Finding Your Why: What Do You Want From Running?

For me, running began as a simple health project. I just wanted to feel and look better. Hopefully fitter, stronger, and more in control of my energy and my habits. Running seemed like the perfect place to start. It was accessible, honest, and gave back exactly what you put into it. I wasn’t chasing times or trophies. I was chasing a version of myself I thought I’d lost.

However, as it often does, my “why” shifted.

Before long, it wasn’t just about health anymore. I began testing myself. Could I run a marathon? Could I run it better the second time? What if I tried to qualify for Boston? It was still an internal contest, but the questions kept getting bigger. Each finish line made me wonder, how far could I go?

Joining Wellington Scottish took that spark and turned it into a fire. Suddenly, running wasn’t only about personal bests, it was about real racing. Strategy, tactics and teamwork led to medals. I learned the thrill of not just running fast, but running smart. At that level, sometimes your own time matters less than the result you or your team achieve. My “why” had evolved, and like it does for most runners, it kept evolving.

Then came a hard chapter. At WUU2k last year, I injured my hip. Recovery was frustratingly slow. I brought in my friend Paul for guidance (because even coaches sometimes need a coach) and worked carefully to rebuild. But every time I got close to feeling like myself again, something else went wrong. A calf strain, a right Achilles flare-up, then the left. I was cautious, consistent, doing the strength work, but bad luck kept finding me.

By the end of 2024, I’d had enough. The setbacks weren’t just physical anymore, they were taking a toll on my mental health and I'm so glad I recognised that. Running is one of the best tools I know for supporting mental wellbeing. It clears the head, builds resilience, and gives you a sense of control. However it should never come at the cost of that same wellbeing. When every run becomes a battle with frustration and disappointment, it’s a sign you need to step back.

So I did. Six months with no structured running. I’d jog occasionally if I felt like it, but mostly I was in the gym with my son, building a stronger, more resilient body. One that would be ready when it was time to come back. In that break, I learned something really important, stepping away isn’t failure. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your running is to protect your mental health first.

Now it’s August, and I’m back. Two months of running without a single niggle. My pace feels like mine again. Maybe not as quick as years ago, but exactly where I should be now. More importantly, I’ve found my “why” again. I feel motivated, competitive and ready to race.

As a coach, I see this all the time. The “why” changes, and sometimes you have to lose it to find it again.

One of my athletes is a national-level runner heading to the World Trail Running Championships. Her “why” is huge! Representing her country, testing the limits of endurance, competing on the world stage.

Another is a new runner working towards her first 10km finish line. Her “why” is proving to herself that she can do something that once felt impossible.

I coach a former pro triathlete who now runs to find health and balance. To reconnect with his body and rediscover the joy of training and competing without the pressure of elite sport.

Then there’s the busy professional who wants to run one good marathon. A time he can be proud of before moving on to the next chapter of his life. Not for a medal or a ranking, but for himself.

The goals are different, but the thread is the same. Every runner is searching for something whether it's confidence, clarity, joy or identity. If you keep your “why” at the forefront, it will carry you through the inevitable ups and downs. Because no one feels 100% all the time. There will be sickness, injury, family issues, and days when you simply don’t feel like lacing up. There will be rebuilding phases and recovery periods. That’s all just normal.

The runners who stay grounded are the ones who know exactly why they’re out there. Your “why” becomes the anchor that keeps you steady through setbacks and the compass that points you forward when you’re ready to push again.

So take the time to ask yourself, what do you want from running?

There’s no wrong answer. There’s only your answer. And it should change, because you definitely will.

Maybe write it down, say it out loud or talk about it with friends. Let it guide how you train, race, and recover. Let it shape your approach when things are going well but most importantly, when they’re not.