Running. It’s my passion, my escape, and a rare time when nothing else in the world matters. It’s just me out there pounding pavement. I become stronger with each stride, both physically and mentally. Running isn’t the only way to experience this type of high, but it’s how I get there. It’s my favorite workout, and I will tell you why.
History
I’m not going to give you the history of running as a workout. I don’t know the history of running, and I’m not going to research it. I’m going to tell you my history with running. I’ve always run a little. Anywhere between 1-3 miles. They weren’t solid miles, and I didn’t enjoy it much as an adult. I was good at it and it was the only sport I excelled in as a teen, but enjoy is a different story.
In June 2019, the man I considered my dad died of a heart attack. He wasn’t a healthy eater, and that wasn’t his first heart attack; however, it had been at least 10 years since the first. I lived in Dallas, Texas, and he lived south of St. Louis, Missouri. I couldn’t get there quickly, but my mom told me it wasn’t necessary. She said he was walking around his room and flirting with the nurses. He was acting like himself. I won’t get into what I’ve been told happened in the cath lab, but he never came out. His death was unexpected and untimely. He was 68 years old, and I was 29.
After his death, I learned how bad my mom’s mental health really was. Between taking care of my mom, who could do absolutely nothing for herself (bless my sister for letting her live with her family for two years) and avoiding the grieving process of losing someone I loved, I gained a lot of weight. I ate constantly and did literally no physical activity. If you recall from previous posts, I have a history of disordered eating. I was trying insanely hard not to purge after all the binging. It was a constant battle, and I didn’t always win.
During my teen years, running was my getaway so I decided to give it a try as an adult. So I laced up my Asics and started running again. In September 2019, I completed my first 5k race at a languid pace and did several more in the following weeks. I found a new love for running that I had never felt before.
Fuck Cancer
I was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in March 2020, when COVID started ruling the world. While I was healing from the initial surgeries, I walked a lot. It was my workout of choice. I think I learned every single crevasse of Harry Myers Park in Rockwall, Texas. While my husband played disc golf, I walked. Sometimes the games took so long that I walked 8+ miles. Eventually, walking wasn’t enough, and I asked for clearance to run again. Once I began treatment, I mostly wanted to sleep, but my doctors encouraged me to continue running to fight the fatigue. It sounds counterintuitive, I know. It worked, though. I woke up at 4:30 am almost every day and started my day with a run. Running was really my savior during this time. I had a lot of brain fog and didn’t feel like myself for the most part, but I could still run, and I got good at it. Like really good!
Serenity
I still care about being healthy and physically in shape, but mostly, I continue running because it calms my mind and takes me to a place of serenity. Sometimes I listen to audiobooks, choose a motivating podcast, and have a badass playlist I like to jam to during speed runs. The runner’s high is real, and I haven’t found another feeling that matches it. (Yet). Any workout can get me there, but not like running.
Speaking of any workout, I want to be transparent. Yes, running is my passion, and I love it; however, I keep myself strong and attempt to avoid injury by incorporating strength training and plenty of stretching!
Surgery, Injuries, & Sickness
Other Exercise
Challenge Time
This week’s challenge is to find an activity you think you might enjoy if you don’t already have one, and give it a whirl! Go for a hike or hit up your local climbing gym. Free your mind and soul from this insane world we live in and be inaccessible for a little while. I promise you will return to real life with a clearer head and be more productive. The benefits of physical activity are infinite. If you don’t have the time in the day, just turn on some music and dance around the house for a few minutes. I always feel like a new person after a bit of dancing.
As always, hit me up with any questions or comments!
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Working out is the best thing I have done for myself, it always helps me jump start my brain after work and can always think clearer afterwards.
I wish I could workout after work. I’m a morning person through and through, but I love that you’ve found what helps you and you’ve stuck with it.