Healthy mind, healthy body

Posted Tue 2nd Feb 2016 at 14:13
by Adrian Reynolds

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In his latest blog for Men's Running magazine, TA fundraiser Adrian Reynolds talks about the mental benefits he experiences when covering long distances

I’ve received a lot of helpful advice about the physical side of training so far and am seeing the benefits, but the psychological side of running remains vital. I started running to improve my mental health, but the wrong mindset during a run can be as detrimental as missed training. During the first event I took part in I had a lot of anxiety and negative thoughts throughout. Overcoming that was as tough as the run itself, but with each distance covered you silence those doubts, gain confidence and enjoy the running more.

I struggled through fifteen minutes one Friday recently, feeling rushed and negative, which became a physically feeling weighing me down. On the Sunday with more preparation I went out determined to enjoy a long run and managed 25km. Nothing had changed physically in two days, but even the act of preparing for the long run, getting the energy gels out, charging the watch and planning a route all helped my frame of mind.

You can take physical training advice all day long but mentally you have to find what works for you. I can manage about 10 minutes on a treadmill at most. I focus on the running too much, stare at the clock or speed and ultimately twitch myself to the floor at high speed. People stare and assume you’ll only be at the gym for January.

Already in my training I’m enjoying the long distance runs again. I find them better for thinking, getting through the initial struggle and enjoying being out, far from home exploring new places. There’s a psychological benefit to picking a destination or area you want to go and heading there, rather than running in a long loop back home. It does involve a slight struggle in getting up again after the long tube ride home, and perhaps other people aren’t so fond of me sweating all over them but they do it to me during rush hour all the time.

I still get anxious in crowded events and no doubt will have the occasional bad day, but knowing you can get through it, knowing some of your best distance runs started with a painful half hour makes you a far more resilient runner. When I first started enjoying running it was about knowing I could keep going, not focusing internally on the physical struggle but looking around me, taking the world in. Getting back to that position has been really rewarding, and I look forward to speeding up, feeling stronger and going further in the next few months.

Link here for the original article in Men's Running

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