“We drink, smoke, and eat too much because it’s easier than disciplining ourselves to say no.” William Glasser
I’ve had a love affair with running for most of my adult life. Once I started, the flow and good feelings kept me coming back.
I first started running in my 20’s when I was working for Levi Strauss, (remember 501’s), and we would run down the Embarcadero during our lunch hour. What I loved about running, was the simplicity. Grab some workout clothes, a good pair of running shoes and you are off. For me, music helps me run a few more steps, so I bring along my iPod shuffle
I haven’t run in that many races throughout the years, usually running has been a way to exercise and stay fit. It does makes you feel like you’ve really done something.
I have run the Bay to Breakers several times, the Wharf to Wharf in Santa Cruz, which is a fun race. Several days after my dad died, I ran in a race through Newport Beach in his honor. I’ve done the Primo’s Run for Education in Danville. Last May I ran the Orange County Half Marathon. Running by the water in Newport Beach and ending up in Costa Mesa, was an absolutely beautiful run.
I have enjoyed the few races that I participated in, but for me running is so much more than that. It’s a way to keep my mind and body strong. It makes me feel calm and relaxed. For several hours after running I can still feel the energy from the endorphins, or as they say, the runner’s high. My heart is pumping and my blood is flowing. It’s a healthy feeling. I’ve taken some time off running recently, and I miss it.
For those of us in recovery, whether it be drugs, alcohol or being addicted to the addict, a replacement for the addiction is needed. So much time and energy has been put into the addiction, that it is essential that the void be filled. Former addicts often mention that they are now runners, and it has helped change their life.
I recently read “Positive Addiction,” by William Glasser, This is not a new book. It was written in 1976. Although some of the ideas about addiction have changed, the essential idea from this book, that a negative addiction needs to be replace by a positive addiction for long term recovery is an idea that is still very relevant.
A positive addiction can be anything according to Dr. Glasser, as long as it fills the following six criteria:
- It is something noncompetitive that you choose to do and you can devote an hour a day to.
- It is possible for you to do it easily and it doesn’t take a great deal of mental effort to do it well.
- You can do it alone or rarely with others, but it does not depend upon others to do it.
- You believe that it has some value (physical, mental or spiritual) for you.
- You believe that if you persist at it you will improve.
- You can do it without criticizing yourself.
Dr. Glasser goes on to describe the difference between a positive addiction and a negative addiction. A positive addiction increases mental strength, a negative addiction saps strength from every part of your life. Negative addiction feels good but does harm, positive addiction can feel bad but does good. He says the reason negative addiction is so powerful and difficult to break is that it relieves the pain of our failure to obtain love and worth, in addition to providing an intensely pleasurable experience.
Running, he says is the hardest, but surest way to positive addiction. It is our most ancient and still most effective survival method.
Watch a child, and notice that they seem to have to learn to walk, but not to run. How many times, do we tell our kids to stop running.
“Running, perhaps because it is our most basic solitary survival activity, produces the non-self–critical state more effectively that any other practice.” – William Glasser
From “Positive Addiction” runners share their feelings about this amazing sport.
- You become running itself.
- When I am running well, I am happy.
- Running is getting to know yourself in the extreme degree.
- There is nothing like the feel of your feet against the road, the pleasure of motion produced by your own body.
- Something takes over, not just you, but a sensation of movement.
- Worrying and running are impossible to do at the same time.
- A self-centered state develops in which you feel yourself as a natural organism working very hard.
- Everything is floating around in your mind while running, including your problems, and at times a solution pops into your mind without effort.
- When I miss my workouts, I feel as though I have let myself down.
- I don’t have to worry about eating too much.
- Lowered pulse rate and blood pressure.
- After the first mile, my subconscious takes over and my body functions automatically.
- There is something about most runners that makes them feel a little better than other people.
- The only things I don’t do more of now are watch TV, drink and waste time in general.
- Runners think they have a better life because they run.
- Running gives me all the self-confidence I will ever need.
- It all seems so right with eternity, personally and collectively.
- Competition is the spice, running the main course.
- Thoughts become long, slow motion, drawn out.
- I feel a fat, lazy, generally slothful, and grouchy feeling when I don’t run.
- For awhile the world completely stops while I am engaging with my run.
