It’s one of those cheesy sayings coaches ask on podcasts, articles and audio runs – What’s your why? Why do you run?

If you asked me a month or two ago, my answer to this question would be that I want to get better. I want to get stronger and faster to prove to myself that I can.

I truly believed this but it’s not why I run.

I’ve been so focused on times and hitting targets to the point where I burnt myself out mentally and physically. It got to where I asked myself ‘What’s the point?’. I felt stressed and unhappy, each run made me feel more anxious than usual.

Don’t get me wrong, training plans are great but I’d been training for a race in June that didn’t go to plan. Instead of resting, I then focused on training for another race I had at the start of August even though deep down I knew I wasn’t at my best.

After that, I had a week off and then again kicked off training for a race I have next weekend.

You can see where I’m going here. A few weeks ago I burned out and had to admit that I needed to stop pushing myself so much. I’ve completely misjudged my ‘Why’. I’ve been so focused on hitting targets and not letting my body recover. Running this way isn’t going to make me stronger and faster, it’s going to make me bloody miserable!

So what is my why?

Once I stopped following a training plan I won’t say I immediately fell in love with running again, but I am getting there.

I run because I can, because when I was younger I was so riddled with depression I couldn’t leave the house. I run because now I love being outside, I love exploring. I run because I get to run with friends, we laugh and we cry and have a few drinks after!

I love long steady runs where I can just zone out, sing out loud and look at the beautiful views I have around me.

My biggest ‘why’ is because it helps me mentally. It makes me feel good and clears my head when I’m overwhelmed.

I’m so grateful to be able to run.

What is your real ‘Why’?