Self-Care Sunday Week #1: Running as Therapy

I didn’t start running until I was 29/30 years old. I was living on my own and in a bit of a rut, I think I just kept waiting for life to happen instead of going out and grabbing it. I felt like I was at a crossroads, I was getting older and going out and partying every weekend just wasn’t fun anymore. I wanted more out of life. I decided that I was going to start doing things that really interested me, that sparked something inside of me and made me want to be better and do better.

I kept getting flyers for Team in Training and decided to go to one of their information meetings at my local library.  For those unfamiliar with Team in Training, they raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through sporting events like marathons, triathlons, etc.  All I needed was that one meeting, I signed up on the spot to run, what would be, my first ½ marathon.  That’s right, never ran before and now I was going to run 13.1 miles in just 4 months!  Team in Training provided training plans and weekly group runs with run coaches, it took me about a month before I joined one of the group runs.  I still lived in my apartment at this time which was about 15 minutes from the ocean so I would put on head phones and run on the boardwalk, when I could run 4 miles straight, I joined my first group run. 

On the first 7-mile group run my iPod broke within the 1^st mile.  The run was on a path in the woods and it was beautiful and peaceful.  It was my longest run to date, I kept a steadier pace than ever before and I learned something – with the music off, I got to tune into myself, my thoughts and the world around me.  I never ran with headphones again.  I ran that first ½ marathon in Arizona, I ran it slow but I crossed the finish line and found a new love.  Since that first ½ marathon I ran another ½, a ½ marathon relay, (2) triathlons, and numerous 5k’s.

A few months later I bought my first house and got a Rhodesian Ridgeback (I fell in love with the breed after seeing one on a run), her name was Sadie and she became my running partner.  Sadie and I ran 3 days a week, sometimes on the roads, sometimes on wooded trails … just me, her and the open air.  Running became my therapy.  It helped me recharge, refocus and de-stress.  I looked forward to our runs and needed them as much as she did.  For the first time in my life I was listening to my body, I was feeding it what it needed to sustain my runs and for the first time I stopped getting on the scale (as someone who struggled with body issues, self-esteem and anorexia, this was an amazing victory).  I felt like I found freedom.

I once had someone tell me that I ran so much because I was running from my problems, what they didn’t understand, was I ran so much for the exact opposite reasons. Running gave me something nothing else has ever been able to, peace of mind. My mind never shuts off, it’s consistently spinning and running quieted all my inner demons. All I had to do is put my shoes on and head outside, it helped me think. I wasn’t running away from my problems, I was running head on into them and coming out stronger.

In 2012 I signed up with another organization to run my 1^st full marathon while raising money for pediatric brain cancer, unfortunately a few days after my 16 mile run I ended up in the hospital for a week with viral meningitis.  Doctor’s said they were surprised I was alive, when the fog began to lift and I was starting to feel better my first question was “can I still run the marathon”, the answer was a firm no.  It would take a good 6 months before the headaches cleared and I was able to run again, I felt like I was starting from the beginning.  I only ever got back up to 3 mile runs and then my journey to motherhood began, running was put on hold.

I was never a natural runner, very uneven and heavy footed but I loved it.  I say “loved” because I haven’t run in about 3 or 4 years due to some back and hip issues that I ignored, but I think about running daily.  I have not found anything that sooths my soul and calms my mind like running did and I would love to be able to get back out on the open road/trails again one day. For now, while I finally try to heal my back and hip, I am envious of the runners I pass on the road and I am quietly cheering them on hoping they find as much joy in it as I did.

I am no expert by any means, but for anyone starting out on their running journey, I will offer the following tips:

• Find what sneakers work best for you.  I started out running in one brand, but soon found that were giving me issues, they had a narrow toe box and I needed a wider one, once I switched it changed everything.  Find what sneakers works best for you and remember, what works for one person, might not work for another.

• Good socks! 

• Corn Covers!  Sounds weird, but as someone who has a longer 2^nd toe and lost this toe nail a few times, corn covers became a life saver.  I slid them on over my toe nails before putting my socks on and they protected my toe nails perfectly!

• Training: I found running 3x a week was my sweet spot.  I ran two shorter runs, usually on Monday’s and Wednesday’s and then one longer run on Saturday’s.   When I was trying to increase my distance, I added 1 mile a week to my long runs, I would increase by 1 mile for 3 weeks and then I would drop back down for a week. Also, stretch! Warm-up and cool-down – not doing these things properly even though I knew I should is what has contributed to my back & hip issues. Another mistake I made is not strength training enough, all I wanted to do was run and I feared if I strength trained I would be too sore on the run days – this was another contributing factor to my back & hip issues! Don’t make the mistakes I made!

• Keep your own pace, you’re running for you!

• Most importantly, tune into your mind and your body, pay attention to how you feel and what your body is asking for.

Again, I am no expert, but these are the things that worked for me, some may work for you, some may not. You know your body better than anyone else and finding what works best is all part of the journey.

Anyone running, please run a few miles for me, I miss it and I need it!