Hi Paul. Just want to write to say thank you for putting together this blog. I have been reading but this is my first time commenting. I really appreciate the honesty with which you construct these posts. I too found running in a search for tools to help with mental health and depression. I got out of the rhythm in the past few years but this fall I started up again and am currently progressing well running through my first Canadian winter. The goal is a half-marathon in the summer. These posts are really motivational for me and help me take time out of my day for self-reflection on what it is that I am aiming to get out of running. - Caleb
I think that one of the things that keeps me coming back to your newsletter is just how self-aware you are. You’re honest with yourself, listen to signs from your body, recognize difficulty and where you struggle...and openly talk about it. It may be the case that running is part of your toolkit, but so is this blog. Stay you, Paul. You’re doing great.
I meant that in the most complimentary way possible. I connect with this part of your writing. It's vulnerable and honest which makes it powerful. Running is literally one of my therapies. In all honestly, I started running to literally run away from a toxic relationship, the more I ran, the less I had to deal with it. Thankfully, I got older got out of it, and realized that running was good but running away wasn't.
thanks for mentioning the book "running is my therapy." i'm excited to get my hands on & read it.
as someone that believes learning to *run alone* saved my life, i am so grateful to read your words in this article. i find that when, and only when, i'm running, i am able to process external stimuli and internal thoughts at the "right speed" - the X minutes i take to cover 1-mile, which i'll absent-mindedly gloss over when i'm in the car, just *feels* right to me, so is the speed that the oncoming hikers, runners, bikes, and cars approach me... i am taking several giant leaps here, but all of these things that i take in while running snowball into my realizing my small, proper part of this cosmos, albeit short-lived.
i wonder this is what Thich Nhat Hanh meant when he was talking about "mindful walking," but walking doesn't quite do it for me!
I feel that all the way through. There's something about that point in the run when everything is exactly as it should be, that I just can't duplicate anywhere else.
This is my bag baby. I study exercise and how it impacts cognition (specifically learning and memory). Lots of potential biological explanations for why (increased blood flow, increased neuroplasticity) but I’ve always been fond of thinking about it in terms of general arousal. There aren’t many other times where we reach a level of general arousal (which is beneficial for cognitive performance) without a specific focus. Exercise gives us that. If you’re interested, we’ve got a virtual conference coming that focuses on the interaction between exercise and the brain/mind. Just Google Society for Neurosports.
Hi Paul. Just want to write to say thank you for putting together this blog. I have been reading but this is my first time commenting. I really appreciate the honesty with which you construct these posts. I too found running in a search for tools to help with mental health and depression. I got out of the rhythm in the past few years but this fall I started up again and am currently progressing well running through my first Canadian winter. The goal is a half-marathon in the summer. These posts are really motivational for me and help me take time out of my day for self-reflection on what it is that I am aiming to get out of running. - Caleb
Thank you, Caleb. That was just what I need to hear today. You're going to rock that half.
I think that one of the things that keeps me coming back to your newsletter is just how self-aware you are. You’re honest with yourself, listen to signs from your body, recognize difficulty and where you struggle...and openly talk about it. It may be the case that running is part of your toolkit, but so is this blog. Stay you, Paul. You’re doing great.
Don't have much choice on that one, ha. Thanks Tracey. Much appreciated.
I meant that in the most complimentary way possible. I connect with this part of your writing. It's vulnerable and honest which makes it powerful. Running is literally one of my therapies. In all honestly, I started running to literally run away from a toxic relationship, the more I ran, the less I had to deal with it. Thankfully, I got older got out of it, and realized that running was good but running away wasn't.
Totally get it. You're right, it's not running away. It's running toward something.
thanks for mentioning the book "running is my therapy." i'm excited to get my hands on & read it.
as someone that believes learning to *run alone* saved my life, i am so grateful to read your words in this article. i find that when, and only when, i'm running, i am able to process external stimuli and internal thoughts at the "right speed" - the X minutes i take to cover 1-mile, which i'll absent-mindedly gloss over when i'm in the car, just *feels* right to me, so is the speed that the oncoming hikers, runners, bikes, and cars approach me... i am taking several giant leaps here, but all of these things that i take in while running snowball into my realizing my small, proper part of this cosmos, albeit short-lived.
i wonder this is what Thich Nhat Hanh meant when he was talking about "mindful walking," but walking doesn't quite do it for me!
I feel that all the way through. There's something about that point in the run when everything is exactly as it should be, that I just can't duplicate anywhere else.
This is my bag baby. I study exercise and how it impacts cognition (specifically learning and memory). Lots of potential biological explanations for why (increased blood flow, increased neuroplasticity) but I’ve always been fond of thinking about it in terms of general arousal. There aren’t many other times where we reach a level of general arousal (which is beneficial for cognitive performance) without a specific focus. Exercise gives us that. If you’re interested, we’ve got a virtual conference coming that focuses on the interaction between exercise and the brain/mind. Just Google Society for Neurosports.
Ooh nice. I'm very interested in this stuff.