I can't say either was enjoyable. The scenery was probably the highlight, as was the finish line.

Training for events like that for an amateur runner like myself required many long weekend runs, sometimes on my own, sometimes in the rain and always starting in the dark.

Motivation to train at the start was easy and almost exciting for the challenges that lay ahead. But as the events drew closer that started to wane and in the end it became more of a chore. I was reluctantly getting up and running purely to clock up kilometres to ensure I would make it through both events.

Somewhere along the way I had lost the reason for running and in the aftermath of both events - last April then May - I reached a point where I could not bring myself to run more than 10km, if at all.

That continued as 2020 rolled around and it wasn't until recent weeks where we have become virtually housebound that I started to feel the loss. It's true what they say about you don't what you've got until it is gone.

Run Better running coach and physiotherapist Dave "Robbo" Robertson, who is also well known around the nation for calling running events and using his abundant energy to spur competitors across the line, described the situation we are in as the perfect one to rediscover your love for running.

Gyms are closed, running groups are no-go zones and sport is off.

But running, or walking if that is more your pace, are something you can still do, while keeping your distance.

I don't know if it's because I am home all of the time now, but I have seen more runners hitting the pavement around my neighbourhood at various times throughout the day and night than ever before.

Robbo says it's a good time to branch away from your normal routine of running and "spice it up" by trying something different.

"I think this can be a really nice time to almost reset your running and ask yourself why you do it and just refresh hopefully your enjoyment of it," he said.

"We love the feedback of doing a PB [personal best time] at parkrun or having a great race but really the main part of running is the day to day and week to week getting out there and doing it and building those healthy habits."

With social distancing restrictions in place this might even be the perfect time for interval training, which is where you alternate periods of high-intensity effort with low-intensity effort.

A different idea for one of these sessions, which Robbo claims to have invented and says he is going to patent, is an interval session where you use your mobile phone number as a guide.

"For each digit in your mobile phone, that's how many minutes of on time you have," Robbo said. "So zero then one minute recovery, four minutes on, then one minute recovery and then whatever your next digit is. So playing around with your sessions or exploring the internet and finding training programs and training sessions that you mightn't have done before.

"But, just in general, approach it a little bit differently. And each run you go on, take the time to appreciate something in that run that you may not have done otherwise. So instead of being focused on training paces and splits, just notice a tree that you hadn't seen before, or a house, the sunrise, whatever, and try to deepen your experience of the whole thing as well."

Those words have been echoing true for me in this past couple of weeks. I have turned my focus to short, sharp interval sessions, usually around 30 minutes. And to be honest, I have rediscovered the love.

The thing I love about intervals is you work hard for a short amount of time then you get a reward in a rest. Mentally, it can be easier to tick off a set of short and sharp intervals than ticking off more kilometres in a long, slow run.

Intervals are perfectly suited for training where you don't want to go too far. You could do it at the park, while observing social distancing restrictions, around your block or in your yard.

Beginners can aim for a 1:2 ratio. For example, if your high-intensity effort is 30 seconds then your recovery period would be 90 seconds. Those of moderate fitness could aim for a 1:1 ratio and the more advanced 2:1.

You could set up short shuttles in your front yard and use the same principles. Run shuttles for 1 minute, for example, then rest for 1-2 minutes.

If you are stuck indoors self-isolating, and of course are feeling well, jogging on the spot will work too. Intersperse jogging on the spot with some strength exercises for variety. An example would be, 30 seconds running on the spot interspersed between 10 squats, 10 push-ups, 10 lunges.

If you can keep moving through this time you will feel better for it now and maybe even fitter on the other side.

Related content:

20-30 minutes continuous. Run/walk.

Option 1: 1min on, 2min off. This could be around the block, short shuttles in your yard or on the spot if you are stuck inside.

Option 2: 1 min on, 1 min off.

Option 3: 2min on, 1 min off.

Option 4: 20sec on, 20sec off; 40sec on: 40sec off; 60sec on, 60sec off; 40sec on, 40sec off; 20sec on, 20sec off.

Renee Valentine is journalist, qualified personal trainer and mother of three.