- I am frustrated, aggravated, hostile, irritable, and generally unpleasant when I miss a day’s run.
- Heightened awareness of light, temperature, odors, sometimes an inexpressible joy.
- I don’t need as much sleep.
- I feel the so called happy, warm feeling or glow.
- It is as if my mind is floating along beside my body looking at it in a kind of humorous way, watching it struggle to run while it (the mind) is free-floating along, ahead of it, behind it, below it, above it.
- It is best to run in a peaceful natural place.
- I float. I run like a deer. I feel good. I feel high. I don’t think at all.
- Brain chatter is gone.
- I am more open with people and my interpersonal habits or skills have improved.
- I am much less serious, far more easy going, less committed to abolishing all the evils overnight and easier to live with.
- Everyone should run. It would drown hate, aggression, make people happier, and create a greater sense of self-worth.
We were not born to sit around, we were born to be active. If you are positively addicted to what you do, then you will live a long life and enjoy every moment.
So I’m back now, running that is. I ran 4 miles this week. Just a start, but I was amazed that after not running for a number of months, I went out and ran 2 miles fairly easily. I guess, once a runner, always a runner.
Think about running.
Be well,
Cathy
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Hi Cathy… while I’m not a runner, I am an avid hiker and swimmer and can so relate to everything you’ve said here. Both help me calm my thoughts and soothe my soul, and I must do one or the other every day. Great post — thank you!!
Lisa Frederiksen – BreakingTheCycles.com recently posted..Mental Illness & Children
Hi Lisa,
Swimming and hiking are wonderful sports, low impact on the swimming and hiking takes you to wonderful scenery. That is what it is all about, so glad you have found something you love to do. Thanks. as always for you insightful comment.
Cathy recently posted..How Running Promotes Long Term Recovery (Part 1)
Hey Cathy,
I’ve done a few Fun Runs and was training with a group when my youngest daughter was a Cross Country Regional champ. That’s a few years back, I am a serial walker nowadays and yes, I get grouchy when I can’t get out and exercise. My Dad was a very good runner in his youth and through to 40′s. You get out there and leave your ‘worries’ behind.
be good to yourself
David
You’ve gone pretty deep with this, great stuff
David Stevens recently posted..4 Simple Goal building steps that can be truly Life Changing
Hi David,
That is great that you enjoyed running and how awesome that your daughter was a Cross Country Regional champ! Sounds like running is in your family genes if your dad was a runner as well. It is an amazing sport, so simple, yet so fulfilling. I love to walk as well, and my dog helps to push me out the door every day. Everyone just needs to find what works for them, and so glad you found the perfect exercise. Thanks for your interesting comment.
Wow! I had no idea you were so into running! That’s great! I love your list of what people feel when they run. Very well written Cathy!!
Betsy at Zen Mama recently posted..How To Make Your Day Last Forever
Hi Betsy,
The list hopefully will give readers an insight into how running can make them feel. It is a wonderful sport and I have enjoyed it much of my life. Thanks so much for your comment.
Cathy,
I can SO relate to this post. I started running six years ago, in the throws of severe panic disorder.
it was the one thing, I believe, almost above all others, that gave me my life back. It is HARD sometimes, but in a “feel good” sort of way. And when I don’t run, I tend to slip back a bit. I have since run 6 marathons. Probably over that now…will go down to 1/2s, but I just LOVE all the energy and positive vibes I get from running races, chatting with people, hearing their stories….as well as the benefits of keeping fit and focused.
I would absolutely love to run Bay to Breakers some year.
Thanks for a wonderful post, and best to you!
In Harmony,
Jen
Jen recently posted..New-vember
Hi Jen,
I’m so glad running helped you find the life you wanted. Congrats on all your marathons, that is quite an accomplishment. The races are quite fun and it’s a good chance to connect with other people. Bay to Breakers is a shorter race, 7.46 mile (12 kilometer), and it is California crazy, but lots of fun and an interesting route through San Francisco. Thanks for your amazing comment!
Hi Cathy,
I’m not a runner either. I’ve tried it but don’t enjoy it. What I do though is walk. I take a 30 minute walk each day, sometimes longer and I really started doing this because of my Dad. He had health problems my entire life and started walking in his 40′s. The doctor told him toward the end of his life that the reason he lived as long as he did was because he walked every single day.
