WTF Did mojo go?

Where is your mojo?

I've said in other places that I compare my running to life, it just seems a great analogy. This seems even more so poignant now. The world as we know it is in turmoil, foced lockdowns, despair over almost everything, panic buying left right and center or just people for want of a better word just being selfish.

Lets take those and put them into a running perspective.

The world has gone mad, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has started a race or a training run and then have everything go awry, the wheels fall off and go side wise and your plan sits in tatters. This is probably the hardest lesson to learn, don't panic. Take a "hamlet" moment, let the world crash around you and breathe.

Take a few seconds to devise a new plan, strategise and go for it. So what, that we can't go out, there is still plenty of ways to use up your time. If, like me, running helps with mental health then keep to a routine as much as possible, if you can't get out then use the space you're in. Up and down the stairs (being careful) jog on the spot, skip. Use google there are hundreds of exercises that will test you.

It's easy to sink into despair when a routine is broken so keep to it as much as possible. We as racers despair that we get a DNF or that we didn't hit a PB, but there is always tomorrow, there is always the next race to prove yourself. I have luckily never DNF'd but I've been damn close to just throwing in the towel, on the flip side though I know defeat, I've lost 2 fights in the ring with all my friends and family watching, so yes I know how bad it can feel. This isn't a DNF though, at worst this is a postponement. So, if today you didn't manage to get out of your pyjamas and sat lazing on the couch, don't swell on it. Tomorrow we can go again.

If you go out running in public places I'm sure you will have come across those "selfish" folk, the ones that run in twos or threes and take up the entire path not allowing you to pass, or worse, coming head on at you so you have to dive side wise so not to be trampled. We get home and rant but there really is nothing we can do about them. The same goes for those panic buying or just being dicks. Let them crack on, allow it to wash over you. The shops will still be stocked, the shelves will still fill up and if the worst comes to the worst I am sure you can reach out to friends or even the running community to ask for help.

In all this noise my running mojo buggered off, probably to sunnier climes but I don't feel down. I've allowed myself and my body a break for a few days. I have had a treadmill for nearly a week and haven't used it yet but I have set a time for that to change, then I'll set a routine, then it'll be habit and then in October I'll smash the record.

I've digressed somewhat from what I wanted to post but as above, lets just go with the flow... stay safe