Mission Accomplished

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Mon, 05/06/2013 - 19:47

So,  three months into Amy Collins' quest to run a 5K, May 5th, race day, finally arrived. How did she do? Read on for the triumphant conclusion.

By Amy M. Collins


Last fall, when talking to a coworker, I mentioned that I’d like to get into running. She’d participated in various races and marathons, and asked if I wanted to do a 5K with her. I remember informing her that I was not a runner, couldn’t possibly run a 5K, and perhaps we could cycle together instead. I had a lot of excuses: I have anxiety; I have a small heart condition; I have bad joints; I’m easily winded . . . and the list went on.


Yesterday, together with that same coworker and another close friend, I ran the MHA 5K. I did it!


Right up until I arrived at FDR park, I was convinced I wouldn’t be able to run. I had trained and prepared, but last week I sustained an injury to my knee—I had spent the week limping, icing my knee, resting, and going to my chiropractor in the hopes of a miraculous recovery. My friends, family, and coworkers kept telling me not to risk further damage, there would be other races. But this wasn’t just a race for me. It was a way to prove to myself that anxiety was no longer going to rule my life. And in light of the anxiety and panic that had been holding me back, what better race to join than one that supports mental health?


I was still limping about as I warmed up for the race. But something about the day was making me feel better: it was sunny, warm, there was a crowd of amazing people, the atmosphere was charged with excitement and happiness. There were even cute dogs milling about with their owners. With my two friends at my side, we started the race and we didn’t stop!
I kept waiting for the pain in my knee to flare up, but it didn’t—even on those intense hills that were described as “gentle slopes.” My running companions were supportive the entire way, never leaving my side.  By the time we cleared mile 2, I knew I would finish.


In the last stretch we could hear people cheering, and that’s when the adrenaline really kicked in. It’s that moment in the sun, the applause in your ears, the people cheering you on, when you feel, if only for a second, that you really are an athlete. In that moment, you are a star. I sprinted toward the finish line, half smiling, half crying. I can honestly say it was one of the happiest moments of my life.


I completed the race in 35 minutes, and, as I joked to friends later, I came in number one (hundred and two).


Ten years ago my anxiety practically kept me from leaving the house. Five years ago I had worked through the worst of it, but still suffered from frequent panic attacks. Three years ago my attacks were no longer running my life, but I was still having trouble with hypochondria. Three months ago I decided I was going to prove to myself that I was not a weak, frail person. That I was strong, healthy, and fit. Proving this to myself yesterday was one of the most amazing feelings I have ever had. It sounds so cliché, but I really do believe that if you want something badly enough, you CAN do it.


I’ve really enjoyed writing these blog posts and hope that, in some small way, they perhaps resonated with somebody. I want to thank the MHA, particularly Audrey Brooks, for encouraging me to write these posts, and for rooting for me throughout these past 13 weeks.


And I want to say thank you to all of my friends and loved ones for supporting me, helping me fundraise for the cause, believing in me, and listening to me talk about running nonstop for the past few months. Thank you to those who came to the race to cheer me on, and to my two friends who ran the race with me, and finally, to Dr. Chris Perrone of Mahopac for getting me from barely walking to running in less than a week. I can’t wait for my next race! 
 

Tags: 
Amy Collins; Couch to 5K; MHA Westchester 5K

Drama in the Final Countdown

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Mon, 04/29/2013 - 18:53

This is blogger, Amy M. Collins' tenth and last post before Sunday's race. Amy has blogged weekly about her quest to run a 5K. Here, the surprise this week had in store for Amy.


By Amy M. Collins


I wish I could say that I was adding a dramatic plotline in my post just for effect, or that I was just going to write that everything is going great and I’m smooth sailing my way into this Sunday’s race. But I’ve tried to be nothing if not painfully honest in these posts, so here it is: this weekend I sustained an injury. And though it is nothing too severe (I hope), it is enough to leave me with a feeling of panic as I face the last week before the race.


