Do you ever have days where you just need to go run?
I haven’t been running lately. After messing up my ankle I’ve been keeping a low fitness profile by hitting the weights and using the bike or elliptical machines at the gym. Tonight that just wasn’t enough.
I wanted to run!
I NEEDED to run!
I’m not fast. I’m not a great runner. Running is hard. If I go too far my knees won’t appreciate the effort. I have a long list of activities I prefer over running. It’s nowhere near my top favorite fitness activities.
But sometimes? You just have to run. You have to take the bad day, the stress, the tension, the miscommunication, the anxiety, the troubles, and run them all away.
Having a bad day? Go for a run
Feeling insecure? Go for a run.
Trouble concentrating? Go for a run.
Feeling stressed out? Go for a run.
Negative thoughts? Go for a run.
You’ll come back without any of those negative feelings. At least that is what happens for me.
Tonight I felt some of those things. Work lately has been pretty stressful and it’s seeping into other amazing areas of my life. I just wanted to wipe away all the stress and tension from the work day so I ran a few laps while I was at a park. I ran until I felt the bad feelings disappearing. I took walk breaks and started running again when it felt like I couldn’t help it. I ran past children running for fun and realized I was doing the same thing. It was fun.
I’ll start a run with a cloudy mind and negative thoughts but I’ll come back from it feeling tired but elated. Clear mind, open heart. All those good positive feelings swirling around with endorphins… it’s definitely part of how I control my anxiety and how I turn a bad day into a good one. Running or any intense physical activity is like medicine for me.
Today I needed to run. It was exactly what I needed to feel happy.
It also got me over my daily 10,000 step goal!
While I don’t plan to start running every day, there are definitely days like today where I need to run. It’s not even an option!
That is the biggest draw to running for me. The way it clears my mind!!!!!
Oh Mary I so relate to this! I used to be one of those people who never exercised at all. I decided earlier this year it was time to make a change and I have had a PT ever since. I can’t believe how quickly my mindset changed from hating exercise more than anything (and when anxious, reaching for chocolate!) to wanting to go outside and get some fresh air in my lungs and blood pumping in my veins. Great post!
It’s funny how we reach for things like chocolate sometimes but really the best option is to get moving. Glad we can see that and go for it!
Yes! I realized not too long ago that I’m actually turning to running more than food when I’m stressed now, and it feels amazing. I actually talked about it in a blog post recently! http://www.loveyourselfhealthy.net/2015/09/on-becoming-badass.html
Yes! Love this! Thank you for sharing that post. :)
This just proves that we are now living a healthier lifestyle! Since we’re not running on foods for comfort anymore. Running gives a better and healthier benefits to our body when we’re stressed than indulging ourselves with binge eating and unhealthy foods.