This isn’t the first post I’ve written where I blab on and on about how I got burned out with running, took a break, had some kind of light at the end of the tunnel epiphany and found my way back to it a couple months later. Nope, not the first, and I’m comfortable knowing it won’t be the last.
This ebb and flow is normal for me and it typically starts the same way, but the differences between each time is how I end up finding my way back.
It is just me, or does the map of my route look like a person crawling on the ground? Like me crawling back into running more.
I just got back from a trip to the Midwest/east coast to attend a wedding and explore with my dear friend Lily, and I had two very enjoyable runs. Running in a new area always helps rekindle the flame as it’s one of my favorite ways to explore.
I’m in a place of contentment with any distance and any time, which makes each run more enjoyable. My first run through Orion, Michigan was a simple 3 miler for a mere 30 minutes, but it was just what I needed.
The second run was a 5 miler through Highland Park in Rochester, a beautiful plot of land in upstate New York. I stopped a handful of times to take photos, which is something I never used to deem acceptable while on a run.
How silly of me.
I used to feel like stopping for a breath, for a photo, or even a sip of water meant I wasn’t strong enough to run all the way through. This mindset never quite matched with my “run for fun” mentality because I’m not competitive, I’m in the middle of the pack, and I enjoy my mediocre pace, but stopping – heaven forbid.
In reality these microbreaks encourage me to go further and motivate me to run more often.
The park was hilly, but I focused on my surroundings and enjoyed each step. The path led to a lookout over the city with visual stimulation everywhere including this reservoir.
It should come as no surprise that the green trees, blue skies, and fresh air motivate me to move more. I also blame sitting in a car for hours while on a road trip, which also happened last week (more on that later.)
I get restless. And I snack. A lot.
Balance is my favorite word for a reason, and when activities are rotated and spinning like a wheel it ensures minimal burnout, and maximal excitement.
Q: How do you prevent activity/workout burnout?
Blissfulbritt 
78 thoughts on “Rekindling the Run”
pausesandclicks
I used to be like you Brittany….never wanted to stop….always focused on the miles put in and the time it took to get me there. And I also spent most of my adult life running/not running, and looking for the perfect motivation. As I’ve aged I’ve finally, after too many running injuries, made peace with walking and I love it….I never dread it like I used to dread running. I guess I was always trying to make a square peg fit into a round hole!
Brittany
I know exactly what you’re saying! I feel this way when I go hiking, that’s my one true love.
anotherwisemonkey
Glad you’re back out there, and thanks for sharing some beautiful pics! Running with friends helps me keep the motivation going, and I love observing the seasons change each year.
Brittany
Totally, I need some running friends!
anotherwisemonkey
Where are you based?
Brittany
The PNW. I just have been lazy in my search. 😝
anotherwisemonkey
Stump Runners in Portland is a great community.
kathy @ more coffee, less talky
i like to switch things up so i don’t get bored. i’ve been focusing on muay thai for a long time now and i recently introduced weight lifting back into my game..not out of boredom (that can never happen with muay thai) but more because i wanted a more well-rounded routine. muay thai is incredible cardio and functional training but i wanted to gain a bit more muscle so back to weights twice a week. it feels good to be back; i’ve forgotten how much i love lifting weights.
Brittany
I need to add weights twice a week, I’m a noob though and have no idea where to start haha.
Andrea Weidel
What’d you think of Rochester? I live less than two hours away, near Buffalo, and I always love taking a mini-roadtrip to check out their museums and cafes. I can’t believe you were so close! It would have been great to meet you.
Brittany
Oh how funny!! We drove though Buffalo and went to Niagara Falls! I loved Rochester it was gorgeous! Not enough time there, so I’ll be back. 😝
danaelizabethx
AHH! That tree looks so awesome! I wanna run through that! HAHA! Glad u had a fun trip! 🙂
Brittany
Isn’t it cool!? I totally walked through it pretending it was my doorway. 😂
Josie @ Literature Mistress
I think up strict rules that encourage me to get active, but that also keep me from overdoing it. For example: I’m not going out for a run or even a walk if the weather is shit. Because I know that I’d feel bad for not wanting to go out without that rule and that I’d eventually push myself to go out anyway, which just makes me resent an exercise that could’ve been quite enjoyable otherwise.
Love the tree pictures! Such a lovely / unique tree! ❤
Brittany
Great mindset! I want that tree as my front door.
millerle77
I like your ebb and flow. Me thinks you found the balance.
