I hadn’t run for 10 days. A stomach bug explains why I missed the first few runs. Not such a big deal except that once I began to feel better I didn’t feel like running. I would plan to get back out there for a run and then find an excuse to postpone. My motivation seemed to slip a little bit lower with each passing day (as did my mood). What was happening to me? I consider myself a runner. I love running!

I decided that perhaps I needed to re-motivate myself. I read (actually I devoured) Scott Jurek’s recently published book ‘Eat and Run’ but, as extraordinary as his story is, I still wasn’t lacing up my running shoes.  Maybe I wasn’t sufficiently excited about the upcoming races I have planned? Maybe I needed to choose different goals to spark my motivation? Maybe, maybe, maybe…

Then I remembered the words of my coach, which have been immortalised in the wonderful image above, created by one of my fellow Up and Running buddies. I still didn’t feel like running but last night that’s exactly what I did – I got off my ass and went for a run. What a relief. And the best thing is that by simply getting back out there I’m now feeling more motivated than ever! Lesson learned.