The Slump Before The Storm (And Why It's Fine)
- John Withinshaw
- Nov 27
- 2 min read
One of my runners messaged me the other day and said:
“Ay up coach. I’ve signed up for an ultra next September, but honestly? I’m just not feeling it. Running feels meh, I’ve no spark, and forcing it is making me hate it. Should I back off and mix things up till January?” (Leigh Annie 2025)
Sound familiar?
It should. Because this time of year is prime territory for the running slump. The races are done, the mornings are dark, and your big 2026 goal is still a distant dot on the calendar. You’re too far from race season to feel the urgency, but too close to totally back off.
Welcome to no man’s land, where motivation goes to die.
Here’s the truth: "You’re not lazy, you’re in the gap between battles".
Training is cyclical. You can’t stay in “race mode” all year without frying your brain or your body. This gap between blocks is exactly where smart athletes step back, breathe, and rebuild their enthusiasm before the next big push.
If you’re feeling “meh” right now, here’s what I’d do:
Keep 1–2 short runs a week. No pressure, no pace, just movement.
Mix it up. Gym classes, Hyrox, cycling, hiking. Anything that keeps you moving and interested.
Sleep, eat, chill. Recovery isn’t a reward; it’s part of the plan.
Drop the guilt. You can’t “lose” years of fitness in a few quiet months but you can lose your love for the sport if you keep forcing it.
Think of it like a winter service check for your engine. You’re not quitting, you’re just changing the oil, tightening the bolts, and making sure the wheels don’t come off when mileage ramps up again in January.
So if running feels flat, don’t panic. You’re not broken. You’re just human, recalibrating before the next charge.
Because when that next block starts, you’ll want to want it. And right now? Giving yourself permission to hit pause might be the smartest thing you do all year.
“Take a breather, mix it up, and reset before your next build.”
See you on the other side of the slump.
John Withinshaw Running Coach
JDW Fitness
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