that kept me consistent. If I’d signed up, I’d train. Simple.
But no race? No run. I told myself, “You don’t have time”, “You’re not feeling it”, “You’ll go tomorrow”.
Eventually I realised the problem wasn’t my training plan – it was how I saw myself.
So I made a quiet decision: I’m a runner who runs three times a week, no matter what.
No drama. No debate. That shift changed everything.
Not because it made me superhuman – but because it took motivation off the table.
WANT MORE ON THIS? Listen to the podcast episode
If this sparked something for you, you’ll love the podcast episode that inspired it:
🎧 You Don’t Need More Running Motivation – Why a Mindset Shift Is the Key to Consistency
In it, I go deeper into the runner identity shift, share more personal stories, and talk through the exact mindset traps that keep you stuck.
Are you ready to drop the running motivation and build a mindset that lasts?
This is the heart of what we do in The Runner Identity Project – because running is so much more than ticking boxes on a plan.
It’s about creating a version of yourself you trust.
And building habits from the inside out.
