- Distracting yourself can make running more enjoyable: small tricks are all it takes to overcome boredom and fatigue, turning the run into a lighter, more stimulating experience.
- While you run, listen to music, play with numbers, invent stories, or try meditating to engage your mind in the action.
- Find motivation by changing routes, using motivational phrases, challenging yourself with speed variations to make each run unique.
Running is wonderful. But this, objectively, is a biased opinion. To be as objective as possible, we must admit that sometimes it can be boring and exhausting. Running creates a strong connection between body and mind, but sometimes dissociating the two can be useful. For example, when you keep glancing at your watch or can’t think of anything other than how much time is left, it might be time for a few tricks to deceive the mind and distract it from what your body is doing. A few small tricks can transform the run into a lighter, more enjoyable experience.
1. Listen to the right music (for you)
A well-crafted playlist that can motivate you can make all the difference. Choose songs that either energize you or relax you (but not too much) depending on your running style. Avoid songs that are too slow if you need the energy, and remember to keep it at a volume that allows you to stay in touch with your surroundings.
2. Check the “bodywork”
Use the run as a moment to listen to your body: how is your breathing? Do you think your posture is correct? Is your stride too long or too short? These small adjustments can improve performance and help you feel more comfortable.
3. Use numbers to distract yourself
If you like math, or want to get some practice, turn running into a little mental exercise: calculate how many miles you’ve run compared to your total miles, how many minutes are left until the end of your workout, or try to estimate your average pace. If you want to keep it more simple, count how many runners you pass or how many (green!) traffic lights you pass.
4. Challenge yourself with speed variations
To break up the monotony of a single-rhythm run, try the fartlek: choose a landmark (a tree, a lamppost, a street sign) and increase your speed until you reach it. Then return to your normal pace and repeat. This not only makes the run more varied, but will also make you improve on endurance.
5. Play with words
Another way to distract yourself is to play mind games: look up words that begin with each letter of the alphabet, try to remember the titles of movies you have seen in the last while, or make a mental list of your favorite dishes. If you know a foreign language, you can take advantage of this and review some vocabulary or phrases.
6. Meditate while running
Running can be a perfect time to empty your mind: focus on the rhythm of your breath, the sound of your steps or repeat a motivational mantra. Even just focusing on a distant object and keeping your gaze steady can help you enter a state of flow.
7. Think of something nice
If the run seems endless, think about something that makes you feel good: what you’ll eat next, the movie you want to see, a trip you’d like to take. This trick helps shift your focus away from fatigue.
8. Find new details in the route
If you always run on the same route, you may get bored. Change routes or try to spot new details and details: signs, buildings, trees. Even on a familiar route, commit to discovering something new each time.
9. Motivate yourself with a talk
Sometimes the only obstacle is in your head: to overcome it, repeat motivational phrases to yourself, remind yourself why you started running and how good you’ll feel in the end. Giving yourself a little boost of self-esteem can work wonders.
10. Plan something
Use your running time to think about practical things: an email you need to write, a problem you need to solve, a shopping list. Often the best ideas come while you are running!
11. Tell yourself a story
Make up a story as you run, perhaps imagining you are in a movie or thinking back to a book you have read. This can be a great way to pass the time without realizing it.