Running has changed my life. On a whim I began running in order to save money on a gym membership. Next thing I know, I’m acting like a souped up crack addict about to be deprived when the doctor and physical therapist told me to cool it and let my knee heal last summer.
What happened?
I have always hated exercise. Passionately hated it, to be precise. I was the girl who lay on the couch reading all day and turned down all sports. But I fear becoming another statistic. I have a grandfather who didn’t live past 60, a grandmother who had two heart attacks (the second one killed her), and another grandmother with Type II diabetes who is overweight and cannot walk. I don’t want my golden years to end like that, so I tried to find a way to get moving.
Along the way, I found some extraordinary benefits to physical fitness, and learned some surprising things about myself. For one, I am tougher and more athletic than I ever gave myself credit for. I learned that there are others in my family who love to run too, and it’s enjoyable to motivate each other.
I learned that running solves a lot of my problems too… Depression? Long gone. Exercise increases the release of serotonin, which is the brain’s ‘feel good’ chemical. Migraines? Hardly ever get them anymore. Many migraine medications are vasodilators, meaning they dilate blood vessels in order to alleviate pain. Exercise increases the elasticity of blood vessels and improves the efficiency of heart function. Female problems? What female problems? Exercise can help put your body in balance. Fat cells increase estrogen production – exercise reduces fat, and therefore can help balance your hormone function. Self esteem? Through the roof! Endorphins just plain make you feel good. Norwegian inclination to retain fat? Staved off! I learned that humans are designed to be far more active than we are in daily life, and that many medical conditions traditionally treated with pills can be resolved with increased physical activity.
I learned to say YES to myself, and I CAN do this! Finishing a half-marathon was exhilarating! Yes, it hurt, but it also felt very good to realize that through my own hard work I was able to traverse 13.1 miles at a pace faster than a walk – hell, traverse 13.1 miles under my own steam at any pace was amazing to me.
However, there are the naysayers. Whenever there’s a party, there’s always someone ready and waiting to put out the fire. Invariably, those who try to dissuade me are in less than perfect physical condition -yet they try to tell me that running is bad for me. Running is hard on my joints. Running will make me too skinny. My body is not designed for that much activity.
What are they afraid of? Have we become so skewed as a society that we cannot recognize healthy for what it is? Why have I been called ‘too skinny’ by people who cannot understand that 150 lbs and 5’6” is perfectly healthy? And why do they think that being so active is harmful? What makes them feel they know more than my doctor (who is thrilled I’m running, by the way)?
We’ve become too soft and it’s time to wake up and accept that leading such a sedentary lifestyle is harmful and no amount of justification can undo that. When over 50% of our population is classified as overweight, it’s time to step up and change the story.
What are we waiting for? Life is short, don't you want to feel good? Find something fun to do and just get out there and do it!
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