After work yesterday, I was a bit of mess. It was cold outside but the sun was out. I just knew, I had to move. Yet rush hour had arrived on James Island, my home, and going for a relaxing motorcycle ride just wouldn’t happen. Instead, I laced up my running shoes, dress for the cold, selected dub techno music on Spotify, placed my earbuds in my ears, wore my reflective vest, and walked outside. The light play of dub techno fit my mood completely. It was only Monday evening, and the work week was well underway. I wanted to release the tension in my mind, body, and soul. I just knew, if I could start moving in the 40 degree weather, with the afternoon sunlight in my eyes, I would feel so much better.

I honestly have just started running in the PM this December. For the past four months, running for me was just an early morning activity. But after my first PM run, I soon realized how lovely running in the PM allowed me to reset my mind. I could let go of all my worries from the workday, all my worries of my financial mess I am currently in, and just go for a run. The simplest activity you can do is run. For me, a post run unlocks one of the best feeling you can have. PM runs are tough. Not only are you tired from the workday, the commute home, but your energy level is pretty low. That is why I am so thankful that since August I have started my fitness journey. Losing weight, building my endurance, allows me to tap into a reserve at the end of day to find enough mojo to fit a quick PM workout in. December is shaping up to be an important month in my fitness journey. Since the start of December, I have added cycling, and swimming to my routine. More on my swimming experience in a later post. As I left the neighborhood, and made my way onto Camp Rd, I felt the comfort of movement, the pacing of my breath, and that sweet spot where its just you and road, and rush hour traffic of course LOL.

It’s runs like these, after a long day, when the world seems to be working against you, that this type of run I call a “Therapeutic Run”. As someone who has been in therapy for a few years, what I can say is that running, in it’s purest form, is therapeutic for me. I can’t speak for other runners, but when I find a comfortable pace, I often open up a dialogue with myself and work through my troubles one step at a time. I developed this habit of speaking to myself during a run, when I first started running longer miles and had to keep myself for running too fast. Maybe you have heard of “Zone 2” running? The theory behind Zone 2 running is you are able to run, have a conversation with yourself, and keep your pace slow so, in theory, you can run longer, with less impact on your joints, and achieve greater success, while running slow. Please note I am NOT an expert on Zone 2 but I have seen the results of slow running and it is really amazing. I ran 12 miles the day before Thanksgiving following the Zone 2 practice. But therapeutic runs is what delivers me the best kind of feeling. A release of the stress from a hard day, and immediately brings a smile to my face.

Sitting down at my bedroom desk chair. Comfortable. Fresh from my therapeutic PM run, I couldn’t help but feel my success, deeply. Sure, it was only a 4 mile loop, but with the weather, the start of a work week, my inner stress, and knowing my bi-polar illness was playing it’s part, I smiled. I felt at ease, my world was ok, I took a sip of hot coffee, and knew my therapeutic run had saved this day.

Rolf