"Running is not about being better than anyone, its about being and feeling better than you ever have."
Running tends to get a bad reputation, but running works wonders. If you aren't able to run...most people are able to walk (so no excuses). It is not only a great way to relieve stress, but it helps one to lose weight and it aids in assisting to clear one's mind. With so much bombarding my everyday life (being a full time counselor, grad school, working out, friends and family), it's sometimes difficult to remember that life should be fun and enjoyable. Unfortunately, I don't have time or money to enjoy weekly massages, so instead I sometimes run. And lets just be clear....I am not a fast runner, but I run nonetheless. For me, getting out and running helps to lower my stress level and decrease any anxiety that I am experiencing.
Running tends to get a bad reputation, but running works wonders. If you aren't able to run...most people are able to walk (so no excuses). It is not only a great way to relieve stress, but it helps one to lose weight and it aids in assisting to clear one's mind. With so much bombarding my everyday life (being a full time counselor, grad school, working out, friends and family), it's sometimes difficult to remember that life should be fun and enjoyable. Unfortunately, I don't have time or money to enjoy weekly massages, so instead I sometimes run. And lets just be clear....I am not a fast runner, but I run nonetheless. For me, getting out and running helps to lower my stress level and decrease any anxiety that I am experiencing.
I know that there are many people reading who are probably thinking, "I hate running" or "Psttt...Please, I can't run", but if I can, so CAN you. Over a year ago, I was that person who said, "I hate running; I have too much chunkiness going on to be running", which was true. At first, my running skills were far from graceful and swift. Emotionally, I felt self-conscious, embarrassed, and weighed down. Physically, I felt winded, knee pain, and foot pain. There were so many negative feelings when it came to running, but because I had a goal of improvement and success set for myself, I pressed on! My goal was to not only get into shape, but be able to complete a 5K (a color run to be exact). So from May to July 2014, I worked my butt off every day for as long as I could. I downloaded the Couch to 5K app and slowly, but surely running began being a little less difficult.
After the pain of running lessened and I recovered from being winded regularly, I no longer felt self-conscious and embarrassed. I discovered that running was great for me. It was a stress relied and way that I could concentrate on solely on myself and how my life was going. I saw improvement in only a few months, which made me less self-conscious, embarrassed and weighed down. I still have trouble running quickly, but are 6' tall, curvy women really suppose to be fast runners? Regardless of my lack of speed, I am now able to endure running for a long distance and enjoy it's therapeutic abilities.
The above pictures were my first ever 5K. The Color Run was on July 4, 2014.
I completed the 3.15 miles in around 54 minutes. I struggled through it with some jogging, a few negative thoughts about myself and a great deal of fast walking.
FYI: I highly recommend everyone to participate in a Color Run. They are amazing and so much fun!
These two pictures are from my Midnight 5K on August 29, 2015. Here, I completed my 3.15 miles in a total of 38 minutes. I, also, finished 26 out of 60 in my division. Throughout the Midnight run I spent my time running, jogging, thinking positively and enjoying each minute of the race.
Like I said before, still not quick, however, it's improvement.
I have come a long way since last year and I cannot wait to see what the future holds, in regards to running. So I encourage you to remember that whenever you're stressed, feel anxious, down or in doubt, running/walking is an option to help relieve some of these symptoms.
