According to psychologytoday.com/basics/addiction, the definition of addiction reads: "Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance or engages in an activity that can be pleasurable but the continued use/act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health." Fair enough, right? So when is running a healthy everyday activity and when does it become an addiction?
The truth is, I don't know exactly myself. I couldn't tell you how to classify the want to go running between skipping the last period of the day at school to get a run in before you go to work. I find myself stressing about getting time in to go running. When making plans and scheduling things I often find myself naturally wondering: "When will I get time to go running?" and pushing plans back to adjust for running time and along with it showering time.
Along with the stress I feel from running, I have a desire to. Does this make me addicted? Not at all. I enjoy this activity and want to get better at it, so it's only natural to want to do well and spend time each day running a few miles. And when it comes down to it: if there's no time to run on a day I may be a little bit more stressed but I won't cancel plans or change anything just to get a run in. It's a want, not a need, and I don't rely on it.
Once running interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, then you may have an addiction. If you feel the need to run everyday and are willing to skip work, school, or other responsibilities just to get some miles in doctors may be concerned. And what about your health? I've heard running twice a day can increase your speed and ability twice as fast. And I'll admit that I sometimes do run twice a day, but that's absolutely pushing it for me. Those who run three times a day or more may have addiction, as it may be interfering with your health.
I'm no doctor, but I feel being able to tell the difference between a healthy activity and an addiction may be quite simple in the sport of running.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
The Way Running Messes With Your Head (cont.)
This is a continuation from my last post, which happens to be on the more emotional side other than the scientific or opinionated side of most my blog posts.
Aside from being injured, the sport of running (especially everyday) becomes like a safety net for some, including myself. It's not ideal for an athlete to think that they can eat whatever they'd like or do whatever they do just because they have intensive workouts that can just burn off whatever they put into their bodies.
I feel that much of today's athletes view running everyday as an excuse to eat whatever they'd like and lounge around for the rest of the day simply because the high calories they eat and poor nutritional values of food has little affect on them.
Take myself, for example. During the cross country season I somehow convince myself that I can eat absolutely whatever I would like and it won't matter because I'll sweat it off later at practice. It's true, running about thirty minutes supposedly burns one pound of fat, and to a cross country runner that's nothing. Yes, runners do need to eat foods with carbs and protein and other sorts of foods that are needed to keep your body functioning properly. And it's understandable that you would consider eating a whole box of pizza "good for you" because that workout was just too much for you.
But once the season ends, all hell breaks loose within your mind. Suddenly all that eating can't be excused with running workouts your coach gives you. You're on your own, and let's face it: you're not going to force yourself to work such intense workouts everyday during the off-season.
Runners can become insecure and cautious about what they eat, eager to keep that muscle they've been working so hard on all season. It becomes a pressure, a war within your mind, to choose between eating and running. Do you eat very healthy so as to help stay in shape? Or do you continue to eat whatever you please and continue to work extra hard at running so you can do just that?
Of course, the ideal situation is one where you eat healthy foods and the correct amount of portions while continuing to run, but to a high-school athlete, it usually is one or the other. A psychological battle within your mind has shot it's first shots and you are now at war with yourself.
Along with the battle between food and running is the the addiction that comes with it. The question could be raised and strongly argued both ways: is running an addiction? To some running is a form of therapy and psychological ease. Others see running as nothing more than exercise. Some are just so concerned with their body image that they only run to stay looking the way they want. All of these situations (and many more) and completely fine and understandable. But the question must be asked: When does running become an addiction?
Aside from being injured, the sport of running (especially everyday) becomes like a safety net for some, including myself. It's not ideal for an athlete to think that they can eat whatever they'd like or do whatever they do just because they have intensive workouts that can just burn off whatever they put into their bodies.
I feel that much of today's athletes view running everyday as an excuse to eat whatever they'd like and lounge around for the rest of the day simply because the high calories they eat and poor nutritional values of food has little affect on them.
Take myself, for example. During the cross country season I somehow convince myself that I can eat absolutely whatever I would like and it won't matter because I'll sweat it off later at practice. It's true, running about thirty minutes supposedly burns one pound of fat, and to a cross country runner that's nothing. Yes, runners do need to eat foods with carbs and protein and other sorts of foods that are needed to keep your body functioning properly. And it's understandable that you would consider eating a whole box of pizza "good for you" because that workout was just too much for you.
But once the season ends, all hell breaks loose within your mind. Suddenly all that eating can't be excused with running workouts your coach gives you. You're on your own, and let's face it: you're not going to force yourself to work such intense workouts everyday during the off-season.
Runners can become insecure and cautious about what they eat, eager to keep that muscle they've been working so hard on all season. It becomes a pressure, a war within your mind, to choose between eating and running. Do you eat very healthy so as to help stay in shape? Or do you continue to eat whatever you please and continue to work extra hard at running so you can do just that?
Of course, the ideal situation is one where you eat healthy foods and the correct amount of portions while continuing to run, but to a high-school athlete, it usually is one or the other. A psychological battle within your mind has shot it's first shots and you are now at war with yourself.
