Jogging 1 - Prozac 0
March 30, 2008 by RG
I’m Rachel, a new writer here, and I’m going to be blogging about sport and depression. At the moment, the depression which I’ve suffered from for most of my 24 years is hanging around with a vengeance. Intrusive, upsetting thoughts are barging their way into my head several times daily, along with a low mood that seems to settle whenever I’m alone or trapped or in transit and a propensity to get weepy at the most inane things. I almost had a full blown sobbing fit earlier at the end of that episode of the Simpsons where Homer gives up his job at the nuclear plant but has to go back when Maggie’s born. See, it’s very emotional:
Therapy has helped with realising larger truths to my moods, but the only thing that’s ever made a difference to my mental state within a very short period of time is exercise. Ok, so the effect doesn’t last forever, but it’s normally enough to shift my depressed mood for the day in which I get sweaty. So, why don’t I just go for a run every day, I hear you shout? Good bloody question. The inertia of depression, anxious feelings about being outside around other people and general laziness are probably the best answers I’ve got for you. And they’re not bad answers. But versus the potential removal of my depressive moods, and generally being fitter and healthier, they feel a bit less valid.
I’ve been jogging on and off since I was about 16. I’m dyspraxic, which means that I’m not really co-ordinated enough for any sport that requires running-and-doing-something-else, or indeed, anything that involves moving your arms and legs in a way you don’t just do when walking but a bit faster. It’s not an excuse, this one: I’ve been hospitalised twice due to accidents resulting from my clumsiness and lack of co-ordination, one which required an overnight stay and an operation.
Anyway, after that marathon of an introduction (if you’ve got this far, break out the Kendal Mint Cake) I’m here to make more bad running puns and introduce you to this: The British 10K London Run 2008. I’ve done a couple of 5Ks before, but I’ve always been a goal orientated person, and think that having this to work towards will help (plus you make back your entry fee with the vouchers for trainers they send you, and mine smell of seaweed). You see, I’ve decided to do exactly what I should have years ago, and start running every day. I’ve got a schedule and everything. And if I’ve got you lot to answer to, maybe, just maybe, I’ll stop hiding out under my duvet every afternoon with Battlestar Galactica dvds and packets of Revels. This is the plan for the next two weeks to try and ease myself in:
Monday: 15 mins jog
Tuesday: 15 mins jog
Wednesday: 15 mins jog, 5 mins walk, 5 mins jog
Thursday: 10 mins jog, 5 mins walk, 10 mins jog
Friday: 20 mins jog
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 25 mins jog
I’ll blog about how each run goes, and how it affects how I’m feeling about myself, as well as looking into the theories surrounding why exercise works. Wish me luck!
Hey, this is a great topic. I used to love going to the gym… well, I still would if I hadn’t had a really bad experience with Mr Duncan ‘Money Grubbing’ Bannatyne… Exercise is a really good mood-boost.
Heh
gyms can be quite evil. I got a little money from my folks at Christmas and decided to spend it on the 9 weeks membership deal LA Fitness were doing, as a sort of trial. I’ve always had weird relationships with the gym, in that when I was a kid I was just a member of the local authority one and paid as I went, but the local one near here is a bit shitty and really expensive!
To be honest, though, I haven’t gone enough to really get my money’s worth. Which is a shame, but not something I’m too bothered about - it’s exactly why I took out the shorter membership! Also, I like how jogging democratises sport - all you need is a fairly decent pair of trainers and you’re away, regardless of income.