Some slumps come out of nowhere
We don’t feel like running, maybe feeling down
Maybe it’s our first one, or it’s been a while…
Is there a way to get out of a slump?
Cattle prods?
Sell the car?
Strap up to a winch?
We need to find ways to change it up.
After, all out with the old, in with the new
And btw, this isn’t your fancy, coach-type, objective, scientifically proven running tips. These are just breadcrumbs I’ve picked up along my journey. Still, I hope it gives you food for thought and that jolt to keep it moving.
Remember: all things pass. We just need to hang on long enough, do what we can, and keep on stepping.
Here are 12 tips on getting out of a slump
- Break up the routine – a day or two, even for a week – we don’t need to run every day.
- Go to a run meet up and bang some miles out with cool people.
- Get plenty of sleep
- Put a training plan together for a big event that you signed up for X months away. Go for a PR or a distance you never ran before.
- Ramp up other cross training activities: cycling, yoga, strength, calisthenics, hiking, sex
- Change the runs up – short and fast, long and slow, hilly, backward, super odd times of day, route, run with a heavy pack, Philly four corners, what else?
- Take a workout class
- Watch a documentary or read a book about running
- Help someone else who is getting into running
- Pace someone
- Dedicate a run to someone
- Get some new running gear so that you “have to use it”
My favorite way to stay out of a slump
The two best ways for me to stay out of a slump is to:
- follow a training plan
I need to have something to train for – and with running – I’m usually training for some type of race. There are so many different types of ultra-marathon races and I’m only scratching the surface. 50 milers, 100 milers, 200 milers, multi day events, timed events, last man standing, trail, road, supported, unsupported, on this trail or that trail, across the state, and so many more.
- Have an off season
The off season is a great time to slow down, reflect, plan, maybe do some light running, and then get back after it.
And that’s an important thing to note: it’s just a break from running and training hard, to give our bodies time to recover and explore – whatever that means to you. During the offseason I tried to muscle up, I was biking some bigger miles, hitting the yoga mat hard…
The off season lasts about 2 or 3 months, with the most recent off season starting immediately after I finished the Buckeye 200, early October through December.
I didn’t run too much and mainly focused on other forms of recovery, movement, training, etc.
This may be the best part though.
I used this off season to research and set up my race schedule for the following year
And that’s how I stumbled upon “series races” like the blacklist:
- Hyner 50k in April
- World’s end 100k in June
- Eastern states 100 in August
- Black Forest 100k in October
I actually have my eyes set on a series already for 2024 too – over a year and a half in advance. Talk about keeping that fire burning?
So during my off season – I signed up for these races and started to put together my training plan.
The goal? Keep it simple.
Training started back up in January – it was a slow start, about 30 miles per week.
Three months later we’re rolling with about 60 miles per week.
Man oh man is that fire COOKIN.
Thanks for tuning in. I appreciate your attention!
LMK anything!!!!
Go get your miles, Peace!!!
Joe DiAndrea 