By David Freeze
The good and bad of stress and running
I have written many times that running is an effective and immediate stress-reducing activity. I look for running to provide the best mental therapy while helping me solve my problems and cure just about anything. Running, and good short of breath exercise, can give us clarity of thought, induce the release of feel-good hormones, can increase energy levels, change your body shape, and make us stronger. The list goes on and I am a big believer.
But what happens when running becomes just another stressor? Some runners suddenly just can’t get out of the front door because life is too busy. They are already exhausted and running becomes just another thing to do on a long list of other responsibilities. And what if on top of that you feel that you are just stuck in the mud, you can’t seem to make any progress to get faster or improve at all.
Stress can be a good thing, and the body can take stress. The body and mind are quite resilient, and, in some cases, stress can help improve running performance, I have had nights of fitful sleep with something on my mind, then found it amazing that the early morning run was fantastic and my worrisome problems were solved. The increase in heart rate at the start of a run can help us feel alive and excited, this adrenalin can help make for a great run if harnessed the right way. A few nerves when beginning the next training run might help you run up that certain hill or enable you to run a little bit faster. The best races usually result following some nerves at the start line.
However, don’t underestimate how stress from other areas of your life can prevent the body from performing and recovering. Stress is stress, the body doesn’t make much difference between physical stress, emotional stress, psychological stress. Your body doesn’t recognize the difference between a hard training session or whether you’ve got enough money to pay the bills. When the body fights back with raised cortisol levels, this can often make us feel as if our own brain is adding to the problem. Short term, that is probably OK, but this type of stress in the long term is never good. Worry, anxiety, pressure with work, in fact all forms of stress can cause fatigue, illness, sleep problems and irritability eventually.
I have had a very good last year following my own return to running after the back accident. But with that, I have set the bar at the self-imposed level of completing 2,000 miles for 2025. That was my normal minimum for the last ten years prior to the accident, but for sure it is more important this year in my quest to return to normal.
No one would question that we need to be motivated to accomplish our goals, but would you recognize that it’s also possible to be so consumed to succeed that this motivation can itself add stress and get in the way of any success? For me, the daily, monthly and yearly miles matter maybe too much because I am a goal setter, so any day for the rest of the year is subject to the distraction of completing the miles. My real goal should be not to cause more stress just to get the miles. We’ll see how that goes.
Next week’s Thanksgiving Day Butterball 5K at The Forum is one of Salisbury’s most anticipated races of the year. Nationally, more races are held on Thanksgiving than any other day all year. Imagine a bunch of excited runners and walkers who want to get their exercise and burn some calories, do it quickly, gather any awards earned and head off then to the rest of the day festivities. It is a high energy event, full of fun and well worth contributing all proceeds to the Terrie Hess House and Prevent Child Abuse Rowan.
Look for this and other upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org
