How Running Saved My Sanity... Sort of

I want to start by saying I have always been an active person. Whether it be playing soccer, swimming, or running track in high school, I always found myself working out for a few hours at least 4 times a week (most time much, much more than that). Then I graduated from university in Minnesota, and for the first time since I could remember, I did not have structured practices or competitions. This was a bit of a relief. When I moved here, after taking a year off, I decided to pick up running again: not as a “hard core” thing, mainly because I hated running, but as a means-to-an-end and just to clear my head. Here and there I ran with some friends from San Raffeale. There was a 5K run in June of 2013 that we decided would be a fun goal for the spring. So I thought “Why not?” At 10 euros, it was the cheapest entertainment you could find in Milan. It went well; my time was decent, nothing too amazing.

Then fast-forward a few months to late September of 2013. I moved into a new apartment in a different part of town, and had little time for anything but studying. At that point I was running maybe once or twice a month. My roommates would probably agree I was not the nicest person to be around those days. Then, in a blink of an eye, it was Christmas and I was back in Minnesota. Although I had managed to maintain my weight over the fall, I gained 8lbs (4 Kg) in a matter of 3 weeks at home. To drop my Christmas weight gain, I decided I would start running again when I returned to Milan. The January exam session came and went, and I still felt really “ungrounded”. Thus my goal for my 25th year was to find balance in my life again. Knowing my self and my competitive nature, I started looking into possible 5K runs in the near future for motivation. Plus, I had a new feature on my Nike+ App that gave me workouts to do for training.

And wouldn't ya know, the Stramilano half-marathon had a 5K and 10K option. So I thought, “Great, I’ll get my friend Alyssa to do it with me, and it will be relaxing and fun”, not knowing that two things were about to happen:

1. March 23rd is Alyssa's birthday;

2. Alyssa does “real” running, not like my “kinda sorta when I feel like it” running.

Hence, when she found out there was a 10K run option, Alyssa said it would be a great way to spend her birthday. I couldn't very well say no to her only birthday request, and so my first 10K race: here we come.

The first 10K race was quite an experience, but a fun one at that. I had this great idea that I would actually train for it. Hahahaha, right. Between my exams and the new block schedule of lectures, training fell by the way side. However, I did manage to get a few more runs in than I normally would have. My goal was to finish in under an hour, and that I did. By the way, for any American readers 10K is about 6.2 miles. This particular race was actually probably one of the best races for someone to do a first 10K because it was full of people just getting out: old, young, fast, slow, or even wearing costumes, it didn't matter. Everyone was just having a good time.

After the first one was such a success, I thought, “Ya, let’s see what other races are around”. And, lo and behold, the Nike’s women’s’ run “We Own The Night” was having a Milano date. This one was a bit more expensive: a whole 20 euros (nothing compared to races back home), but I thought, “Ya, it’s in a few months and I will actually train this time”. Righhhht…. This time, not only did I not have as much time to train, but I was also spending 8 hour days in the hospital, which is like doing an oral exam every day for 6 hours. Now do that for two weeks straight. Needless to say, I learned a lot, but had very little energy to train. I did manage to get in more than last time though, and dropped a minute or so off my time from my first race; however, it was much more painful. Bea came with to cheer me on. It was the first race she had been to, and Bea thought it was a pretty cool experience.

My next run was the same 5K run that started this whole thing back in 2013. It got rained out and rescheduled for late July. Despite the heat, I did manage a time once again faster then the year before, and had a great time doing it.

Now it’s June 2014, and I have started running about 4 days a week. I get up at 7 in the morning, because it’s the only time before a lecture or the hospital not blazing hot out to go for a run. It gives me a time alone, not that I do not love my roommates or classmates or friends, but running gives me at least 15 minutes alone with my thoughts and to clarify things. It also gives me something to do outside of my studies. Although I love my studies and I could not imagine doing anything else, especially after my first rotation in cardiology, when your whole life is in one field you can lose perspective. You can lose perspective on why you are doing it, perspective on the fact that there is an entire world going on while you are studying and working, and perspective about the things that really matter in life. Running gave that back to me. However, now I’m hooked on getting up early to run at the start of my day, which some may interpret as more insane. You be the judge. 

So in summary:

1. I managed to lose all the Christmas weight and then some;

2. Running gave me a place to go to and think, a place to clarify the jumble that builds up inside during the day;

3. I gained perspective that I had lost;

4. I found a bit more balance with that perspective;

5. I regained my sanity. 

Thank you running! I don't think I could have done it with out you. Let’s see what this new academic year has in store. Maybe a half marathon (21K) in March? You will have to stay tuned to find out. 

Till we meet again,

~M~