You planned to run. You even laid out your clothes. But then... something happened. Or didn’t happen. And now you're curled up in a guilt blanket, feeding yourself comforting half-truths to soothe the sting of missed miles.
We get it. We've all been there. So here are 10 of the most common lies runners tell themselves when they bail on a run—served with a gentle roast and a knowing nod.
1. “I’ll make it up tomorrow.”
Ah yes, the mythical “tomorrow.” The place where all your best intentions go to die.
You tell yourself you’ll double up. Run before work. Run after work. But tomorrow already has its own run. And laundry. And errands. And excuses.
2. “I probably needed the rest anyway.”
Sure, recovery is important. Skipping isn’t always bad. But let’s be honest: this isn’t strategic rest—it’s a Netflix marathon in compression socks while your Garmin collects dust. Nice try, though.
Related:13 Signs You’re Not Recovering Properly Between Runs
3. “The weather looked iffy.”
You saw one dark cloud and immediately assumed it was the opening scene of Twister. A 30% chance of rain turned into a 100% chance of couch.
Never mind that you’ve raced in hail, trained through heatwaves, and done long runs in ankle-deep snow. But today? A light drizzle? Absolutely not.
4. “Running later today will be better.”
A classic lie told at 7 a.m. and then again at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and suddenly it’s 9:47 p.m. and you’re brushing your teeth, wondering where the day went and why your watch still says 0 miles.
5. “I’ll just focus on nutrition and recovery today.”
Sounds responsible, right? Like something your coach would totally approve of.
Spoiler alert: “focusing on nutrition” somehow becomes baking banana bread and eating it while standing over the sink. And recovery means foam rolling for 90 seconds followed by a nap with a Theragun.
Related:8 Eating Habits That Kill Your Running Weight Loss Goals
6. “One missed run won’t hurt.”
True—unless it becomes two. Then three. And every time you open your training log, those little empty squares stare back like they know.
7. “I felt a twinge—better to play it safe.”
A mature, balanced-sounding excuse. Okay, yes, listen to your body. But this “twinge” was from sleeping weird, not from tempoing too hard.
8. “It’s too late in the day now.”
It’s 6 p.m., not 2 a.m. You had time. You had time to scroll Instagram, organize your socks by color, and Google “How many missed runs before fitness disappears.”
But now? The sun is too low. The vibes are too off. You almost changed into your running clothes. That should count for something.
9. “I wasn’t feeling it, and mental health matters.”
Absolutely true—but sometimes running is the mental health moment. It’s wild how often “I don’t feel like running” turns into “Thank God I ran” once the first mile is out of the way. The runner’s high isn’t going to hit from your couch.
10. “I’ll be more motivated tomorrow.”
Motivation isn’t a magical force that visits you overnight like the tooth fairy. It’s built. Repetition by repetition. You don’t need a new mindset—you need your shoes and one mile.
Related: 15 Mistakes That Kill Your Motivation to Run
No judgment—skipping a run happens to everyone. But next time, call the lie what it is, laugh at it, and lace up anyway. Because the hardest part isn’t the miles, it’s getting out the door. And once you do, you never regret it.
