Many people cope with stress every day of their lives, and those who fight it with exercise are definitely on the right track; pun intended. Fear may come into play on multiple levels, as in fear of failure if you’re learning to run, fear of gaining more weight if you don’t run, fear of running alone or even fear of not keeping up with your run group. With some, there is even fear of success if they feel undeserving. The bottom line is fear can be a great motivator to get outdoors and move - and you will be better for it no matter what.
I discovered in the late ‘90s how running can help one cope with life’s curveballs while improving your physique. I was a beginner, despite having run a bit in high school. It had been a while since I last laced my shoes, so I focused on the basics, like putting one foot in front of the other. I wasn't sure how to train properly or what it would take to run my first race. The fear factor applied pretty well everywhere.
How I faced this fear was to embrace it by basically getting to know it a lot better. I joined a run club and met others with similar goals, and they helped get me to the finish line in my first 5K. As I trained, my confidence grew and I began to enjoy running. I was able to run 10K, a half-marathon and finally, in the spring of ’99, in the most surreal moment, the full marathon non-stop in Vancouver. Each new distance carried the fear factor like a headline on my brain. I was in unknown territory, and who did I think I was that I should get through this unscathed? I did it by following a proper program and running many shorter road races, but there is always a nagging doubt or fear that this time I might not make it. The beauty of having some success is it breeds confidence and leads to even greater exploration of your abilities.
Unfortunately, when life throws you a curveball, you tend to not be ready for it, so while my running was going well, fear came back for an uninvited visit. I had torn my hamstring and weeks of not running made me fear of losing all my conditioning. Not much I could do except pool run and stay off the road for six weeks while fear was enjoying itself. But then the pain was gone. I was back running – cautiously at first – and fear faded back where it came from.
Upon returning to racing this time, I could tell fear was back in the neighborhood because I wasn’t sure of being race ready. I decided to ignore my demons and in the end, I was glad to have raced as I felt good afterwards. The more races I ran, the more confident I became as mental preparation and visualization helped me achieve my goal.
Still, running has been a roller coaster ride for me. Sometime I feel like I’m in the middle of a Bob Seger song. I am still running against the wind at times, but I know that it allows me to face the world on my terms. It has given so much to my physical fitness and emotional well-being. I am not running from something or someone. I am running to something - a better me! How to overcome fear is to face it head on and stare it down. Challenge yourself to do something amazing and your body will respond. And at that moment, fear will be the last thing on your mind.
Christine Blanchette is a TV host of Run With It on Shaw, YouTube – runwithitcb1 and is a running columnist/lifestyle writer. Visit her website at www.runwithit.ca, or follow her on Twitter @christineruns.
