#runninglessons

[iammrhappy18]

Some of the lessons learnt in my last thousand kilometers run in this year are that short quick strides are better than long slow strides, hill running improves your pace so much, and barefoot running uses your feets muscles and joints while running with shoes uses your hamstring more and feets are utilized to a very less extent 8-| !!! - - - - - #mrhappy #universeofmrhappy #runninglessons #lessonslearned #fitnesslesson #learningtorun #runningexperience #runningdiscoveries #1000kmrunning #fitnesspakistan #pakistanfitness #runnerscommunity #runnersofinstagram #runningprogress #runningblogger #fitnessblogger #runninglifestyle #runninglife #fitnessmodel #runningtrack #runningthoughts #runninglessonsforlife #runnerspace #runnerstyle #runningaddict https://www.instagram.com/p/B459VPUjlTO/?igshid=1g6h99x5purij

[thoughtsfromanaviddreamer-blog]

What running has taught me about my body

My running history is much like the average person’s sporadic and sweaty. In my early high school years I struggled a lot with my weight and between not eating enough and over working myself I would go running. It would only ever be for a few hours and I always struggled to get out of the house for fear that someone I knew would see me. So that’s the only experiences I had with running up until this summer. 

My second night back at college I randomly decided to go running for a half an hour by myself at night, I felt tired after, my heart felt like it would burst from my chest but I did it. I continued to go for a half an hour at night and then one of my roommates decided to go with me. We started going every night for anywhere from forty to sixty minutes, usually with a lot of walking breaks but nonetheless, It was fun. It was the only time we really got to talk together and, to vent about our problems to each other and I would look forward to it. Lately we haven’t been running together for various reasons but, I’m happy I got my spark.

It’s been over a month that I’ve religiously been running and I feel amazing. My anxiety levels have been lowered significantly, I feel more confident with my body and, I’ve lost ten pounds in three weeks. I want to mention at this point that I didn’t start running to lose weight, I did it to help my stress levels. When I came back from new York I was completely heartbroken, I spent the first few nights feeling so completely alone and confused about my life. I still feel this empty longing feeling but when I run it goes away for a while. During the week I have long days, I get out of class/work after 7:30, or 8:30 and the only thing that gets me through those days is knowing I’m going running at night. The first thing I do when I get back to my apartment is put on my running clothes and go back out. That drive has been what is getting me through my weeks. I also struggle a lot with anxiety. Last year I spent about a week a complete mess. I missed most of my classes, I wouldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, I had a hard time just leaving my room.... that is the reality of my life. If I let stress and fear overwhelm my body I shut down and can’t fix it. That is the reality of people who deal with anxiety, and It drives me insane when people tell me that it’s normal and I need to just calm down.

BECAUSE I CAN”T CALM DOWN

I don’t know how many times I have been curled up on the ground crying, desperately trying to calm myself down and lower my breathing. There has been no one to comfort me, nothing to help me through my panic attacks except for running. Now, I hesitated to say that it was actually helping me until this week when I had proof. This week has been really hard on me. I had a lot of projects and school stuff going on, work, etsy shop stuff, and on top of it I’ve been going for about a week now with $3.34 in my bank account. I have all of these new feelings about a boy that I haven’t felt in a long time so my emotions are high and My friend has been spending time with her boyfriend and I’ve felt alone again. The only person I’ve been able to talk to is an aunt who has her own busy life so I feel like I’m the bothersome relative who keeps nagging for advice all the time. Basically I’m mentally strung out about everything. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to my run on Monday and my body really let me down. I missed my goal, and had to stop. I limped back to my apartment. I cried my legs hurt so bad, I took some advil and just laid in bed and sobbed. I knew that I couldn’t run again for a while and, although it’s only Wednesday, I’ve been suffering a lot. I’ve felt so much stress crashing down on me, I haven’t slept more than two hours at a time and today I missed all of my classes. I had a panic attack today and just hid in my room and tried to snap out of it for hours. 

I’ve learned that running has given me back my life. Sure today was hell, and I lost everything I worked for but, it has given me back some stability. Before, I was like a time bomb, I never knew what was going to be too much for me. Now, I have a steady schedule of stress relieving running. I can feel everything I feel when I have a panic attack but instead of breaking down I control my heart rate myself. Plus, when I’m done, I feel invincible. I’ve also learned to be confident about my body. I thought that I was confident, but I know that I wasn’t really. I don’t hide in the shadows when I run anymore. If someone sees me sweaty and gross then it’s ok because I don’t have a flawless body and It’s ok if I let people see my flaws. 

[venetianarelle]

Side Eye \\// London Eye. Not everything can be perfect, all the time. Running Lessons 👀🎡 #AboutLastNight #rundemcrew #runninglessons #londoneye #bowbabe #curlysue #spiceupyourlife (at The Official London Eye)

[madebravely]

Wrong turns in life test your resilience and fortitude. #runninglessons #runtrails #managedepression

[madebravely]

Run until you can't, and let that be enough. #runninglessons #sciatic #losgatos

[madebravely]

I am the tortoise, not the hare, but I enjoy the journey, and eventually get there. #runninglessons #madebravely #runtrails

[madebravely]

Realization that running from something and running toward something takes the same effort. #runninglessons #3 #madebravely