I want to talk about something that doesn’t get said enough: sometimes, running takes a back seat.
Life happens. Energy dips. Motivation disappears without warning. Maybe you’ve been there too — watching your shoes gather dust while part of you still wants to run, but can’t quite get going.
That’s been me, more than once.
But here’s what I’ve realised: even when I’m not running much (or at all), staying connected to my running community helps me keep that part of myself alive. Not in a forced, “you must get back out there” kind of way. But in a quiet, grounding sort of way.
Being around runners helps me remember why I love it
I’m still a member of my local Masters Athletics club. I haven’t run in ages, but I still show up. In fact, I help organise one of the events each year – I’m the race director, standing at the start line, watching everyone head off and cheering them back in again.
And every time I do, something stirs.
I watch the effort, the joy, the red faces, the chats after the run and, even if I’ve barely run a step in months, I feel it. That little flicker of “yeah… this is still part of me.”
It’s a gentle reminder that I haven’t lost anything. That running is still mine, even when I’m not doing it.
You don’t stop being a runner just because you’re on a break
It’s easy to fall into that all-or-nothing thinking. Like if you’re not running regularly, you’ve somehow stopped being “a runner.” That you’re on the outside now, and you’ve got to earn your way back in.
But that’s not how it works.
Being a runner isn’t about pace, frequency, or distance. It’s about having that part of you, however quiet, that still connects with the idea of running. Even if you’re not lacing up right now.
And honestly, one of the best ways I’ve found to keep that part of me alive is simply to stay close to it. To stay in the conversations. To hear other people’s stories. To remember the feeling.
That’s what Runners Gateway is here for
I created Runners Gateway because I knew there were other people like you and me. People who run sometimes, pause sometimes, start again, stop again and, through it all, want to feel seen, supported, and welcome.
It’s not just a place to get started with running. It’s also a space to stay connected – whether you’re walking, thinking about running again, or just needing to be around people who get it.
👉 Join the Runners Gateway community
No pressure. No expectations. Just a reminder that you still belong.
So if you’re in a pause, you’re not alone
If you’re not running much right now, that’s okay. You’re still a runner. You still belong. And it’s completely normal for the rhythm of running to come and go.
Staying connected, even in a small way, might be the thing that helps the spark stay alive until you’re ready to move again.
That’s certainly been true for me. Perhaps it will be for you?
