25/06/2026
As a coach, one of the conversations I have most often isn't about pace, heart rate, or race strategy.
It's about protecting the joy.
When we set a goal, whether that's a first 5k, a marathon PB, or a backyard ultra, it's natural to become focused on the outcome.
Training should enhance your love of running, not take it away.
Now, let's be realistic. Not every run is going to feel magical.
Some runs will feel effortless. Some runs will leave you feeling like you could conquer the world.
Others will have you questioning every life choice that led you to putting on a pair of running shoes at 6am in the rain.
That's normal.
Running is a lot like life. There are highs, lows, good days, bad days, and the occasional moment where you're negotiating with a lamppost about whether you really need to finish the last mile.
The goal isn't to love every single run. The goal is that there are far more "yes" runs than "no" runs. More runs that leave you feeling glad you went than wishing you'd stayed in bed.
The most successful athletes who achieve their goals aren't always the ones who train the hardest every single day. They're the ones who stay connected to why they run in the first place and find a way to enjoy the journey along the way.
A good training plan provides structure. A great training plan creates progress whilst leaving room for enjoyment, balance, and life.
And if you feel that balance starting to shift, if the joy is fading and every run is beginning to feel like another item on the to-do list, don't keep it to yourself.
Be open. Be honest. Talk to your coach.
Don't wait until running feels like a chore or until you're so far down the road that finding your way back becomes difficult. The earlier those conversations happen, the easier it is to make adjustments, reset expectations, and reconnect with the reasons you started running in the first place.
Success isn't just reaching your goal.
It's reaching your goal whilst still loving the sport when you get there.
Keep the goal. Trust the process. Embrace the occasional run that feels rubbish. But never lose sight of the joy that got you to the start line in the first place.