Running, Exercise and Mental Health!
I’m not particularly coordinated. I did tennis in high school, but I never fully committed to the sport and didn’t have a natural born athleticism either. I also remember running the mile in junior high, and running it in 13 minutes (that might even be a generous estimate.) I’m also not from a particularly athletic family, and was more surrounded by music than sports throughout the middle school and high school years.
I mention all this because as a woman in her mid thirties, I’ve now run two marathons, three half marathons, two Tough Mudder obstacle course runs of 10+miles, and many, many more 10ks and other smaller races throughout the years.
I distinctly remember the first time I ran 4 miles on the treadmill in college. without stopping! I would have NEVER thought this was something I could do, and certainly not enjoy! My closest childhood friend asked me on a whim, when I was 22, if I might consider doing a marathon. My first thought was “that’s crazy!” and then my second thought was “I’m in!”
Now, I know not everyone desires to be a runner and not everyone has the ability. However, many of us can challenge our selves in a sport or exercise regimen and for a lot of us, it can be a lot more than “just taking the stairs.” Running over the years has taught me many things, including self discipline, the value of encouraging friendships, the benefits of consistency, mind over matter, taking action even when i don’t “feel” like it, being proactive with my mental health, and overcoming self-doubt.
If you DO want to consider running and races, I have some tips for you as to how to get started!
Don’t be too easy on yourself. A lot of exercise related advice out there has to do with starting small. But I think that when we start too small we miss out on the thrill of REALLY impressing ourselves. Usually, we can do more than we think we can. So, if you think you can run 2 minutes without stopping, try 3 or 4 (always consult your doctor when you drastically change up your exercise routine.)
Sign up for a fun race that has a theme. There are so many of them out there. Try a color run, glow run, Christmas theme, you name it it’s out there!
Follow a plan. I would suggest checking out Hal Higdon’s beginner or plans but there are many plans out there if you do your research! There are “couch to 5k” plans if you are a new runner who wants the challenge of a race.
It’s okay if you take walking breaks. Just try to decrease your walking breaks over time, and add more running than walking.
Stick with it! It’s okay if you decide you hate running after six months or a year, but give it some time! Find a running play list you like, find a good friend to keep you company, or listen to an audiobook. Personally I found a whole range of things I enjoyed while I was running, all the way from listening to inspiring hymns to running with friends to listening to that book I never got to or the podcast I never had time to check out. And sometimes I would do nothing but let my mind wander and sort out in my head whatever needed to be sorted out!
Realize it’s a journey with highs and lows. If you end up falling in love with running expect some good times and bad times and maybe a couple injuries here or there. Sometimes we get disappointed with ourselves, sometimes we might feel like nothing can stop us. It’s all part of the running journey!
Enjoy!
Laura
