I have to make a confession here. I have had mild OCD symptoms for many years now. For those who know me, they notice that I have always craved routine more than others. I have a tendency to recheck my doors at night to ensure they are locked so I can fall asleep. This double-checking helps me to remove the worry. At work, I have to have things in particular places and can't stand it when things are crooked or out of place. Finally, I have very specific routine patterns each day. Some might say that these are ritualistic behaviors. But I don't have any feeling that if I don't do these things or follow a specific pattern that there will be any negative repercussions. Plus I am a true creature of habit which can be symptomatic of a mild case of OCD. The good news is that my mild symptoms, obsessions and compulsions in no way interfere with my daily functioning.
When it comes to running, I obsess about races, shoes, paces, what I eat, routes, miles, heart rate and just about anything else associated with the sport. I have read that my obsessive mileage tracking is also a sign of OCD. I keep a spreadsheet of my runs and write in a journal entry after every run. My Garmin links to an online program which also keeps track of my miles, heart rate, pace and weather. I even use my Garmin during my treadmill runs to make sure I can log my heart rate effort after each run. With all of this information, I can easily look at every run I have ever done since 2005. This allows me to compare runs and learn where I can improve. I guess this means that in some ways my mild case of OCD is helpful in my becoming a better runner.
I know that you may be questioning my claim of having a mild case of OCD. That's o.k. I, however, never doubt anyone who tells me they suffer from it whether it is mild or otherwise. Besides the need to track my runs as discussed above, I have a really hard time ending a run unless I have finished on a tenth of a mile. I can't stop at 5.25 miles. I have to go to 5.3 miles before I can stop. Because I need to know that I have logged the required mileage for my marathon training, I always finish a run at least 1/10 of a mile past the required distance. When I talk to other runner friends of mine, they don't think twice about my quirks and some even embrace them. This is the reason I love the running community and the friends I have made through participation in the sport - no judgment.
I have read a lot about OCD and exercise. The good news is that aerobic exercise can improve mild to moderate symptoms of depression. It also is a good way to reduce overall stress and anxiety levels. I can attest to the fact that I am able to handle stress at work much better because I have run in the morning before heading to work. Research has also found that the severity and frequency of OCD symptoms can be reduced immediately following exercise. Lastly, it has also been found that the overall severity and frequency of OCD symptoms generally decreases over 12 weeks of exercise therapy. Knowing this has made me feel better and I don't worry that my OCD will get worse over time. I can control it though my running.
Running over the years has had profound effects on both my mind and body. My runs help me to use up energy that I build up on a daily basis. Most of my friends and family would characterize me as a high energy individual. In the end, I notice that when my energy reserves are depleted I feel physically less anxious which in turn makes me less mentally anxious. Each day is so much easier to handle and no matter what pressures may come, I know that I can handle it with no problem. That ultimately makes me a better person to be around.
Finally running has become that type of alone time that few people really get to experience on a daily basis. Most of us have a hard time relaxing at home with our spouses, children, chores, etc. Depending on your job, the office can and usually is a non-stop supply of stress. My morning runs give me time to myself and allow me to have pure unadulterated thinking time. Most of my best ideas come during my runs. Early morning runs are my time and I cherish them.Yes, some people see my need to run 6 days a week and to constantly track my miles, etc. as obsessive. I agree with them. I even know and understand that it is a sign of mild OCD. However, my running OCD helps me to be a more balanced individual. It keeps my stress and anxiety to a minimum. No matter what happens during a training run or race, I can always look back and say that I just love running and what it does for me. Even when my body refuses to cooperate, I don't care because I am just so happy to be out there on the road and in the world. Running is an integral part of my daily life and I am always smiling before, during and after a run. And that makes me happy.
Mar 28 – 6.20 miles (1:04:08, 10:21 pace) - Hill Repeats
Mar 29 – 7.20 miles (1:05:50, 9:09 pace)
Mar 31 – 7.30 miles (1:08:52, 9:01 pace)
Apr 1 – 6.20 miles (54:47, 850 pace)
Apr 2 – 9.10 miles (1:21:38, 8:58 pace)
Apr 3 – 8.50 miles (1:19:53, 9:24 pace)
Apr 4 – 5.10 miles (47:29, 9:18 pace)
Apr 5 – 6.20 miles (57:03, 9:21 pace)
Apr 7 – 6.30 miles (1:00:38, 9:38 pace)
Apr 8 – 5.20 miles (43:40, 8:24 pace)
Apr 9 – 8.20 miles (1:10:45, 8:38 pace)
Apr 10 – 8.10 miles (1:14:41, 9:13 pace)
Total Miles: 83.6 miles
2016 Total Miles: 572.8 miles
