Has running become stress relief for you?

crys_aintgivingup

Hi all,

I used to absolutely hate running. Well, I could barely run, so maybe that was why. Now that I can run continuously for 30 mins, I don't hate it as much. But I do find it stressful at times, because I keep pushing myself mentally, going like 'You can't stop! No break! Pick up your pace! Check your heart rate - it's falling! Run faster! Get fit! Burn fat!' ...etc.

I really want to change my attitude and make running into some form of stress relief because I know only then I will develop a love for it. And I do want to develop a love for it because it's working wonders for my health.

Any tips from all the running lovers out there? :flowerforyou:

_Zardoz_

Have days without a hrm with no set route and just run. Run somewhere different and just look at where you are running don't worry About speed or pace just run

Nyksta

I enjoy my runs much more, and find they help me more, when I'm not in the mood to run or have been having a bad day. I go out with the mindset that doing something is better than nothing and just to do my best.

It is these runs where I have run my quickest, furthest and enjoyed myself.

I believe it's because I take the pressure off myself.

As mentioned by fatdoob - run without hrm and without checking your pace and just think of it as going for a run, not exercising. Maybe that will help...

Nyk x

GymAnJuice

swop the hrm with an ipod of your favourite music

chezza189

I find that vigorous activity with music you like is more therapeutic than any amount of food. In fact if you are really tense, it helps to get all the bad emotions out while feeling good in yourself .

czmmom

It probably took me a good 9 months to really love running. I loved the way it was changing my body and how I felt after a run, so I stuck with it. While I do use a gps watch, I don't really look at it while I run. I use it to track how far I have gone and about how many calories I have burned. Just continuing to run helped me over come not liking it much.

RunnerElizabeth

I think this just takes time. Working on building up to beyond 30 minutes will help get you there because you'll be forced to slow down. More slower miles! It's much more enjoyable.

Samstan101

Some days its the best stress relief in the world for me (when it feels easy, and fluid), other days I find it tough going and it brings its own stress (when my legs feel heavy & my chest is burning). When I do a race I put pressure on myself to get close to or beat my PB but I find this a change from the normal so not stressful necessarily (see previous comment on how the run feels). Fortunately I find the good runs massively outnumber the bad ones and as I'm still losing weight improving my PB is still a realistic goal when I race.

Tillyecl1

Yes, actually I am planning go out and do 45 minutes or so and am hoping to out-run the cloud of sadness that seems to be sitting on me today.
I run without an HRM when I feel like I need to just relax and not think about anything, I also agree that a slightly longer and slower run is much more relaxing than a shorter speedier one. The more you run the easier it becomes and the more often you find you'll just drift away into that little zone where no one can reach you. Keep at it and you'll get there eventually :-)

EDIT: too many "todays" :-\

AverageJock

Have days without a hrm with no set route and just run. Run somewhere different and just look at where you are running don't worry About speed or pace just run

^^^ This

novembersuse

I enjoy my runs much more, and find they help me more, when I'm not in the mood to run or have been having a bad day. I go out with the mindset that doing something is better than nothing and just to do my best.

It is these runs where I have run my quickest, furthest and enjoyed myself.

I believe it's because I take the pressure off myself.

As mentioned by fatdoob - run without hrm and without checking your pace and just think of it as going for a run, not exercising. Maybe that will help...

Nyk x

I completely agree with this! Just get yourself out to door with the idea of a no-pressure run, don't set goals, and just run until you're out of energy

PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot

Yep, most relaxing minutes of my day.

MeanderingMammal

But I do find it stressful at times, because I keep pushing myself mentally, going like 'You can't stop! No break! Pick up your pace! Check your heart rate - it's falling! Run faster! Get fit! Burn fat!' ...etc.

Different types of session have a different effect. My long slow run is the one where my head really clears and I get into a wholly different place, similarly my shorter recovery paced sessions. If I'm going out to do an itnerval session or tempo run then achieving my training objective is what drives me.

On my long runs, there is an internal pressure to keep a pace over the whole session, but if I need to slow down a bit then I do that. Last Saturday I stopped for a couple of minutes to watch a couple of deer that I saw just off the trail.

And sometimes, as upthread, the sessions where I really don't feel like it do turn out to be the better performances.

kristinegift

Not so much stress relief... not of an anti-*****iness measure. When I don't run for a couple days, I'm super tense and snappy. A quick run around the neighborhood though and I've got a much brighter outlook

ErynV15

I used to hate running as well, but after doing the Couch to 5K program and gradually running more and more, I love it. It's still so hard for me.. but the natural stress relief I get from it is amazing. I love the feeling afterwards... everything stressful and negative about my day has gone away, at least for a little while.

