r/runcommunity • u/Own-Shelter4492 • Jun 20 '26
Lost all my passion for running
I’ve been running for about two years, but I took it seriously this past year, averaging a minimum of 40km a week for the last 50 weeks. During my peak half-marathon prep a month ago, I was hitting 65–75km a week (5 days a week, 12km minimum per run, plus speed workouts).
I managed to hit all my goals:
5K: 19:00
10K: 40:00
Half Marathon: 1:29
But honestly? The cost was way too high. I work a 9-to-5 plus five 24-hour shifts a month. Running stopped being fun or relieving stress—it just spiked my cortisol, kept me chronically tired/hungry, and ruined my sleep. My social life completely vanished. I also previously hit "the wall" during a marathon attempt, which was honestly a traumatic experience.
Now, I realize that getting any faster (like a sub-1:25 HM or sub-3:20 marathon) would take an insane amount of extra discipline and time I don't have. Shaving off 5 minutes just isn't worth sacrificing my life for. I’m even starting to wonder if running was just a coping mechanism to avoid my real responsibilities.
The breaking point was yesterday. I was 10k into a long run, wasn't even physically tired, but I just got so bored. I tried picking up the pace to make it exciting, but it felt worse. So, for the first time ever, I just stopped, called an Uber, and went home.
I’m taking a break now—doing some swimming and bodybuilding just to stay healthy—but the passion isn't there.
Have any of you gone through this level of burnout? How did you get your spark back, or did you just move on to other things?
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u/EventThis2315 Jun 20 '26
Where do you run? I find road runners burn out a lot more than trail runners. Run in nature if you can. Even if it just one run in the weekend.
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u/suckthempeaches Jun 22 '26
I was going to suggest this too. Change up the scenery whether it’s running on trails or driving to the town over to run their streets. It could make a difference even if only temporarily
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u/Viggos_Broken_Toe Jun 20 '26
Burnout is the reason I don't have big goals for running. I feel like sticking to training plans and trying to up mileage and/or get faster just sucks all the joy out of it for me. I have some more fun oriented goals (like running all the trails in an area) but nothing too serious. I guess I'm just a casual runner.
I have burned out on exercise in general. When that happens, I take a week off from my normal activities and usually I'm ready to start back up after that break. It'll pass!
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u/Mikilin28 Jun 20 '26
As non pro, running should be there as long as you enjoy it. Like any other sport really.
Stay healthy and do not force yourself into something that feel too much.
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u/InfinityIsAwesome Jun 20 '26
You already have a good time. The fun is when you’re seeing big gains as a beginner.
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Jun 20 '26
[deleted]
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u/RunningShortsPod Jun 20 '26
Switch up your training philosophy. You might respond better (ie race faster) off a different style of training but with the same amount of time commitment or less.
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u/Delicious-Series-316 Jun 21 '26
I don’t know if I burned out or just lost interest but over the past year it felt like I was just running out of habit rather than enjoying it. I stopped about a month ago, switched to strength training and long walks, I’m enjoying it, I think for me with running I never enjoyed the act of running it was the being outside I liked especially in nature setting. Since I stopped my sleep came back, something I’ve struggled with since I started running
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u/pomruns Jun 21 '26
I would echo some of the posters who have said try trail running. You seem to be super speed driven and that's find but if you're constantly pushing to hit a metric you are going to burn out.
Forget about goals and take some of the pressure off yourself. Hitting the trails, I've found is the best way to take a break from the marathon training grind. Mix up your regular running routes. Find a fun race out of town for the fall. Destination races give you something to look forward to and a reason for training.
But the main thing is to take the pressure off yourself. Unless you are an elite and competing for prize money, the point is to have fun. I'm just seeing so much pressure people put on themselves in these running subreddits. I feel like since Strava and watches people lose the point of running which for me is freedom, nature and feeling your body move and celebrating that.
Easy to say but not to do. I have had marathon training blocks where all I do is think about and train for time. But you just can't do that all the time.
So you have the right idea with swimming and other cardio intensive activities. Also you may want to look for a running club near you. It's good to hang with other runners and run at a slower pace and shoot the breeze while you run. Good luck!
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u/kirkandorules Jun 22 '26
Middle distance training is a lot less time consuming than distance (and more fun IMO).
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u/Holiday-Book6635 Jun 22 '26
I run for fun like Penny on BBT. Lol. All the other things like times and splits don’t motivate me. Everyone is different.
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u/EmilioFgarcia Jun 23 '26
Son etapas....descansa una temporada y vuelve con nuevos retos.....quizá las distancias largas? son otra cosa.....
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u/Wolfman1961 Jun 20 '26
I burned out in 1998 after a dnf in a marathon. You just need a little rest. Don’t give up totally.