Why Your “Why” Matters: Finding Meaning in Your Runs (Even When Motivation Fades)

Every runner has those moments — the quiet ones when you’re lacing up, wondering what’s really driving you to head out the door again. Some days, the reason feels obvious. Other days, it’s buried under fatigue, work, and family life.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about that more. Thinking about what truly keeps us running once the novelty wears off, once we’ve ticked off the big goals, and once the medals are tucked away.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: motivation fades, but meaning lasts. And when running is rooted in something meaningful, it becomes more than a hobby; it becomes part of who you are. 

Running Without Feeling Like an Athlete

Even after years of running, I’ve never really seen myself as an athlete. I didn’t grow up sporty, and I still don’t think of myself as “naturally” athletic. Running began for me in the simplest way possible: I wanted to move. I needed something to break up my workdays and make me feel alive again.

In those early runs, it was just me. No competition, no stopwatch, no pressure. I loved that running didn’t ask for permission or perfection. I could start slow, stop when I needed to, and somehow still feel proud. That quiet sense of progress by going a little farther each time became my first taste of what running could really give me: confidence.

Over time, it gave me much more. Structure. Purpose. Space to think. Proof that I could do hard things even when I didn’t feel like it.

And maybe most importantly, it became something I wanted to model for my daughters: with dedication and small, consistent effort, you can achieve things that once felt out of reach. 

Why Having a “Why” Changes Everything

When I talk to beginner runners, I often hear the same thing: “I just want to get fit” or “I need to lose a few pounds.” Those goals are valid, but they rarely sustain someone through the long haul.

Because when running becomes difficult, and trust me it will, a surface-level goal doesn’t offer enough reason to keep going. Fitness is a result of running, not the reason to run.

Your why — the deeper meaning behind your effort — is what keeps you grounded. It’s the reason you’ll show up when your schedule’s full, the kids are tired, or your legs are heavy. It’s the anchor that steadies you through every season of running.

For me, that why has evolved many times. It started as a way to move, then became about challenge and achievement — finishing races, building endurance, proving to myself that I could. Later, it became about structure and calm, a rhythm that steadied the rest of my life.

And right now? It’s shifting again. 

A Season of Re-Evaluation

I’m in a quiet phase. The big race is behind me. My ultra trail adventure, once a huge mountain in front of me, is now a proud memory. And as the dust settles, I find myself asking new questions:

What’s next?

What kind of runner do I want to be this season?

What do I want my why to look like now?

Some days, I think about performance or exploring new trails. Other days, I crave simplicity. Shorter runs, no pressure, just joy.

And sometimes, I think about a woman I see often in my neighborhood. She must be at least 80 years old, always out running, always smiling. I don’t know her story, but every time I see her, I feel something shift in me.

I want to be like her: still running, still smiling, still moving with purpose well into my eighties.

That vision has started to shape my new why. It’s not about how fast or how far I can go this year. It’s about longevity, joy, and connection to something that makes me feel alive. 

How to Discover (or Redefine) Your Why

If you’re in a similar place, whether you’re just starting out or somewhere between seasons, it’s worth pausing to reconnect with your deeper reason for running.

Here are a few gentle questions to reflect on:

• What do I want running to bring into my life right now?

• How do I want to feel when I finish a run: strong, calm, proud, peaceful?

• What part of me am I trying to nurture through running: my body, my confidence, my balance?

• If I took away pace, races, and comparison, what would make running joyful for me?

• Who am I showing up for when I lace up: myself, my kids, my future self?

You might find that your answers shift depending on your season of life and that’s normal. Your why doesn’t have to be permanent; it just has to be true right now. 

Keeping Your Why Visible

Once you’ve found your why, keep it close. Write it down. Stick it on your fridge or the inside of your training journal. Whisper it to yourself on the hard runs.

Some runners find meaning through gratitude journaling — jotting down how each run made them feel instead of what pace they hit. Others make a playlist that reminds them of why they started. Some just pause for a few seconds before each run and ask, Why am I doing this today?

These small practices help you build a connection between intention and action, which is what turns running from a short-term effort into a lifelong habit. 

Final Reflection

You don’t need to be the fastest, fittest, or most disciplined runner to have a strong why. You just need to care enough to look for it.

Because when your why is clear, running stops being a chore and starts feeling like a choice — a gift you give yourself.

And maybe, years from now, someone will see you running through the neighborhood, smiling, steady, and free and think, I want to be just like her.