Brittany
Weehoooo!
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
im so glad you stop and take pictures on your run because yours are some of my favorite! i dont want to run if i cant take in the beauty im running through then its just not fun anymore. i took my gopro with me when i ran through NYC and that was probably my favorite run in a very long time!
Brittany
How cool! I love GoPro shots.
Karen
I do the same thing! I’m currently in an ebb but really want to get back to the flow. Love that I’m not the only one who goes through this, although I do wish I were more hardcore about running. Thanks for sharing!
Brittany
You’re not alone! Running alone makes it easier for me to fall into the ebb. Haha.
bgddyjim
That 3 miler in Orion Twp, Mi… You were probably less than a 5k from my office. Too cool.
Brittany
Oh my gosh!! How funny! Small world. 😝
bgddyjim
Indeed.
Angie
Working out is part of my life. I can’t live without it. It’s the one thing I’m addicted to, and I actually have lots of fun doing it. I like to do something different everyday so I never get bored. If I have to run, a new scenery is a must.
Brittany
I thrive in new scenery! Great addiction. 👍🏻
CeeJayKay
Ha ha! I stopped to take pic on my parkrun… I came last… But I did get THE most awesome pic! 🤓
Brittany
A great photo and a story, I’d say you won. 😝
Amy @ A Desert Girl
The photos you take on your microbreaks are fabulous, so I hope you keep taking the breaks. 🙂
Brittany
Thanks boo, I will! 😘
Allie Zottola
Balance is the bomb. It helps me in so many ways. I’m not always balanced, but working towards it feels good!
LOL at the map of your one run looking like a person crawling on the ground. I love all of these pictures. It sounds like your breaks are amazing photo ops! I can’t wait to hear what brought you to NY and Michigan!
Brittany
I’m not always there either, always striving for more!
Rach @ This Italian Family
Balance is so good! And girl, I love all the photos you take on these runs so I say definitely take those microbreaks! 🙂
Brittany
Thank you! I will do just that. 😝
Ellie
YOU WERE IN NY?!?!?! I am so close to where you were! I hope you enjoyed the Roch-cha-cha, I went to college there for a year and enjoyed it a lot! My brother lives there too.
To prevent burnout, I read adventure stories and try a new route/new friend to run with.
Brittany
Ahhhh I’m coming back, and when I do we must meet!
Ellie
WHEN!!?!?!?
Brittany
No plans yet…HA. That was misleading. BUT I have so much more exploring I need to do.
Anthony
Finding the right way to enjoy something is hard. We all want to get better, but better doesn’t always mean more or faster. Sometimes better means enjoying it more.
I burn out on a lot of activities–that is why I constantly change them. I used to worry about it, but I stopped that. Worrying about what I wasn’t doing ruined what I was doing. Yeah, sometimes money goes to waste on some of my equipment…but I eventually get back into it.
As always, awesome post and awesome photos (which I am glad you stopped get).
Brittany
I love your mindset on this, and I completely agree!
Josh dV
Some amazing pictures in there! Welcome back to running. We missed you!
Brittany
Thanksssss, happy to be back! Now if only I could get out there and find some running buddies.
Move your family to Washington?
Josh dV
I’ve been through WA but never spent much time there. I think we’d like it though based on what I know. You could always come to ABQ. We already know you like the desert.
Brittany
I tolerate the desert in minimal spurts hahaha.
Josh dV
You’ll love it! Plus-mountains!
pickyrunner
Can you be my personal photographer? K, thanks. But really. I totally get it. I’ve taken so many breaks and this is the first time that I’ve come back and not rushed anything. Some days I just don’t feel like running, so I don’t. Others I’m ready to run further than I have in a long time. Today, I did more of a walk/run, something that was never acceptable even a year ago. Taking breaks from running is super important (for me at least) mentally and physically.
Brittany
Yea! Exactly! The run/walk mentality (especially after taking time off 😳) was key for me. It’s ok to walk a bit, I’ll get back to where I was with some time!
freckle me silly
I totally relate to the on-again, off-again running relationship! Exploring a new area is definitely a good way to refresh that running desire and it looks like you found a beautiful place. A tree with an archway inside?! That’s so Narnia!
Brittany
Yassss I had the same Narnia thought! I want one for my front door haha.
Kristy from Southern In Law
That tree is so awesome!
I feel you on the on again off again love! For me I really have to switch up what I do or I get bored after a while and then switch onto something else until I get bored of that and so on and so forth. I’ve learnt that switching it up keeps me motivated.
