In praise of sweat

I’ve run most of my life.

There’s something wonderful about the rhythm of moving limbs, the impact of feet on the ground. It feels primal, the action of the body, and I become keenly aware of my animal-ness, just a creature on earth.

As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, I struggle with anxiety, and have done so for most of my life. When I discovered running in my early teens, I suddenly had an outlet for the uncomfortable energy that accompanied my anxiety, a way to feel grounded when I felt untethered. The tightness in my chest was released by the conscious breath of exertion, and as sweat beaded my skin I felt the anxiety cleansed from my body.

So much has been written about the benefits of running – apart from the physiological benefits like cardiovascular health and increased bone density, it promotes elevated mood, better sleep, improved focus. But what I find most beneficial about running, or any vigorous exercise, is that it reconnects me to my body. We spend so much time living in our heads that it’s important to be reminded of our physical selves.

And I just think a good sweat feels, well…good.

So, on this Thanksgiving morning, I’m headed to my hotel gym for a quick run. Hope that you too have a chance to work up a sweat soon!