Lost your resolve to run? Here’s how to get motivated. Again. – By Jeff Galloway

It happens. You start strong, diligently ticking off run after run. But gradually the excitement wears off, you skip a workout here and there, and before you know it, lacing up your running shoes begins to feel like a chore. Don’t despair, though: you can find plenty of ways to push through the doldrums, overcome the excuses and restart your running engines.

You feel out of breath

Beat it: If you can’t talk in full sentences, you’re going too fast. Run one minute, walk one minute for 10 minutes. Shift to a 2:1 run/walk ratio for the next 10 minutes. Do whatever you feel like for the final 10 minutes.

You feel like stopping

Beat it: Starting out too fast can lead to a sudden increase in muscle waste products that can make you feel sluggish. Head out slowly – and remember, no pace is too slow.

You feel bored

Beat it: Establish a mission for every run. Run to get a coffee. Do a few accelerations in the middle of your loop. On measured paths or trails, try to run a few seconds faster every kilometre. Run your regular loop backward, loop through different areas, or call up a friend to join you.

You feel frustrated

Beat it: Once a week, warm up, then run four laps around a track. Time yourself. Set a goal to beat the time you ran the previous week. Every other week, slow down your longest run and increase the distance by 400 metres. Watching your mileage add up and your times go down is a great way to gauge your progress.

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