Right now it is important to do something for your mental health. Running, in particular, has great effects on mood – often better than medication. Self-confidence also benefits from training. An experience report.
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When I started running, I had the usual expectations and dreams. I wanted to lose a few pounds, train my muscles and of course just get fitter again. I had just become a mother and the sport had clearly been neglected for a long time. I was completely untrained – and my back was torturing me. So, at some point I started running.
It was pure coincidence that I became a runner of all things. I was looking for a sport that fit between baby, job and partnership. After a sporting hobby that I could always do when I had time. As spontaneous as possible – and ideally also on business trips.
So I started walking. Of course, that went very badly. But that’s not what this article is supposed to be about. Instead, I want to tell you what running did to my head. This is exactly the theme of the new podcast episode of “She’s running. He’s running.” Most of them know how well running protects against diseases such as cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. But only very few realize how good the endurance training is for their brain. So good that there are now some health insurance companies that recognize running as a therapy.
Exercise works in an astonishingly low dose
You don’t have to run to exhaustion to benefit from exercise. This has also been proven in studies. My pace, my route, my thoughts, my body. Wonderful. Walking slowly doesn’t hurt at all. On the contrary. The breath sets the rhythm, the legs go with you and everything vibrates. Sport soon combined with a positive feeling for me and I achieved new successes. I walked a kilometer further, my thighs had far fewer dents in the mirror than they did two weeks ago and my bottom was much tighter. Yes, this is important for women. This also changed my body feeling. Yes, I felt more attractive.
It was also the joy of things like that that made me lace up my running shoes again in the evening after a hard day at work. By the way, they stood right behind the front door for weeks. You see them there and immediately feel guilty if you skip a training session. It really works perfectly. Sometimes the human psyche is so wonderfully simple.
During training you are alone with yourself and your thoughts
With every lap I made, I felt how good the movement was for my head. Running is a sport in which you are alone with yourself and your thoughts. There is almost no distraction. Time to think. Term became I-time. Studies have shown a mechanism that ensures that walking stops previously gnawing and circling thoughts. This is one of the reasons why runners feel significantly less stressed inside.
It went on like this for a few weeks, until at some point I came home and realized: I wasn’t exhausted, but felt strengthened and relaxed for the day ahead. Also an effect of running. With every round you learn to motivate and overcome yourself. A skill that is also often in demand in everyday life and at work. This is supposed to be a small impression. I hope you can feel my excitement between the lines. If you want to learn more about the fact that runners are the happier people, then be sure to check out the podcast. You can find the link at the beginning of the article.