Brittany
Constant switch backs!! Like a good path to a mountain summit.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Mmm that cookie snack! You absolutely had to stop and take a picture of that tree. I would have been disappointed if you let an opportunity like that pass you by because that thing is awesome. Nature rocks, although I assume there was some human intervention there too.
I recently started running again too. I get about one run a week in and I go just over a mile. It works for me right now although I’d like to maybe bump that number up to 2: 2 runs a week for 2 miles each. Here’s hoping.
It was fabulous to see you. Love you.
Brittany
Lily and I found the most amazing hidden gem of a market in Erie, the only place that had 100% vegan treats GALORE! I got these whoopie pies (to split with her) and two other vegan cookies. It was amazing. I’m running whatever feels good, like just now I ran two miles. That was what my body wanted! I can’t wait to run just over a mile with you again soon on the streets of Lakewood. ❤
Jade
taking breaks is important. i’m glad you got enough rest to get back into it!
Brittany
Yessss me too!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
You know me. You know I never burn out and I just go go go all the time. It’s because I make it routine. I make it as though there is NOOOO NEGOTIATION. It’s like brushing my teeth in the morning. Work outs must must must happen or else I feel friggin’ GROSS. Imagine not brushing your teeth for like 4 days. RAUNCHY! LOL!!!
Brittany
Haaahaha I like this way of looking at it.
Christina Does It All
I’m the same as GiGi- if I don’t run I feel antsy and icky all day so it’s just become very routine for me. BUT I also loved what you said about microbreaks. I’m trying to learn to give into those lovely little moments. Cheers to balance!
Brittany
Yesss! I look forward to having a schedule that allows for more routine soon.
Katharina
Haha, that “heaven forbid I stop while running” sounds just like me – and now that I think about it, it sounds absolutely ridiculous! Thanks for making me reflect on that 😉
It’s not like I’m all of a sudden not exercising anymore just because I stop to look at something…
Beautiful pictures btw!
Brittany
It’s so funny the mind games we play, when really the run is the same distance either way! One is just more enjoyable.
Shawna
ahh you were in Rochester! that’s one part of New York i don’t know at all. your pics are beautiful (as always!), and i hope you had a great trip! i love running on vaca and exploring new areas.
Brittany
Oh yes. Bahah.
fionajarrett
Great philosophy and something I always try to bear in mind, though admittedly I’m not as good at doing balance! Working on it though 😉 Great tree and snacks are very important 😀
Brittany
Eating the snacks in the tree would be even better!
fionajarrett
It actually would! 😀
Amy
THAT COOKIE PHOTO!!! 😍😍😍 SO stunning Brittany! I love it! As for running… I actually haven’t run in nearly a year now (I don’t count sprinting as running!), so I completely understand. The only thing I miss about not running is that it was my favorite way to explore a new city or part of the country while on vacation. So happy for you that you were able to get back into it for that exact reason! But I had the same mentality, that taking micro-breaks was bad and meant I wasn’t strong enough… I need to remember what you said about being able to run farther and enjoy it more if I ever get back into running!
Brittany
It’s all a mind game! Those were whoopie pies and Omgaaahh they were amazing. I’m still dreaming about them.
P
I think I’ve been able to prevent major burnout from running because I truly want to get faster. I think having this long-term goal has helped me get focused on sticking to my running schedule. That, and getting inspired by the athletes running the marathon at the Olympics this year!
Brittany
That’s a great goal! Total motivation.
Imogen
Totally with you on stopping and taking photos etc – I think there’s something so peaceful about pausing at a bench and taking in the surroundings. Perfection!
Brittany
So true! It’s peaceful to catch my breath too. 😝
dave379
I’ve gone up and down a few times with running too, and what brings me back is remembering I can do it anywhere and anytime, and probably most importantly do it just for fun. I want a bite of that mini whoopie pie now too!
Brittany
I do love the accessibility of running!
stateeats
Love that photo of the tree with the cutout, is that in Rochester?? Microbreaks are where it’s at – Kat
Brittany
Yes! It was at highland park which was in Rochester. I want one.
Heather
Love that “Rest Awhile” bench. I used to hate stopping while running, too, and thought it meant I wasn’t doing a good job. Now I’ve come to my senses 🙂 #balance is always in the back of my mind! Great running lady!
Brittany
I think we all go through this same mindset, when really we are doing way better than most! 🙌🏼