If you’re struggling with grief, depression, or just trying to find your way back to yourself, running might feel like the last thing that could help.
I get that because I’ve been there.
This isn’t just a story about running. It’s about what happens when life gets heavy, when motivation disappears, and when you’re searching for something, anything, that helps you keep going.
My Story
There was a time in my life when everything felt heavy.
I had my first episode of major depressive disorder when I was 23 and graduated college. My identify had been attached to academia for so long that I was lost when I lost that. That was when I first discovered that I had dysthymia. I had never known that word before. I thought what I felt was just what life felt like.
The biggest challenge came when I lost my mother to breast cancer. After 17 years of remission, in May of 2011, she lost the battle. I was lost as well. My singing partner was gone and I was existing. I no longer was living. I was here but the world seemed like I was looking through a dark cloud.
My wife tolerated me for about a year before she gave me a well-deserved ultimatum. Do something or she was gone.
That’s when running entered the picture.
I can’t exactly tell you why I choose running. I know that I had to walk really fast to get my heart rate up and figured it had to be easier to run slow than walk that fast. I had planned to run one 5K and be done. I had no intentions of continuing or any knowledge of just how transformative that decision would be. It literally changed my life.
How Running Helped My Mental Health
The early morning runs gave me a new purpose and something to focus on. I found time to pray again and to focus on the beauty of nature. Slowly the cloud I had been living in began to lift. I was starting to feel more and more like the old me.
I found a community with new friends. I never knew how supportive and encouraging the running community was.
What I Wish More People Knew
You don’t have to be:
- fast
- experienced
- or “motivated”
To start running.
You just have to be willing to take one step.
Even if it’s slow
Even if it’s inconsistent
Even if it doesn’t feel great at first
If You’re Struggling Right Now
If you’re in a place where:
- everything feels heavy
- motivation is low
- or you’re just trying to figure things out
You’re not alone.
And you don’t have to have everything figured out to start.
🎧 Prefer to Listen?
You can hear the full story on the podcast:
What’s Next?
In the next post, I’m going to break down something important:
Why most running plans don’t work for people dealing with real life and what to do instead.
If this resonated with you…
You don’t have to go through this alone.