Club Benefits
I am what you might call a lazy runner. I lace up my shoes, head out, and start the most uncommitted run you’ve ever seen, giving it five minutes of bored feet on concrete before I decide that is enough for one day.
But it wasn’t always like that. Believe it or not, but this part-time runner used to love the feeling of running, the so-called ‘runners high’ that would clear my head and make me ready to take on the day.
As much as I’d love to just automatically get back out there and be back to my old ways, I needed a push and possibly even a new way of thinking about my exercise routine.
The running prompt
Heading to ChatGPT, I gave the chatbot this simple prompt: "I used to love running but now find it boring. Where I used to be able to run for an hour or more, I can now only seem to manage five minutes. Help me get out of this rut. I want to get back to being able to comfortably run for 30 minutes to an hour and enjoy that time. Ask me questions if needed.”
In this instance, there is no need to try and cleverly prompt ChatGPT. It’s a simple request, and the model is more in need of clear instructions and the key details than anything else.
ChatGPT responded, breaking the problem down into two halves — boredom and endurance. It suggested rebuilding this with “lots of wins and enough novelty to keep you focused."
The plan was simple: build back up to the 30-minute to an hour mark, and do so without making things boring. Three runs a week, all blending running and walking while focusing on overall time out.
It suggested:
Week one would include three runs, all 30 minutes total with a brisk warmup, followed by a 1-minute run, and a 2-minute walk, repeating that process for the full length of time.
Weeks two, three, and four of my plan involved similar plans. Warm up, run and walk, and a cool down, all designed to get me back into the flow.
Beating the boredom
So that’s the endurance, but how do I find running enjoyable again? ChatGPT suggests gamifying the whole experience. It doesn’t just have to be running with no entertainment to help get me through it.
The first suggestion was what ChatGPT referred to as the “easy + spice” format. This involved a 30-minute jog, with a high-intensity sprint thrown in every five minutes, keeping my heart rate up, and my mind focused on the upcoming change instead of zoning out.
Next, a ‘route quest.’ Not every run has to follow the same route, with ChatGPT suggesting discovering new areas, trying to find a new road on every run, or running to a landmark and back.
It went on to suggest conversational runs, keeping the pace slower while speaking to a friend on the phone or leaving a voicenote, saving particular podcasts for my runs, and finally, a game of doing some ‘chaotic’ runs.
How it went
So, four weeks on… when is the marathon scheduled? Okay, I’m not quite there yet, but I’m certainly closer to how I used to be when it came to running. My pace has improved, as has my endurance, and most importantly, the boredom has gone.
I followed ChatGPT’s monthly plan, and tried out a few games and boredom tactics. I did one run, which seemed to turn into a bizarre social admin session, leaving voice notes for my sister, calling old friends, and making voice reminders for things I need to get done.
Sure, it might not have been the most enjoyable experience for the people I was calling, listening to my out-of-breath ramblings, but the time flew past for me.
I can see the endorphins ahead of me, and through ChatGPT’s suggestions, I feel more confident that I can reinstate the love I once felt for it.
I experimented with throwing some sprints into my runs, but this didn’t so much fix boredom as much just gave me a pretty intense cramp, resulting in a much-needed rest again.
But of all the tips, the key one that has changed how I run is adding some variety and changing up the routine. I do a different route every time, sometimes planning a specific destination with no clear idea of how to get there, sometimes finding a route I have never seen before, or my personal favorite, trying to spell words out on my Strava account based on my running route.
Running still feels a bit like a chore, but the fog is lifting. I can see the endorphins ahead of me, and through ChatGPT’s suggestions, I feel more confident that I can reinstate the love I once felt for it.
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