Thinking and Running
25 Jan
After running 4 miles with a friend this morning, I did another loop around my neighborhood by myself to add another two miles before heading in. I didn’t think to bring my iPod with me since I hadn’t realized until after I met up with my friend that she was not going to be able to do the full 6 miles that I had planned. It wasn’t a big deal, but for the first time in awhile, I found myself running without music and without a partner to talk to. I was reminded of the thousands of runs I did before I purchased my first iPod in 2005 and I was reminded that I do indeed enjoy a quiet, peaceful run without music blaring in my ears.
One of the things I like about running is that it calms my mind when my thoughts won’t stop harassing me. Of course I still think when I’m running, but I don’t ruminate like I might if I were just sitting at home, or walking casually. Thoughts fly in, thoughts fly out. One moment I’m wondering where my life is headed, the next I’m reminding myself to take the trash out when I get home. Generally though, my thoughts have a positive bent to them while I run. If I start out in a bad mood, or upset about something, I find that those thoughts taper off after the first mile, or at the very least, I begin to feel more in control of the situation even as I continue to think about it. As I run I find confidence in myself and my ability to preserver and overcome no matter the outcome of the situation. If it’s a good run (and I’d say 75% are), I can usually ride the good feelings for at least a few hours and sometimes all day. In all seriousness, running is my antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug of choice.
Music usually adds to the empowering feeling of the run, and most of the time I LOVE to put on some good tunes when I’m feeling down and just jam down the road. But I have to remind myself that by turning up the tunes, I limit the magical effect that running has on me which is that it allows me to sort things out in my head without too much rumination and without intense emotions getting in the way. After just 2 quiet miles this morning, I’m still feeling pretty good today. I think I’ll leave my iPod at home next time I head out by myself.
