How Exercise Keeps Me Sane

Getting physically active is so good for your body and mind. After a week, if I haven’t run, I can tell the difference. I’m more depressed, I feel sluggish, I dwell on my feelings.

My Running History

Running is my other anti-depressant. I’ve done it ever since I could. I remember in 4^th grade gym class the teacher would challenge us to what felt like a third of a mile’s route to run. I pumped my arms and legs so hard to get ahead and stay ahead of the other kids in class. The competition to most other girls was usually next to nothing, and to maintain that, I grew accustomed to the mental endurance needed to keep running non-stop so that I wasn’t passed.

In 7^th grade I made it to the high school team and enjoyed competing on the freshman team, up until 10^th grade when I ran junior varsity and sometimes varsity. My junior year though, I switched to a private school with no running team and shortened my running distances to the confinement of a soccer field. I may have run up to 2 miles at any given game, but it left me jaded. More than that, I was beginning a clinical bipolar depression. The change in my physical training regimen and social environment catalyzed a depressive episode.

After my first bipolar episode and hospitalization, I returned to public school my senior year, and to the cross country and track teams. The fastest I ran that year was minutes over my best personal records (PRs) in 10^th grade, but I was on my way to my best PR 5K yet.

My freshman year of college I made up the entire cross country team. The girls basketball coach was willing to take me on and trained me using Dr. Jack Daniels’ Running Formula. The formula proved golden – that year, I ran my fastest 5K (3.1 miles) ever, in a time of 20 minutes 21 seconds. I was back on track with my running and couldn’t be prouder.

Since then, I continued collegiate competition in running on the cross country teams, and thereafter challenged myself to do five half marathons. Now I’m back to training for a Turkey Trot 5K this fall, and I am following a 5 day/week running schedule.

Benefits of Exercise

It may seem boring to those who don’t run, but every morning I rise to the challenge of a run, it keeps my moods in check and my brain stimulated. I can easily listen to an audio book or music while I mindlessly trot for miles. Afterward, the endorphins stay high and I’m ready to face the rest of my day, knowing I already accomplished my physical exercise for the day.

Any exercise that gets your body moving, blood flowing and heart pumping is going to benefit you. If it hurts your joints now, it will only hurt them more the longer you wait to get into it. Consulting with your doctor before starting a training routine is essential, and would be my recommendation if you haven’t raised your heart rate above normal resting rate in the last 6 months to a year.

If you’re interested in trying a running program, I highly recommend starting with a couch to 5K program, and then getting a copy of Daniel’s Running Formula if you’re serious about competing.

Aside from a competitive perspective, any form of exercise can do you good for multiple reasons:

• it can be a very social activity,
• it gets you out of the house,
• it challenges your body and mind,
• it boosts your endorphins/mood,
• it curbs your appetite,
• it disciplines you,
• it helps you lose unnecessary weight,
• it gives you purpose!

Now, almost exactly 7 years since my last bipolar episode, I’m staying active with my running, and taking baby steps to begin to get back to beat my fastest 5K.

Think it’s too late to try it? Think again. There are many latecomers to the game of running that get into it well past their middle age and they excel.

So what exercise do you do and how does it keep you sane? Tell me about it in the comments and let’s talk!