I also find that it clears my mind and I really come up with some great ideas for blog posts while I’m walking sometimes too. I’ll listen to motivational audios at times so I’m able to get in my personal development for the day. More people just need to get up and get moving. Even if it’s just a walk around the block.
I’m glad you enjoy running so much. I have a really good friend who just loves it too. Doesn’t matter what the weather is, he’s always out every day.
Thank you for sharing this with us and how it can help us in other ways then just our health. Overall, it’s just good for you!
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..How To Never Run Out Of Blog Post Ideas
Hi Adrienne,
Walking is a wonderful way to get exercise. I’m glad you enjoy it. The point for me is for everyone to find their thing, something that works for them. Exercise will relieve our stress, calm us down and give our minds a chance to rest. My mom walked into the later years of her life and she always enjoyed it. Thanks for your amazing comment.
Hi Cathy,
Out here in the country we have tons of runners and bikers on the road everyday. I remember the bassist for the Band Poison had quit drugs and drinking and replaced it with running. He said it did fill the void of his past addictions and it made him feel much better as a result.
Justin | Personal Growth recently posted..11/11/11 and Manifesting Your Reality
Hi Justin,
How great to have country roads to run, walk or bike and enjoy nature. What could be better than that? There are many ex-addicts that now run and it helps them in their long term recovery. Thanks, as always, Justin for your insightful comment.
Cathy,
I had no idea you are a runner. I’ve always wanted to do the Bay to Breakers run. I know exactly who Glasser is and read his book back in the day. One thing is certain, there is no worrying when running. In fact I shed my worries like a snake sheds it’s skin when I run.
Tess The Bold Lifet recently posted..I Gave My Car Away!
Hi Tess,
I have been a runner off and on during my life. I know you have run several half marathons, I believe, which is amazing, and inspiring! It really is a wonderful way to exercise and keeps me full energy. Glasser’s book, I found to be interesting and still very pertinent to today.Thanks for your comment!!
Cathy recently posted..How Running Promotes Long Term Recovery (Part 1)
Hi All,
Great article. I ran for the first time since I was a kid on the treadmill this month. I’ve always been afraid–maybe because I used to get teased in middle and high school for being slow and full-figured. I also used to hear stories about how bad it is for one’s joints. Over the past month, I’ve run three times with music from my ipod. It is a blast! I am so enamored that I ran past the hour goal I had set for myself. For me, that’s a miracle. I’ve always heard about the endorphin thing but I never had experienced until I took up spin classes 2 years ago now. The power and longevity of the endorphins keeps me coming back. That kick also keeps me from overeating. I’m excited because now I have another sport–and like your article says, I can do it anytime. I’ve always been envious of runners for that reason.
I think being able to master spinning gave me the courage to try running. That and the fact that my 26 year old daughter just took up running and she’s inspired me. Now I have something fun and physical to do with her! I can’t believe I waited this long.
As a woman in long-term recovery, the replacement of a positive, healthy “addiction” over a negative one is a key to my optimal wellness. In fact, I’ve never felt better in my life. Ever.
Hi Shelley,
So glad you have found running and that you are enjoying it! I think we all just have to try things until we find the one that works for us. Running always makes me feel good and I’m always so glad I didn’t skip it, which I am sometimes tempted to do. I love to run with some music as well. The beat helps to keep me going and it’s a great time to hear music which I don’t always do during the rest of the day. Music can be so comforting and healing. I’m so glad you shared your running experience and how it has helped you. I run sometimes with my daughter too and we are planning another race in the spring to do together. I’m working on getting my boys to join us too, which could be fun. Thanks for your awesome comment!
I totally agree with this. Running has so many psychological benefits in addition to the physical ones. It can clear your mind, release stress, help you focus, and build your fitness all at the same time. Also, the endorphins that running releases give you a great feeling afterwards!
Great article. I fully agree that running is one of the best ways to stay fit and healthy, not just physically but psychologically as well. Whenever I’m feeling down I usually try and go for a long run and I do find that it helps immensely.
Hi Kathryn
I enjoy running as well and it seems to the easiest exercise to start, low cost and you can run just about anywhere. I always feel like I’ve done something when I run as opposed to other exercise where I’m not sure if I’ve gotten the workout that I need. Glad you enjoy running as well. Thanks for stopping by.