Lost the Runners High...

I have been an avid runner for four years. Now, every time I run I only think about when the run is going to be over. I have never had motivation problems. Any one have tips to keep my motivation up?

Maybe your body is telling you it wants something else, or more. A different routine? Yoga? Mixing it up with walking/hiking? Changing the route to add more/less hills?

Maybe even giving running a rest for a month or two and switching to swimming or rowing or tennis or...

Listen to your body. I'm sure the "loss of motivation" isn't an accident!

Christa

Do you take a mp3 player? Music seems to be my biggest motivation!

Do you race?  Maybe a little competition will get you motivated again.  Also, do you set time/distance goals when you run?  A new challenge might be what you need.  How about a running buddy?  I've found that having someone to talk to about my progress has really helped keep me on the road when I would have stayed home and watched tv instead. 

Best of luck!

ha i hear you. i have been running since i was 7, i'm now 20, and lately alot of the time its like, do i have to? at school i would just go to the gym and do the elliptical instead, but im home now, and it is too expensive for me to get a gym membership, leaving running as my main cardio option. we have workout videos but they aren't the same. anyway, i've been trying to run less, as in i used to run for 70 minutes or so, which is just too much to keep me motivated. i'm cutting it down to 30-60 mins, depending on how i feel that day. i do yoga a few days a week also and weight train. i plan on playing soccer with friends in a few weeks also 1/2 nights a week. idk its a hard thing b/c exercise is so important, but its so hard when you get burned out. i'm working on doing less to get myself to enjoy exercise again. if you figure anything out, let me know!

My simple advice is to take up a sport. You'd still be running but you wouldn't think about it.

I've been there. You're burned out. Take some time off and do something else. Hiking or learn a new sport as other posters suggested. If you take a month or two off you'll be itching to start running again by then.

These are all great ideas. You could also change where you run. If there are any off-road trails nearby, try "adventure running." You could also find the biggest, longest hills nearby and power-hike them (great for the butt!). What about training for a specific event, like a biatholon?