The High of a Run...

One of the most gratifying feeling is when you just kill it on a run.  Those of you who run, know what I mean.   If you read my first post, the whole idea to my living Clean, is to help overcome the shit that life dumps right on your lap.  Some people turn to synthetic medications.  I choose to use fitness and healthier food as my medication.  Writing about my anxiety, just gives me anxiety.  It is extremely difficult for me to share such personal information.  But, I know I am not alone. I hope this blog about running will help you, like it helps me.

this quote always make me giggle

 There are many mornings when I wake up and feel the restriction in my chest.  I start to think of a 100 different things I need to get done in that day.   All 100 things begin to just overwhelm me and I feel like I need to crawl back into bed.  I just want to hide from the world. There is nothing worse than anxiety.  You can't reason emotions out, sometimes you can't communicate effectively, and sometimes you come off as a straight up bitch.  It effects relationships. It just plan sucks.  In the back of your mind, you know you are being completely ridiculous.  You feel like you can not stop it.

But, I found a way to settle my mind and to take control of this sometimes crippling anxiety......Running.  Three days a week, I commit my body and mind to a 3 to 5 mile run. I find that running outside works best for me.  I am lucky enough to live in one of the most fittest cities in the USA.  The city has so many beautiful running trails.  Running outdoors in a peaceful natural setting allows your mind to let go of the nonsense.  Last weekend my HH and I were on a family beach vacation.  We took a 6 mile run one evening.  It was AMAZING....the smell of the salty air, the pink sunset, and the sound of the waves crashing.  Any thing that might have been weighing on me, was gone by the end of our run. The run was tough and I pushed through it.  I can't believe how much mentally stronger I have become in the past 9 months just from running.  

Not only does the nature of an outdoor run help clear your mind, but you learn to fight the negative thoughts of this run is to hard....or....I can't do it.....  You get stronger every time you push through those thoughts.  Setting goals along the way can help to....just make it to the yellow house....then once you reach the yellow house...make it to the big oak tree.....Controlling your breath along the way.  Before you know it, you will be at the end of your run and a wave of endorphins start flowing through your body.  Every time you defeat your negative thoughts you grow stronger and stronger mentally.  

It is all about taking control of your breath and your mind.  Not allowing defeatist thoughts to take over when you are running.  All these things translate into your daily life. We all have bad days, not every run I do is easy to get through.  Some days I struggle mentally through a run, but I still manage to push through.  At the end I still feel proud, but most importantly the high of my run, is my anti-depressant drug.