5. I run because it keeps me 'sane'

"Are you insane?" Ever since I started telling people that I'm training for a 126 mile run, I've been frequently asked this question. Sometimes people try to put it a bit more diplomatically than that. But from the bewildered looks on their faces, I can tell its what they're thinking.

I've never quite known how to respond (not least because I think we need to be careful about the language we use when talking about mental health). But when someone asked me the "Are you insane?" question the other day, I heard what sounded like a vaguely coherent answer coming out of my mouth: "Maybe its running that helps keep me sane".

I'm not sure where that answer came from but it felt like a good one. There has been a huge amount written over recent years about the positive effect of physical activity on mental health, and this certainly resonates with my own experience.

Though I did a bit of running back in 2007 (around the time of turning 30), I didn't get into it more seriously until 2013. At the time, I had a 3 year old son and was working from home - attempting to simultaneously write a thesis, run a consultancy practice and apply for new jobs. Looking back, I guess it was a fairly stressful time.

I started running again because I realised I was beginning to put on a bit of weight and a friend dared me to enter the Sheffield Half Marathon. But I kept on running because I discovered it was good for my mind and my soul, as well as my body.

Though I've never struggled with acute mental health problems, I've become increasingly aware over time of the fragile, and indeed, precarious nature of my emotional and mental well-being. It wouldn't take a lot to push me over the edge. Or if truth be told, it doesn't take a lot to push me over the edge.

But over the years I've found that running is one of the practices that helps me keep on the right side of what might (for want of a better word) be called 'sanity'. I've found it to be especially valuable in the middle of busy and stressful seasons of life - like the time when I was trying to get that thesis finished (back in 2013) or being assessed as a potential adoptive parent (2015-16). And I'm finding running to be a really important part of my 'self-care' in this current season as I'm getting to grips with an exciting-but-demanding new job.

Yes I realise there's probably something 'not normal' about wanting to run 126 miles for fun. But maybe normality's over-rated. I run because, on lots of different levels, it helps keep me 'sane'.



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To sponsor me on my long 'crazy' run, go to: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AndyWier

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