I've lost my running mojo!

It’s happened to all of us, we lose our running mojo. Maybe it’s post-marathon and you find yourself lacking motivation or we lose the passion for running. Whatever the reason it’s very common and you shouldn’e beat yourself up about it.

If you’ve lost your running mojo and need some inspiration to get it back why not try these ideas:

·         Read running books for motivation. Some good ones are Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, Running for My Life: How I built a better me one step at a time by Rachel Cullen, The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run by Matthew Inman (this one is hilarious!)

·         Check out some running blogs: Here are a few, but there are tons out there! http://www.lazygirlrunning.com/blog, http://eatprayrundc.com/, http://www.dreamingoffootpaths.co.uk/

·         Try some different types of exercises such as swimming, triathlons, cycling and weightlifting. Having some variety can help you find your love of running again.

·         Find a new path or trail to run. Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to get the mojo back.

·         Forget about training or racing, ditch the watch and just go run for fun. Often we put ourselves under too much pressure to perform and we forget why we love running.

·         Try some Parkrun tourism. Running in different places can help chase the boredom of the same old route away.

·         Run with a friend or friends, make a morning of it and end it all with a yummy breakfast or lunch!

Don’t be ashamed if you’ve lost your mojo, we all do. It’s just part of running and is often a short phase which passes.

Self-care is not selfish, it's necessary

Self care is one of those words that gets batted around like, wellness and wellbeing. But do you practice it?

We live in an age of information and are bombarded daily with current events and world problems. We live in an age where, if you have children, you’re dropping them off at school and clubs throughout the week then off to work in a rush. Or perhaps you are someone’s carer you are unlikely, to even stop for a minute to relax.

You may be asking yourself, what is self-care? Self-care is the act of taking care of yourself. It is not selfish or greedy, it is merely putting yourself first for a moment and recharge your batteries.

I was a single parent during my last year of military service and my first year out. It was one of the most difficult times of my life. I was solely responsible for getting my son to before-school club, getting to work, picking him up on time (which was no easy feat), feeding him and making sure he got to bed on time with a book – all the while attending college online and in class. I had very little time for myself, and after a while it becomes relentless.

But, even in those times, I took time out. Even if it was the time after I put him to bed and studied to when I went to sleep, often only a half hour or so. Sometimes, I would book annual leave just to have a day to myself while he was at school, just to get food shopping done in peace.

How can we practice self-care? First, you need to make a conscious decision to take time out for yourself. Put it in your diary, make sure you do it daily. It’s not like having a cold and you only need to take medicine while you’re ill, you need to perform acts of self-care daily to make it a habit.

Second, you don’t need to spend money on self-care. There are many things you can do for free.

Third, self-care is about the mind, body and spirit. So mental relaxation, exercise and acts of kindness can go a long way.

Here are some brief ideas on ways to perform acts of self-care:

·         Mini-mediation at lunch time or before bed

·         Mini declutter: pick three things from your wardrobe to donate to charity

·         Unplug from your phone/laptop for an hour – great before bed

·         Remove or mute negative people from your social media feed

·         Dance around your living room

·         Go for a walk outdoors during your lunch hour

·         Make a healthy change in your diet

·         Get 15 minutes of sun – especially in the winter

·         Help someone – open a door, carry some bags, help an old lady across the street

·         Give yourself an hour date – read a book, visit a museum or practice your hobby

By doing these things little, but often you will start to feel more satisfied. It can be difficult working, having children, or being someone’s carer and you need to think about yourself as well.

If you have any questions about sports injuries and rehabilitation please email me at sara@prestigesportinjury.co.uk

Being outdoors is just the bees knees.

I know these currently cold days might want to keep you indoors, but don’t forgo the outdoors altogether! Whether you run, cycle or just go out for a walk the benefits of being outdoors are numerous and ones that you won’t want to miss.

If you’re looking to boost your creativity get yourself outside. I often use my outdoor run to think about business decisions, blog posts and even what craft project I’m going to work on next. A fair few years ago Stanford University noted the increase in creativity of 60% while walking outside. Some of this clarity may come from the alone time your brain gets when outdoors. Even when you’re out with other people there will be moments of peace away from conversation. When we’re inside there are many distractions such as the TV, internet and chores! This time alone gives us the ability to increase our concentration on tasks when we return from the outdoors.

A huge benefit of the outdoors in the decrease in stress when we’re out there. It has been noted by scientists that we, as a species, do not go outside enough. This could be contributing to our high stress lifestyles. By not taking time away from our household and work responsibilities we are impacting our mental health.  What better way of being in the present moment than walking, cycling or running outside? We don’t have to worry about the what if’s, what next or what has happened in our lives.

Self esteem can also be improved from just 5 minutes of outdoor exercise, being near a green space or near water can enhance this effect. The best activities for this is walking, running, cycling, horse back riding, fishing and gardening.

Going outdoors is also relatively low cost. For short in-town excursions to a local park all you need is a pair of walking shoes and proper outer wear for the weather. Many cities also have rental bike schemes if you want to try cycling without the commitment of purchasing a bike.

So, if you want to have improved mood, better self-esteem, less stress and better creativity get yourself outside and enjoy what nature has to offer us!