Running is not a special talent. It may take discipline, but can bring lots of mental health benefits

Mental health is currently one of the most common debated topics around the world. “But Ivo, wait a second”, one might say. “Why are you starting your first ever Run The World post with a subject that has nothing to do with running?” Dissociating exercises and mental health is a misconception, a subject I want to shed light on it as much as I can during our journey. This is also key to answer the question that headlines this post. Running is much more related to our well-being than to super humans, people with strict training regimen trying to achieve what is deemed impossible. 

Keep that in mind while I take you through my perception of what running can do for you. The physical benefit is undeniable. It helps your conditioning, it prevents diseases and makes you breath better and your body works more efficiently. However, the underrated part of running has to do with how it may help you fight stress disorders, anxiety and depression, according to organizations such as the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. 

I am not going to pretend I had this mindset two years ago, when I started running more frequently. As most people do, I started running because I wanted to improve my conditioning and it would help me play other sports, particularly soccer, the number one sport in my home country, Brazil. Results were glaring, though. And again, I am not talking about physical improvements. The anxiety symptoms which I daily dealt with, such as feeling restless and an  increased heart rate, went away almost instantly. 

That is why I, a regular person, decided to run a marathon. More specifically, May 3 Toronto’s Marathon. Through running, I was able to be at a good place mentally in the last couple of years. I could enjoy aspects of my life I didn’t before. I felt capable of doing things once unfathomable to me. So it does not matter if it is 100 metres or 42.195 kilometres. Running can change you in a way few things have the power to.