Couch to 5K {#C25K} -- A Fresh Start

I am a firm believer that the number one "drug" to treat mental illness is exercise.

I don't swallow exercise everyday in pill-form, but I sure as hell push hard through the activities that help me work up a sweat, and keep my Bipolar symptoms to a minimum. Unable to crash through and anchor me. It's my most favorite drug.

I still swallow the actual medication prescribed by my doctor each night before going to bed. Why? Because for me, exercise isn't enough. It accompanies the pills in a positive way. They work together.

For a few weeks now, I've been going on walks during my lunch hour and when I get home in the evening, I pop in my Namaste Yoga DVD and dip into poses and stretch out muscles that make my body sing.

I'm feeling wonderful. The workouts and the pills combined are my perfect "cocktail". 

Over the weekend, I was browsing through Facebook when I came across a post that knocked me sideways. The post is titled Seven. and is written by the lovely Jana of Jana's Thinking Place.

Jana writes about her experiences with the Couch to 5K program. While she didn't complete the program in the nine weeks it suggests, Jana faced it with her head up and running shoes at the ready. You see, Jana is the mother of an angel baby. Charlie. She has plans of running a half marathon next month in his memory, all stemming from this running program. Training.

A few years back, I met Jana in person when I was visiting Georgia. We had the chance to chat and share a meal. This was when I was still dealing rather strongly with postpartum depression. Jana has a knack for making you feel comfortable no matter the circumstance.

When I read Jana's post it made me think. I keep putting off restarting the C25K program again because of weather issues (it's hot in Florida in Winter), not feeling up to it, claiming to have no time, etc. I call bullshit on any reason I could come up with.

Yesterday afternoon, I laced up my Asics, grabbed my phone, and hit the pavement.

It was a wonderful feeling. It was an unseasonably warm day but I went at it full on. No regrets.

During the run intervals, when the going got tough, I yelled. I screamed at my body to keep going. I began talking to my bipolar disorder as if it was a separate entity. I was telling it to "Fuck off!" or "You're so my bitch!"...and I didn't care if anyone heard me because when it was time to stop running and start cooling down, I felt like I truly made a difference from the inside out. From my mental health to the way my calves burned from the new movement I had put it through.

This morning I set my alarm for 5:20 and I was killing it in the chilly morning air. It was still dark but the street lights lit the way. The music blared in my ears and the lyrics spoke to me, gave me the strength I needed to keep it going. To finish.

Nine weeks. Twenty-seven separate runs.

As in the past, I don't take many in-between breaks because my body needs consistency. When I run the day after a break, I tend to struggle a bit, so I try not to break often.

Thank you, Jana, for pushing me even though you didn't know that's what you were doing. I'm going to rock the program with you in mind.

What sort of workout do you incorporate into your everyday life?