Willpower is a tricky thing. In some aspects of my life it’s easy. In others, not so much. I’ve never been tempted by drugs, tobacco or alcohol.

Sugar was a different story. I spent a couple years trying to deal with my food addictions with moderation. Moderation doesn’t work very well for me. It was only when I decided to cut processed sugars out completely that I was able to maintain control, and after several months the cravings disappeared.

I’ve had similar experience with running. For several years I only ran 3 days a week. It worked for me then. But when I tried to move to 4-5 days a week, I had trouble. It was a lot easier to skip planned runs the day after a planned rest day, much like occasionally eating candy sustained my sugar cravings.

Now I run everyday, even if some days it’s only a couple miles. I don’t have to worry about the will power to go for a run, because it’s just something that I do everyday. It’s become habit.

Maybe I’ll build breaks into my training again eventually. It’s just easier for me when I’m all in, removing as much temptation as possible.