Why Covid Feels like training for a marathon that never comes

I have been a jogger for only 9 years. Before I was 41 I would have occasional flirtations with fitness in various forms, but life got in the way and my enthusiasm waned.

When I was 41 life was hard, so when I started to run several times a week it helped my mental health enormously. Since then I have trained for races from 5km to marathon. This year I was supposed to run my first 50km. Yes that is longer than a marathon….. I know!

I started to train in earnest in January. It takes 6 months of regular running to train for such an endeavor. I was taking it slow to make sure I didn’t get injured and my 50 year old body was strong and ready. I was looking forward to raising a stack of cash for the local small charity of which I am a proud trustee.

Then came Covid.

And the world went mad.

We all know what happened next.

Everything was cancelled

. It felt like we went into a post-apocalyptic jungle of uncertainty.

It doesn’t feel like we have emerged yet.

I feel like I am training for a marathon that never comes.

Stress causes increased Cortisol in the body which has metabolic affects including weight gain , gut issues and mood changes including depression and anxiety. Sound familiar anyone?

Marathon training also increases cortisol explaining why its well known among runners that in the run up to an event they may PUT ON weight, no matter how much they are running!

This level of stress has been affecting us all for 9 months now. That is unsustainable.

It is so important that we all recognize this, and take steps to modulate our underlying stress levels. Because if we don’t reduce the levels of stress our bodies are experiencing there will be serious health consequences. And that’s not even if we catch the damn virus!

(And don’t forget stress suppresses immunity!)

• So why not join me in these stress reduction ideas….
  Music. Create an amazing playlist, play it in the kitchen and dance.

• Read a favourite book. Curled up on a sofa with a mug of tea.

• Pet an animal, small person, or fluffy toy.

• Meditate, pray or daydream. Make some space in your brain.

• Exercise, outside. Feel the wind on your face.

• Smile.

We can get through this. Our race day will come eventually.

But we must make sure we don’t let the preparation break us before it comes. Stay safe everyone, look after yourselves.

I will see you out on a jog soon.