I Did The Thing I Hated The Absolute Most - Run

TW - mental health

About 2 years ago in the dead of winter my mental health was at it's worst. All the fitness facilities I went to were closed (thanks covid), I was using alcohol and weed as a crutch, my anxiety was through the roof and my sleep patterns were erratic. Every fall/winter I combat season affective and thankfully every year has been a little better.

2 years ago I did the thing I hated the absolute most - run. And even more I hated the cold. So of course combining the 2 things seemed like the best idea. I picked up some expensive winter running shoes, a warm toque and gloves, layered up and started winter running.

Let me tell you, I could barely run 0.5km for the first week. Thankfully, through sheer stubbornness and refusal to let my mental health worsen I pushed through. By spring I had run my first 10km.

Now when the snow falls, my body isn't met with exhaustion, fatigue, crying or loathing of cold weather. Instead it's met with excitement: the bright sun, cool air on my face, the crunch of snow under my shoes and my music blaring in my ears.

I just want to say, do the hard things, push through but most importantly, listen to your body.

If I can do the hard things, you can too

P.S. thank you for reading through this, it was a very vulnerable post for me to share