First off, thank you to all who have donated so far 🙏 I originally set the goal for $500, then adjusted to $250, and now that I've raised $505, I've raised it back up! There are two weeks left of the fundraiser, and I aim to hit my goal soon and catch up on blogging. I've been busy with work the past couple weeks. I started a new full time job on top of teaching part time, hence blogging less and resting more.
Why I Run, Part 2: Mental Health
Running has always been a form of "me time" throughout my life. It's a time to alternately focus my mind and let my mind wander, and I nearly always feel mentally refreshed after going for a run. Given the mind is ultimately a part of the physical body, I'm inclined to say physical health is mental health and vice versa. I know it's not uncommon for athletes to struggle with mental health, yet I've noticed that those who prioritize their physical health tend to have an easier time with certain daily mental health challenges.
Running helps me cope with stress, which I understand stems from the release of endocannabinoids, chemicals that promote feelings of calm and relaxation. I like to run when I'm feeling stressed which I often quip as "sweating it out." Often when I run outside, I visualize running away from whatever it is that's stressing me out. That I must return to the source of the stress keeps this exercise from becoming an unhealthy coping mechanism (denial). Because I've shifted the state of my body and physically left the spaces where the stress originated, it can feel easier to reassess and resolve the situation.
I take an antidepressant which reportedly is enhance by exercise. Exercise alone can be considered an effective treatment for depression, but a 2020 study reported that exercise in combination with taking an antidepressant can create a synergistic effect. This inspires me to keep running for my mental health as much as my physical health.
In terms of the "me time" effect, I embrace running as a time in which I permit myself to let go of certain responsibilities in exchange for simpler responsibilities of focusing on my breathing, thinking, or the literal path in front of me to keep from tripping and injuring myself. When the path before me is clear and easy, my mind sometimes wanders into creative or imaginative thinking, allowing new ideas for writing to surface, for example. It can also wander into darker spaces, triggering hyper fixation on something bothering me, such as points of frustrations with people in my life or more generally situations that are out of my control. This can create a stewing effect, which I can either work to soften or simply allow it to run its course. Tending to my physical health in this way can create a kind of padded space in which I can safely think and feel whatever comes up with less or little judgment of myself. Because this can be a point of stress, allowing myself the time and space to vent internally can help me recalibrate how I want to show up moving forward.
Here are my stats for my Day 2 run of the fundraiser (treadmill):
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