Make running consistent and fun – it’s not just about finishing a race or hitting a new personal best. To fall in love with running and make it a lasting habit, focus on two things: building consistency and finding fun in every step.
Whether you’re training for your first marathon, rekindling your love for running, or just starting out, this guide offers practical tips to make running a consistent and fun part of your life.
Here’s how to make running consistent and fun while creating your own miles of smiles every time you hit the road.
1. Get inspired: Explore new routes
Running the same route can be convenient – you can track progress, stick to a familiar path, and avoid planning. But it can also become repetitive and uninspiring.
Mix things up by exploring new routes. New surroundings bring freshness to your routine, giving you something to look forward to – scenic views, different terrain and the excitement of the unknown. Trying something different helps keep running engaging and fun.
Tips to get started:
- Apps: Use apps like MapMyRun or Strava to discover popular local routes.
- Same but different: Reverse your usual loop or combine parts of different routes for variety. This is my favourite way to mix things up – it’s amazing how different the views can look when you approach them from a different angle.
- New horizons: Consider areas you’ve never run before – local parks are a great option.
Switching your routes keeps things fresh and engages different muscle groups, which helps build endurance and reduce the risk of overuse injuries.
2. Gamify your runs
Turn your training into a game to make it more fun and motivating. Apps like Strava allow you to compete with yourself or others, while Garmin Connect offers badges and challenges to keep you engaged. Adding a playful element can make running something you look forward to.
Ways to gamify your runs:
- Lamppost fartlek: Mix up your pace between lampposts or trees for a fun interval session. I love this type of session but I struggle with the randomness and like to create a pyramid programme – fast, faster, sprint, faster, fast, slower, slower, slow, faster, faster, sprint, etc – or just alternate fast with slow.
- Strava Art: Plan a route to create shapes or designs on your running map. A creative way to stay entertained and motivated – even if you just look at other people’s creations.
- Charity challenges: Many charities organise monthly running challenges. These are great for giving your miles extra meaning while having fun.
- Set personal challenges: Count how many streets in your neighbourhood you can cover in a week, or see how quickly you can reach a familiar landmark.
- Run bingo: Create a bingo card with local landmarks and mark them off as you visit them during your runs.
A word of caution: If you are training for an event, like your first marathon, don’t get carried away with the mileage or pace. Find a challenge that fits with your training plan.
3. Be consistent and have fun: create variety
Variety is essential to creating a lasting running habit. Incorporate different types of runs into your schedule. This keeps things interesting and boosts your fitness in new ways.
Ways to mix it up:
- Intervals: Sprint or hill sessions will challenge you and improve your speed and strength. I look forward to my weekly sprint sessions – I love the short, sharp bursts of speed. I’ve even come to enjoy hill sessions because I’ve seen how they’ve benefited me in races – but long, steep inclines remain a challenge!
- Scenic run: Plan a relaxed session to enjoy your surroundings. This is a great option when the seasons are changing – there are so many new things to see and familiar routes look and feel different, often in subtle ways.
- Destination run: End your run somewhere fun and rewarding, like a café or a meet up with family or friends. This is a great option for long runs.
If you are flexible with your schedule, try running at different times of day to see what feels best – I love the peace and quiet of an early morning run. But I equally love the post-work feeling of running off the day. Mixing things up keeps running fresh and motivates you to lace up your shoes.
4. Celebrate every win
Consistency thrives on positive reinforcement. Celebrate every mile and milestone, whether it’s completing a tough workout, sticking to your plan for a week, or simply stepping out the door when you’d rather stay inside.
BJ Fogg, author of Tiny Habits, emphasises the importance of immediacy when celebrating wins. Recognising your effort in the moment strengthens your motivation and makes you more likely to repeat the behaviour.
Simple ways to celebrate:
- A simple fist pump or mental ‘well done’.
- Smile and take a moment to feel happy.
- Tell a friend or do a little dance.
When I put the key in the lock at the end of my run, I take a second to check in with myself and see how I’m feeling. If I’m feeling good, I enjoy it. If I’m not feeling good, I think of something that went well in my run and smile before I walk through the door. There’s always something good – even just getting myself out in the first place.
Every step forward is worth celebrating. Don’t wait for race day to recognise your progress – your journey is full of reasons to feel happy.
5. Running is personal: keep it that way
Running is a deeply personal experience. Forget about comparing yourself to others or chasing someone else’s goals. Instead, focus on what makes running meaningful to you.
Questions to ask yourself:
- Why do I run? For stress relief, better health, or quiet time? Reconnect with your ‘why’ before and after every run.
- How does running make me feel? Embrace that feeling and recall it on days when your motivation is low. This is my top tip. It’s so powerful that I even use it when something unrelated to running gets me down – I remind myself of the feeling I get when I run.
When your runs align with your why, it’s easier to stay consistent and enjoy the process.
Make running consistent and fun: start here
If you want to make running consistent and fun, the two go hand in hand. By exploring new routes, gamifying your runs, adding variety, celebrating small wins, and staying true to your reasons, you will create a routine that’s not only sustainable but truly enjoyable.
If you found this guide useful, here are 5 more tips to help you redefine your running experience.
Are you ready to create your own miles of smiles? My First Marathon: Miles and Smiles coaching programme is here to help you build the habits, mindset, and experience the fun you need to take on your first marathon.
Book a free call today to start your journey towards being a happier, more consistent runner. Let’s make running something you love, every step of the way.
