Running Your Way Out of a Bad Day

If I have a bad day . . . no, when I have a bad day, the feeling of being upset, hurt, discouraged, or even angry, dissipates after running a few miles. Even after just two miles, the stress starts to ebb, and, eventually, all the anguish is gone, and I am renewed.

Now, if the problem is something horrible, life-changing, running obviously cannot make that problem go away. However, the stress that problem caused is reduced to a level that allows me to think clearly about what I must do.

I find myself wondering how many people could toss their anti-depressants - and many other drugs for that matter - if they just got outside and worked up a sweat. I'm sure running isn't the only exercise that has this effect. I imagine it is the best, though. Assuming you're not running in a locale that requires you to navigate busy intersections, you can just meditate. It's both mindless and convenient. You don't need any special gear or preparation. You walk out the door and begin to run and continue until you stop. It's that simple. And simple is optimal when you are trying to unwind. What is it Thoreau said?

"Simplify, simplify, simplify."

You can also have mental conversations. When I was teaching, my problem usually involved a student. When I was running, I could say whatever I wanted to the student, in my head, and the student responded just the way I wanted him or her to respond. Sometimes, I think that mental role-playing was the secret to having a win-win dialog with the student the next day.

A trail in the woods is the best place for a 'recovering from a bad day' run. I can feel the fresh air cleansing my respiratory system as the smell of it intensifies my sense of camaraderie with Mother Nature. And the feeling is enhanced by the sense of being alone with my thoughts where no one can interfere. I hear only the music of birds chirping, wind blowing, and leaves rustling. Whatever the problem, they are on my side, empowering me to solve it.

Running is a powerful elixir. It’s free, it’s available to me every day, and unlike a vacation, I have the satisfaction, the sheer appreciation that – barring a debilitating injury – it will be available to me for the rest of my life. How great is that?