Running As Therapy

  You might have read my post about running as a way to deal with grief  but you don’t need to experience trauma or a death for it to be therapeutic. Disappointments, work stress or just a bad day can be comforted by a nice run. I don’t think there is anything that gives me a better outlet than running does. It’s a place where I can escape, sort out my thoughts, and get rid of nervous energy in a way that nothing else accomplishes in the same way. Even if I’m in a horrible mood, once I get out there I gradually feel better. It calms me and after a while I’m starting to feel bad-ass. I really do, especially during these runs when I’m working something out. It’s as if my anger and frustration fuel the run and gives it an extra kick. This is not a roundabout way to tell you to get angrier more  so you can have bad-ass runs, but if a bad day can turn into a better day because you went for a run, it’s a good thing, right? A word of caution here. Though running helps with stress, if you’re too worked up a run could put undue stress on your heart. Just be careful if you have a real bad day and try to calm down a bit before you head out. Just a while for your heart rate and breathing to slow down, and so you’re aware of your surroundings. It’s important. That said, there is something very empowering and freeing in the fact that your own two legs are propelling you forward. It gives you a feeling that you can tackle almost anything. Even those lousy days.