Motivation to Move–Depression, Friends, Races and More

Though I felt amazingly well and I didn’t have any injuries after doing the Bob Potts marathon  eight weeks ago, I planned to take about two weeks off from running. I wanted to make sure my body recovered well, plus it’s nice to have the break. I went on some walks and hikes, but mostly I sat on my butt and relaxed.

On about the 11th morning of no running, I woke up and felt the all-too familiar cloudy edges of depression circling in my brain. Darn, it’s morning. I don’t want to get up. Life is overwhelming…  what’s the point of doing what I can? 

Damn, I need to run! It truly is my anti-depression med.
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'Running Woman' photo (c) 2006, mrhayata - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Haven't run at the beach this summer yet, but am dreaming of it.

I went for a run later that day… because I’ve been there, at the bottom of that dark hole and I don’t want to go back there. The past six weeks of runs have been easy, relaxed and generally around 3 or 4 miles. Some have been alone and some have been with friends. I’ve tried out a new running route or two because time and distance didn’t matter. It’s been great to simply run for the joy of running.

But my ADD tendencies are happiest when I switch things around, so it’s time to focus again. This time my focus is the Runner’s World Half on October 21st, which is 14 weeks away. Half-marathon schedules can be anywhere from 10 weeks to 12 weeks to 16 weeks long and start with long runs of 4 to 6 miles, so it’s not really necessary to start with long runs yet, but I was missing the long runs (yea, crazy) so I did 8 miles this weekend and felt great… body, mind and soul.

Runner's World Half and Festival.

The Runner’s World Half and Festival weekend is going to be a blast, with an expo, running movies and Matt Long, author of The Long Run, speaking. All of those are great options which will inspire you and give you no time to get anxious about the race.

And I’m so thrilled because many of my friends, local and from across the country, are going to be there… Betty, Bev, Carolyn, Deb, Jamie, Mae, Rose and more! It’s going to be a paaarrrty!

If interested, there’s still time for you to join the fun. There’s a 5k and 10k on Saturday and the half is on Sunday. Do one… or all three! The trio has been dubbed the Hat Trick,
and you’ll get 3 medals, 2 shirts and a commemorative hat! Registration here.

So if you need motivation to move…  refocus, try a new route, remind yourself of the benefits, put something on your schedule that will motivate you and make sure you have some friends doing it with you because that adds to the craziness experience.

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Do you like the same routine and/or running route or do you like to switch things around?
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  • Deanna

    Took twelve days off from running after a recent 10K and have been battling depression the whole time. Isolating myself in the house. Convinced I’m going to be alone forever. Got back on the treadmill this morning, thank God! Our body chemistries are amazing. I feel so much better now after just a little three mile run.

    • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

      Yea, the old cliche of taking life step by step has multiple meanings for me and it sounds like it does for you also. By taking life step by step, we have a life! 
      Happy running :)

  • Tara

    Feeling that darkness too, as I am injured at the moment. It’s amazing how fast your thoughts can go downhill. Can’t make sense of it. How did I get here? Will I ever run again? It’s been a month. This doesn’t happen to ME. Never had any issues with injuries until now. Was always easy for me to tell someone else who was dealing with an injury to “rest,” and then I’d be on my merry little running way. Now, I’m the one that’s injured and I’m not dealing with it well. Every morning I wake up and wonder if I’ll be in excrutiating pain from sciatica. Will the numbness in my foot ever go away or is it permanent damage. I can’t take care of my house, can’t lift anything, can’t hold or fool around with my kids. Can’t even dream of walking or running. Yesterday I attempted to walk two blocks, which was a mistake. And that, THAT makes me really mad! It’s TWO blocks! WALKING! What the heck? I RAN 26.2 miles and now I can’t even walk TWO stinkin’ blocks! Hoping some questions will be answered today and tomorrow…MRI will be read. Hoping for some GOOD news.

    • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

      Oh Tara, I’m so sorry. That sucks!
      It’s not easy being down, but it’s not impossible. It just requires some creative solutions. Along with the act of running helping my depression, I think being outdoors and getting sunshine and fresh air also helps with my depression… so even if you can’t walk or run, go outdoors, sit, lay, whatever you can do, in the sunshine and fresh air a few times throughout the day. 

      And I too hope the MRI has some answers! 

      Are you an alternative treatment type of gal? If so, consider massage therapy and/or chiropractor. After the birth of my youngest I had sciatic issues and massage and chiro cleared it up for me. And about 15 years ago, in a few weeks, Jerry went from being flat on his back in severe pain to having no issues with his sciatic nerve by going to a chiropractor.

  • Tamratat

    Yes my self esteem is low when I dont run I ran 7.61 this am in the heat at a very slow pace but it felt so good when I got home. Races do motivate me. I might slip in a 5 mile this Saturday to get ready for Bird in Hand half I am so afraid it is going to really hot that day and I want to train for it. I want to know I can do it no matter what the weather Yes I Can. Yes I Will.