FromHereOnOut

I think that where you are is perfectly normal. At some point, your brain gets bored with all the running thoughts and will switch to something else and you'll find yourself thinking of something to the point that you totally zone out and then suddenly realize that a bunch of time has passed without you noticing the time passing, or without noticing much of anything--being in autopilot. For me, it started to happen after I got outside of the 1/2mi loop at the park and started running in new areas and started running closer to about 45min straight. The mind eventually tires of all that running, heart rate stuff. Maybe start to plan a vacation in your mind, or something like that and then let it wander. And, yes, I find that kind of "zoned out" running very relaxing. I also find that i have no discomfort or pain when I'm "zoned out", even though I might start to have some various discomfort the moment I "snap out of it".

Capt_Apollo

no. it's actually where i turn off my mind. i don't really think about anything. i don't work any rage out, i don't plan my week, or think about the past. i just run.

JenniBaby85

Running is definitely stress relief for me, I only push for a faster pace once a week. Unless I'm training specifically for something. I LOVE going for a leisurely run to clear my head and still get a decent calorie burn. Don't bring anything but yourself, and enjoy :flowerforyou: .

SonicDeathMonkey80

What are your goals with running? Fitness? An eventual race?

For me, it's stress relief. It breaks up my monotonous work day, and signals the nearing of popcorn-o-clock. On the weekends I am doing long run + race, or just two long runs. The long runs keep me socialized, the races keep my ego in check (usually).

sevsmom

I find that running with my gps watch will produce a bit of anxiety...because I want to hit a certain pace. But when I run "blind" I absolutely love it!!

thepetiterunner

I'm SUCH a nicer person because I run on a regular basis. Truth.

I fell in love with running after about 4 months or so and after completing my first half marathon. For me, accomplishing a challenge that I would have never have dreamed of a mere year before was amazing. Also finding a great running buddy or running group can really be inspirational.

I'm also pretty cerebral, so reading some running books really got me excited about running and the possibilities. My favorite running book of all time is "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. If this book doesn't make you want to start running ultras, then I don't know what will.

JustSomeEm

For me, running is the best stress relief on the planet. I LOVE the feeling of making my muscles work, and get pretty cranky if I don't get a run in on a fairly regular basis. I don't worry about my heart rate, though. I just like to get out there and move. I'm itching to really get back to it - I've been off with a major chest cold for the last few weeks. Restarting my running program first thing in the morning. Can't WAIT!

Awesomers

I run because it is a symbol of the things I denied myself by gaining so much weight. It is a well-deserved exclamation to myself that I am already a success. Every day that I go out, I'm pushing myself to achieve more because the old me wouldn't have even dreamed it was possible. All I'm thinking about is my breathing and my pace and it's the only time that I am truly living in the moment. To me, running is freedom and it might hurt to push through it sometimes but that makes it even more worthwhile.

markamckay3

I agree with FromHereOnOut. When my mind is zoned out I can run for a long time and not notice the time passing. It often helps if I'm already stressed going into the run because I latch my mind onto whatever problem is bothering me and plan out, in great detail, how to resolve it. Before I know it, I've run several miles, relieved myself of stress and worked out my problem.
Sometimes I think about a tv show I watched that I really enjoyed and just replay it in my head line for line. I know it sounds weird but it entertains me and keeps me from thinking about how tired or sore I am. It's especially helpful if it's a funny show because I laugh my way through my workout.

vmclach

I actually hate running too. I don't really know why I do it. I think it's become an addiction really. I'm on my seventh marathon training in the past year. I have also signed myself up for a 50 miler in September.

I don't enjoy running 90% of the time. I think i'm one of those people out there who enjoys the "challenge" aspect. I'm really competitive with myself. It's like my replacement for school/college. I spend so much time on it, it actually is a stress causer sometimes lol..

I can't explain it :-/

vmclach

the races keep my ego in check (usually).

yes

Jestinia

It was until I busted up my knees.

Take care of your joints. Take very good care of them. They have to last you all your life, and there's nothing worse than realizing you have to stop doing something you enjoy because you're getting creaky.

rybo

I run for various reasons, mostly just because I enjoy it. Occasionally it serves as stress relief. Sometimes when training for a marathon and knowing that you have to run in unfavorable conditions, it can be a little stress inducing. But not that badly.

thavoice

Yes.
ANd I just posted that in a diff thread.

Some like to use their phones to track running, listen to music, etc.
I prefer to leave the phone at home. Us a GPS watch and MP3 player i fyou want music.

Get untethered. Most people waste too much time on their phones and it feels good to get away from it even if its jut 20-30 min on your run.

Kekibird

This has occurred only recently and I've been running for over 3 years. Just recently I found a good interval pace and a good playlist. Something about these things clicked and now I can't wait to run and clear my head.

lili61

Yes! I'm still fairly new to running, but I have found that it (along with most other exercises) is a great stress reliever. I was in a foul mood yesterday after work but forced myself to run a 5k. About a mile in there was a noticeable release of the day's stresses. Can't beat that feeling. Otherwise, I'm sure I would have gone home and started in on a bottle of wine!