About six years ago, Jess McClain went out for her scheduled workout—1,000-meter repeats—like any other day. She felt like she was going full send, but was frustrated to see that each rep actually clocked in about 45 seconds slower than her goal time. The experience was the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak, after slowly losing motivation and excitement for competing professionally.
He responded that a week off sounded like a good idea, to which she said: “No, I think I need to shut it down for good.” Luckily, her professional running break only lasted about two years, during which she met her now-husband, reconnected with old friends, and got married. In 2022, just after her honeymoon, McClain saw an ad for the Mesa Marathon in Arizona, happening a few days before her 30th birthday, and signed up on a whim. She finished in 2:32—and won.
This is when I knew there’s that competitor still in me.” That experience was the jump-start she needed to get back to the sport professionally—but with a promise to herself that she would always find joy in the process going forward. McClain isn’t the only example of an athlete who took time off after feeling burned out, rediscovered the love of the sport, and made an insanely impressive comeback. And you don’t have to be a pro to gain the benefits of running for fun, including leading to your best race performances.
It may sound abstract—and not like your typical training tactic—but here’s why and how adding more joy to your running just might lead to the breakthrough you’re looking to achieve. Sometimes taking a break is what athletes of all levels need in order to rediscover joy in their sport—and possibly come back stronger than ever. Figure skater Alysa Liu temporarily retired after the 2022 Olympics because of burnout, then came back to win two gold medals at the Milan Cortina Games in 2026 after restarting the sport initially for fun.
Part of the reason taking a break can ultimately have a positive effect on performance could be because the athlete is exercising their autonomy, says Erin Ayala, PhD, a sports psychologist, certified mental performance consultant, and founder of Skadi Sport Psychology. However, catching the early signs of athletic burnout could help you to prevent it from manifesting and necessitating a long break. There’s a difference between true athletic burnout and normal training fatigue.
Here are a few signs it’s the former, according to Ayala: Whether you’re burned out or not, making running more joyful can benefit every runner. Looking forward to your runs not only keeps you consistent—a key factor for race-day performance—but can also improve your speed and your endurance. When Ayala works with clients dealing with burnout, the first thing she does is help them rediscover their why—and it’s something you can do yourself, too, Ayala says.
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