Yes! I’ve always run since I was a teenager. I used to run with my dad, especially when we were training for our half marathon. And even though that was our purpose, I always felt running played a massive part in my own mental health. There are so many ways it did, and reasons it helped me.
1. It helped me get out of my own head
If you were lucky enough to go for a run and forget you were running, that’s what it means when running gets you out of your own head. And that helped my mental health. I’d get ‘lost’ in the run for 20 minutes, or however long I’d be in the trance or run for. And I’d feel lighter, clearer at the end of it.
I’d finish a run, and think “I needed that”, and be able to go about my day in a better mood, happier. The funny thing was sometimes I didn’t know I needed to get out of my head. But I was glad i did it, every time.
2. It helped me know I was doing something positive for my physical health
Sometimes, I didn’t have that ‘lost’ moment. But going for the run still hugely impacted me because I felt better just for knowing I’ve done something good for future me and for my physical health.
The 30 minute run might not seem all that impressive or worth anything when you’re doing it sometimes. But if you commit to showing up every week for that bit of time, and you do it consistently for months, or even years, you do reap the benefits.
Your heart thanks you. You’re giving your body the exercise it does need. We all need. And it’s free to do it. You sleep better too.
3. It helps me sleep better
How’s that impact mental health you say? Well when you sleep better bceause you’re exercising more from regular running, you generally feel better in yourself. You feel lighter, with a clearer mind and all that comes with that, but you end up getting better quality sleep because you’ve pushed your body to move in the day.
And you usually end up getting to bed at a reasonable time too because your body realises when it’s time to properly rest and get some recovery. It does help that I’m not a massive party animal. So with not drinking, I feel my absolute best when I get the right sleep and regular running, where I can.
4. It helps me not compare to others
This is so important. It can be so easy if you’re looking at other runners on social media to start comparing yourself. If you’re still in the early days of your running journey, you might tell yourself you’re not as fast as another runner, or not as good as them. There’ll be plenty of those thoughts to go around.
But the key is to run for you. Run for your own mental health, and physical health, and better sleep – just to name a few of the awesome benefits – and don’t compare yourself to others.
That’s easy to say I appreciate, but try and run without posting on social media, without even tracking it on Strava or another app, and see how you feel afterwards. Sometimes you might not get a huge buzz, say if you’ve had a tough run, but generally you’ll feel great afterwards. And social media shouldn’t take that incredible rush of adrenaline and dopamine boost away from you. Because you did that. Good for you!! And then if you really want to share with the online world, go for it.
Just don’t let anyone make you feel less about your achievement.
5. It helps me love myself
When I’m running, I don’t judge myself, or at least I try not to. And when I’m running, I’m then proud of my body and the things it allows me to do. It empowers me. To run so many miles. To work my muscles to do the job they need to do. The time I’m running and the music is pumping around my head, it gives me time to appreciate me.
I sometimes think of my best ideas out of nowhere when I’m running. But running helps my mental health because it’s more special than an idea generation session. That’s just proving how relaxed and open my brain is when I do go for a run.
Running helps me appreciate me for me. It acknowledges all my little quirks, and does so much more. It reminds me of how great they are. To not be afraid to be me. Whatever quirks you have, funny things you do, or phrases you might say, whatever it is.
Running gives you the freedom and safe space within you, to appreciate them consciously. Agree with the thoughts that you love yourself for them. That without them you’re not you, and you’re grateful that you are, indeed, you. There’s only one you in the entire world. And running allows you to remember that, sometimes when you need it the most.
That’s pretty special, right?
Here’s some more advice from a fellow runner friend.
Running is a great way of disconnecting from social media (and their negative impact on mental health), allows you to think things through (you may either realise that the problem you were facing before your run isn’t either that complicated/overwhelming or you’ve found a solution to it already). It also forces you to spend time in nature (unless you’re a ‘dreadmill’ runner) which will boost your happiness levels. You can also spend quality time with your loved ones (two and four legged ones) and enjoy the little things in life. I never came back from a run feeling sad.
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