Along with the battle between food and running is the the addiction that comes with it. The question could be raised and strongly argued both ways: is running an addiction? To some running is a form of therapy and psychological ease. Others see running as nothing more than exercise. Some are just so concerned with their body image that they only run to stay looking the way they want. All of these situations (and many more) and completely fine and understandable. But the question must be asked: When does running become an addiction?
Monday, November 3, 2014
The Way Running Messes With Your Head
This is by far on one of my more personal sides of blogging. Rather than sharing basic information many can relate to, I will throw out personal information and hope that those who apply to the same situation as I can latch on to what I'm saying.
I started running to avoid stress and get rid of anger. Yes, I was technically running away from my problems. I never imagined myself being a competitive athlete in running or participating in sports or wearing a jersey with my school's name on it as I ran. But, here I am.
At first running was therapeutic. It was not addictive, did not stress me out, and was not a must do. If I had time here or there I would go for a run if there was nothing better to do and I was feeling up to it. My, have things changed.
Joining cross country my attitude towards running changed. I already had shin splints and was just dealing with the pain by ignoring it, as most runners do. But forget the injuries and pain that come with running. The psychological process of a runner seems to change along with the body. Becoming a competitive runner, the pressure more than tippled within a week. First, I was competing for myself and against myself, only to become better and actually enjoy a run. Once I joined a sport that all we do is run in, my mind completely skipped over the part about actually trying to enjoy running and trying to become the best as soon as I possibly could.
After being stuck with the temporary death sentence a runner could receive, injuries galore, the stress level of running became insane. At this point you are not only trying to stay in shape while not running, but keep your endurance up as well. Watching your team improve and improve is the most wonderful thing in the world, but it's also the hardest.
Imagine this scenario: you are trapped underground with ten other people. For days and days you work to dig yourselves out or find a way to escape. Somehow you manage to dig a tunnel together all the way out and finally you see daylight. Imagine all those people you were stuck with crawling through the tunnel, back to back, and each one making it out. But before you (the last one) can make it out, the tunnel you've created collapses, and you're by yourself. And you can see just a sliver of daylight yourself and you can see those people you were stuck with dancing about outside in the daylight through a tiny crack, but it's under a boulder and you can't move it yourself.
This is exactly what it is like to be injured to someone who cares about their team very much but cannot participate in the things they do.
Now imagine the people you were stuck with finally are able to pull that boulder away and you are free yourself! You jump and leap for joy with them and it feels as if nothing can stand in your way! Then you remember that you have nowhere to go. These people that you were stuck with now have jobs, homes, and families. Where do you go? You have a lot of catching up to do. That's a lot of pressure and stress, right?
This is how it feels to come back from an injury. Running definitely does mess with your brain if you allow yourself to become dedicated and committed to it while doing a competitive sport. Look for more posts to see my thoughts continued.
I started running to avoid stress and get rid of anger. Yes, I was technically running away from my problems. I never imagined myself being a competitive athlete in running or participating in sports or wearing a jersey with my school's name on it as I ran. But, here I am.
At first running was therapeutic. It was not addictive, did not stress me out, and was not a must do. If I had time here or there I would go for a run if there was nothing better to do and I was feeling up to it. My, have things changed.
Joining cross country my attitude towards running changed. I already had shin splints and was just dealing with the pain by ignoring it, as most runners do. But forget the injuries and pain that come with running. The psychological process of a runner seems to change along with the body. Becoming a competitive runner, the pressure more than tippled within a week. First, I was competing for myself and against myself, only to become better and actually enjoy a run. Once I joined a sport that all we do is run in, my mind completely skipped over the part about actually trying to enjoy running and trying to become the best as soon as I possibly could.
After being stuck with the temporary death sentence a runner could receive, injuries galore, the stress level of running became insane. At this point you are not only trying to stay in shape while not running, but keep your endurance up as well. Watching your team improve and improve is the most wonderful thing in the world, but it's also the hardest.
Imagine this scenario: you are trapped underground with ten other people. For days and days you work to dig yourselves out or find a way to escape. Somehow you manage to dig a tunnel together all the way out and finally you see daylight. Imagine all those people you were stuck with crawling through the tunnel, back to back, and each one making it out. But before you (the last one) can make it out, the tunnel you've created collapses, and you're by yourself. And you can see just a sliver of daylight yourself and you can see those people you were stuck with dancing about outside in the daylight through a tiny crack, but it's under a boulder and you can't move it yourself.
This is exactly what it is like to be injured to someone who cares about their team very much but cannot participate in the things they do.
Now imagine the people you were stuck with finally are able to pull that boulder away and you are free yourself! You jump and leap for joy with them and it feels as if nothing can stand in your way! Then you remember that you have nowhere to go. These people that you were stuck with now have jobs, homes, and families. Where do you go? You have a lot of catching up to do. That's a lot of pressure and stress, right?
This is how it feels to come back from an injury. Running definitely does mess with your brain if you allow yourself to become dedicated and committed to it while doing a competitive sport. Look for more posts to see my thoughts continued.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)