Decompression & Not Liking to Run.

A bold opening statement - how can I talk about using running to decompress when I have openly stated it really is not my thing? I think maybe the key lies in the fact that running is not a passion of mine, to me, it is more of a “come on you need to do this” type of activity and I wanted to begin the article in this way so as not to disengage any reader who feels like me, running is not for them. I know this subject has two very clearly defined camps and I am not crafting this piece to convert anyone to become a runner, or to disabuse anyone of their personal views, like my other articles in this series, (decompression) my only aim is to share those things I do personally to ensure the daily grind I am currently living through is balanced with time and activities to take me away from the concentrated effort required. This decompression time ensures that when I am engaged with the task at hand, I am able to fully focus and hopefully, be at my best.    

Running – growing up, running was never my thing, rugby, cricket, swimming, badminton & squash, were my main activities. Yes, there is a degree of running involved in most of the sports I played (not so much in the swimming unless I was literally running late for practice) but I was never someone who went out for a run of their own volition. Although coaches sent us out on runs as part of the training regime, I cannot recall one time in my youth where I thought I would just pop out for a bit of a run.   

 Everything I am sharing in this article needs to be viewed through the lens of my opening statement rather than as advocacy for all to take up running. I decided to participate in running to decompress, I am not particularly fast, I don’t run a particularly long distance, nor do I run competitively, or as a member of a group. To me, running is an exercise (no pun intended) of relieving the pressure brought about by the world we are currently inhabiting and in my view, ignoring this fundamental requirement is not only folly but dangerous and even destructive practice.

 So how did it start, how has it progressed, where am I now, and what insight can I share?   

 It started slowly as outside of skiing & golf, both of which I took up in later years, I had not actively participated in a sport for a good few years. My first run (without stopping) was an awe-inspiring 1.3km. Wow, less than a mile was not only disappointing but quite embarrassing, however, I had taken the hardest step of all – the first one. Although not a great initial performance, from there my goal was a simple one; each run, add more distance until I could comfortably run 5K without stopping. Slowly but surely, that is exactly what I did. It was not a linear journey, although I was slowly building up the distance, like life, not every run added more distance and sometimes it felt like one step forward two steps backwards. But eventually, I got there and once there to cement my new found capability, I completed 6 x 5K runs. This initial journey through the early days was at first frustrating but then became the most rewarding. 

 My frustration in the early days came from the lack of any real distance. Growing up, I had been active but now, running 5K was proving to be a bit of a struggle. However, during the process and via this decompression technique, two points did register with me; I was taking time out of the daily grind and providing myself with not only physical wellbeing but the opportunity to improve my mental wellbeing too. In addition, I was quite proud of what I had achieved. Granted a 5K run is not like completing a half or full marathon, but I had achieved something, I had gone from can’t to can. Despite my situation (struggling to influence & control my desired outcome) I had taken control of something, worked hard at it, developed it, improved it, and finally, I had achieved the goal I had set out to achieve. I can comfortably run 5K, I have achieved a goal and for mental wellbeing, this type of win should not be underestimated. 

The next goal I set for myself was to get up to 10k, a surprisingly longer and more difficult task, but with the same approach (just a little further with each run) and the same setbacks (not every run was longer than the previous run), I set about becoming a comfortable 10K runner. Yes, I achieved it and like the 5K goal, I cemented my newly found ability with 6 x 10K runs. Again, not only had I taken direct responsibility for my own actions to achieve a goal and allowed myself to bask in the immense sense of pride in achieving it, I had extended my decompression time, improved my physical wellbeing, and given myself a reason to set another goal. I wanted to put my new ability to good use to ensure I not only kept up the good habits (working on both my mental & physical wellbeing) but gave something back to society too. That was when I found the great initiative organised by and supporting the Alzheimer’s Research Society – Running Down Dementia. Thanks to the amazing support of the community this initiative built and all who sponsored me, I not only raised hundreds of pounds for a very worthwhile cause (close to my heart) but over that summer, I managed to get my average 10K run down to 52 minutes. Not Sir Mo’s pace, but a great pace for me. A distance and a pace I could be proud of. 

I said at the beginning, running really isn’t my thing, I don’t do it as part of a club, or as a group activity, it is just me, a good podcast and the open road. (fields in summer) I say this again now as a reminder of the intent within this note. I am not looking to convert anyone to running, it still really isn’t my thing and I do not come back from a run extolling the virtues of the endorphin & dopamine release you get from exercise, (I can honestly say I just feel out of breath and need a shower) but I am looking to provide some personal insight into mental wellbeing.

For me, running is one of my decompression tools, (not my favourite tool but a tool none the less) it allows me to take time away from the daily grind, focus on something else, set a goal and work toward it. Without such strategies and techniques, I would struggle to cope with the current situation and be less able to focus on the overarching task at hand. Please do not read anything more into this than that. We need to take time out, our brains and bodies need to relax, they need to focus on other things, and they need to decompress from time to time. It is our responsibility to recognise that and act on it. Whatever you choose as your technique is good, just do it consistently, with purpose and fully engage it while you are partaking as that is where the decompression happens.

To summarise; despite running not being my thing, slowly and steadily, I have got myself to a position where I can always take some time away from the grind, focus on another task, decompress and feel a sense of achievement. It is not easy, bad weather, a bad mood, not feeling it, sore legs, other pressures, etc. all conspire against us, but that is when we need to be at our strongest. When I have a running day (I currently run around 12.5K every other day intending to get 12K in under 60 minutes) and I wake up with a reason not to, (bad nights sleep, feel have too many other things to do that day, weather not playing ball, etc.) I have developed a rather clever nudge. I get out of bed and put my running gear on. (I have been known to wear it under a shirt or jumper when on a pre-run zoom/teams call) This way, across the day, my mind is constantly preparing itself for the deed that must be done.

One final piece of insight to share, with so much anxiety, uncertainty and challenge going on around me, I do not always have a good sleep pattern. Often, despite being tired, I can lie awake for hours and find sleep elusive. I have tried getting up, milky drinks, reading, even taking to a spare bedroom at times. However, of late I have found another trick that seems to work. In my mind, I slowly go through my running route, counting off each 0.5K (that is the interval voice prompt I have set on my running app) of the journey and it works. I have never completed the journey in my head and struggle to think if I have got past the 6K mark as it works for me.