cheaper than therapy

People ask me, "what do you do when you are really tired?"  The answer: I run.  When you don't feel good? I run.  What about those crazy, kick your ass kind of weeks?  I run.  As counter intuitive as it seems, the worse I feel--tired, depressed, yucky feeling, the more I need to run.  I may only run 3 miles, but I go run.  Afterwards, I feel better.  It isn't the feel better like the sun just came out from behind the clouds and everything becomes bright and happy.  It is more like the feel better that says I can go through one more day. Things aren't nearly as bad is they could be and I can keep going.

Is the mental and physical demand for a run similar to an addiction?  Probably, at least in part.  The endorphins that are released with physical exercise cause a physical reaction in the brain similar to the reaction the body has when drugs are consumed.  That makes you feel good.  And the addiction comes from looking for that next hit to make you feel good. And as anyone who has ever had problems with drugs will tell you, you spend a lot of time looking for that next fix to feel good.  The advantage with running is that it is a lot healthier than other addictions. It is cheaper, too.  Having done the math on my former cigarette habit (1 1/2-2 packs a day), I can guarantee that running, even with shoes, entry fees for races, travel, and clothes, it is still cheaper. 

More that the addiction, is that it keeps me as healthy and functional as I can be.  I have not been feeling that great for the last couple of months.  I have been really tired, having more muscle spasms in the middle of the night than is average, my hands feeling like the hamburger helper glove.  What I have found is that when I don't run or go to the gym, that night and the next day, all of those feelings are worse.  Some of these days, it is hard to drag myself out of the house.  Usually once I get going, I feel better.  I run outside, I lift, I do something.  Usually in the morning, because by evening, I am done.  In the evening, it is more of a slog than it is other  times.  But the most important thing is to go. 

So, each day, I run.  Some days are a little slower. Some days are a little shorter.  But everyday is something.  That is what keeps things okay and keeps me going.  As my headband says:" cheaper than therapy."

Finally spring...

I run outside year round in all weather.  I run in the cold, I run in the rain...I don't run in the cold rain.  And I don't run if there is snow/ice on the sidewalk.  I don't want to fall.  There is enough risk of that without any help. Because of this, I have spent a lot of time on the treadmill this winter.

But, it is finally spring.  It is warm.  The sun is shining.  Trees and flowers are starting to bloom.  And I am blessed to not have allergies.  That is right.  Flowers blooming, oak pollen (which there is a lot of around my house), molds from under the wet leaves that have piled up....none of it bothers me.  I might get a stuffy nose from mechanical irritation from so much stuff floating around, but no itchy eyes, no swollen sinuses.  So I can run outside in the spring with no problems.  And this is my favorite time of year to run. There is sun, the temperature is perfect, and it doesn't get dark too early.

My favorite place to run is down by the water.  If you saw the video (http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/d/LBLN/living-with-ms/?ic=colnav)  
you saw the pictures of my favorite place.  What you can't see in that video is that it was damned cold that day.  I had a sweatshirt and the crew was wrapping me in blankets between takes.  Luckily I was running slowly, so I didn't get too sweaty and have a wet shirt on.  But I do love to run there.  

I have also started cycling.  I am going to be riding with a team for the bike MS event.  I enjoy the ride, but it isn't a run. It would probably be better if I didn't have to load the bike to go somewhere to ride.  I don't like riding on the main road in town.  People are in too much of a hurry and don't see the cyclists.  

Either way, it is spring.  Between working in the yard, getting the flowers to grow and trying to grow some veggies and running in the sunshine, my favorite time of year is here.   Get outside, get some sunshine to heal the winter depression, and enjoy the season.  It will be summer and hot soon enough.