I'm with you on this. Motivation is overrated. It's all about creating a routine and sticking to it, no matter how you feel. I've had days where I didn't want to run, but I laced up anyway. And you know what? It wasn't always great, but it was better than nothing. Consistency is key, not some fleeting feeling of motivation.
Honestly, if you're not pushing yourself to the point of discomfort, you're probably not doing tempo runs right. It's supposed to be hard. If you're not getting faster, it's likely because you're not challenging yourself enough. Stop holding back and see what you're really capable of.
Yeah, Strava's route builder is decent. But honestly, I just use my phone's GPS and wing it. It's not that hard to figure out a decent route, and it's more fun that way. Don't overthink it, just go run.
Yeah, don't bother with the wet foot test, it's not that accurate. Just go to a specialty store and they'll be able to tell you what kind of foot you have. And yeah, comfort and support are key, but also consider the terrain you'll be running on. If you're gonna be running on trails, you'll want something with more traction.