Like many people I work with, running has been a sanctuary for me, a way to process, a way to quite my mind, and for someone who craves movement in their life a way to direct energy. So of course, running twelve miles ‘sounded’ awesome while I was in the depths of these swirling emotions. Yet, while running and exercise can be a sanctuary, it is still a stress - a load on our bodies and minds. When we’re experiencing a high load of stress in the case of trauma or loss, it’s important to be mindful of that load and adjust accordingly as it’s easier to overtrain and increase the risk of injury due to fatigue and muscle tension.

What if in the next race or event you have, instead of focusing on XYZ time, you put your energy and focus into mastering the task. Mastering the race. Ask yourself what does that look like? What are you doing? What does training look like? What does that feel like. Can you bring in support and feedback? Can you be open to the pain of failing part of it? Can you be patient? Keep striving, and keep moving forward?

Create space outside of your sport. Find time to connect with friends that aren’t your ‘running friends.’ Find time to work on the other parts of yourself - for some that may be art, music, or spending time with your family. Even just a little investment will help you prevent that foreclosure on on your identity. It will help prevent burnout, help you recover, and help you when times get rough.