BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Run for your Mental Health

Now let's get started by talking about something most runners never talk about... mental health. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, it's a great time to consider what mental health is and why it's so important to our overall well-being--especially since more than 1 in 5 adults lives with a mental illness. That means more than likely someone (if not you) in your running group struggles with depression or another type of mental illness. As defined by the CDC, mental health is our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. 

So, as you can clearly see, good mental health is crucial for our overall robustness, something the CDC confirms: Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness. See how they're connected? 

Now here comes the good part. Did you know that exercising is one of the best ways to to be mentally healthy? It's true! Running is a natural remedy for stress, anxiety and depression. This is yet another reason to keep on running for life or to take up running (or brisk walking) if you've merely been considering it up until this point. Incorporating daily movement into your routine will not only help you manage normal day to day stress but will help you acquire three core strengths that are crucial for coping with whatever life throws at you while maintaining a positive outlook:

• Self-esteem/confidence
• Resilience
• Motivation/determination

Self-Esteem & Confidence

One of the most notable aspects of running is that, as an individual sport, you must rely on yourself for results. Over time, as running become easier and a person becomes fitter they will realize that they are fully equipped to better themselves and overcome challenges. This then transfers to other areas of their life, thus increasing their sense of capability at dealing with obstacles and stressors. Running is demanding and the rewards and frustrations of running fall only to yourself. Rising to the challenge of the demanding endeavor builds your ego and self-esteem as you realize that you are capable of doing great things… alone!

Resilience

As mentioned before, not every run will be a “good run”. There will be days when the legs feel heavy, the lungs feel about 5 times smaller, you can’t get your head to focus on the task at hand… and on those days, you will complete the run thinking you ought to never run again! Resilience, consequently, is built through overcoming these bad runs and deciding to just try again. Developing the ability to visualise future success and tying up your laces just once more – that is resilience.

Motivation/Determination

Running encourages us to set both short-term and long-term goals. The long term goals are often what motivates us to head out for a run, and the short term goal (of say, completing 5k this Thursday evening) provides us with determination to see something through. Focusing and visualising future achievements (e.g. running a race, or completing a particular distance) is so healthy. The goal is tangible and attainable and it is our determination that is strengthened to seeing us through to the completion of that goal. No one can put in the training for us. Creating and attaining goals is an invaluable experience to then attribute to other areas of your life – be that career, relationships, other life-long dreams and hobbies. Through achieving our running goals, we become more confident in our ability to see things through and develop a sense of self.

So there you have it friends. Running is good for us in so many ways. But mostly for the friendships the sport creates--friendships that are so good for our health that they should rank up there with healthy eating and exercise according to Dr. Kelli Harding, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City who said, "As a medical doctor, I wish I could prescribe friendships for everyone." So grab a friend and go for a run. Your mind and body will thank you for it! Happy Running!