Things started off fine. On Friday I was able to leave work early, and was looking forward to fitting in my run before a family dinner. It was warm in the gym; the sun was beating through the window next to my treadmill. Outside the trees were finally starting to show their leaves. I felt happy, confident, and excited to run. I planned to do a little more than 30 minutes. I got to 33 minutes with relative ease. I felt energetic, my lungs felt good. But my knee started to ache, and it was more than the normal aches and pains I’ve accepted come with my age.


By Friday night I was limping, unable to go up the stairs. I felt unbelievably upset—why now? I’ve been training for 13 weeks, working really hard, not skipping days. I’ve overcome the panic that I was getting early on, in fact my anxiety in general has been almost nonexistent. I was taking it slow—only doing as much as the program called for, running slowly, not trying to break any records. I even made it through the entire winter without so much as cold, something I worried about constantly while riding the train and subway in full-blown flu season.


I spent the rest of the weekend taking it easy, icing my knee, feeling sorry for myself. But today is a new day. Sometimes life throws you a curveball, and all you can do is roll with it. I spoke with a nurse at work (the benefit of working for a health care publication!) and she made me feel better, said it will likely be fine as the week goes on. I’ve started a round of ibuprofen to get the inflammation down. I will take a few more days off from the program. My friend who is a runner reminded me that I will not lose all of my endurance in a few days. Mid-week, I will try jogging a little and see how I feel. Come Sunday, I will finish this race be it running, walking, or crawling across the finish line.


In the end, it doesn’t matter how fast I run or if I win the race. To me all that matters is finishing what I started. I’ve proven I can run three miles, I’ve kicked my anxiety to the curb, I’ve had this wonderful experience writing for this blog, and I’ve helped raise some funds for a charity that is important to me. I feel like I’ve already won. Sunday will be the icing on the cake!

About Amy

Amy M. Collins is a writer and editor working for a health care publication in New York City. She also works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator in the health care field and in fiction. After living abroad in Barcelona for 10 years, she now lives in her native New York, in Somers.

For more about Amy, go to http://www.active.com/donate/MHA2013/ACollin111 

Tags: 
MHA Westchester
couch to 5K
Amy M. Collins

Motivation Trumps Fear

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Mon, 04/22/2013 - 21:24

MHA welcomes blogger, Amy M. Collins' ninth post. Amy is blogging weekly about her quest to run a 5K. Here, this week's reflection on fear and running.
 
By Amy M. Collins
 
 It’s hard to write about running and training without thinking about the recent events in Boston. As I struggle to run 3 miles, I am left in awe by those who’ve achieved the level of training and discipline needed to run 26.2 miles, and so my respect goes out to the runners of the Boston Marathon in more ways than one. It is devastating to think about an event that is supposed to bring people together ending the way it did. I’m sure many people are feeling similar emotions: grief, sadness, anger, fear, frustration. This week, as I continue my own training, I am left humbled and saddened by these events, and my heart goes out to all of those affected. 
 
A friend from overseas, knowing that I suffer from panic attacks and anxiety, asked me a few days ago if I still plan on running the 5K race in light of the fear instilled by these recent events. I found myself saying yes without even thinking about it. In the past, I can remember my anxiety taking over in situations of crises. When I was living in Barcelona, I can remember not wanting to commute to work after the 2004 Madrid commuter train bombings. I would have terrible panic on the train and subway. And as a lifetime fearful flyer, after 2001 it was almost impossible to get me on an airplane without hours of anxiety, illness, upset, and medication. But I know this is no way to live, and feeding fear only makes it grow larger.
 
There are two weeks left till the race, and I’m getting closer to the 3 mile mark. I started the journey with the personal goal of running despite anxiety and panic attacks and I intend to finish it. Fear comes in many shapes and sizes, it strikes for many reasons. But for me, for the first time in a long time, it’s not going to change my course of action.
 
A small sidetrack to end on a positive note: I am further inspired and motivated today by several people who I wanted to give a shout out to. Today my mother, age 60, started from Couch to 5K—running 2 minutes, claiming this is the first time she has run in 40 years. Just as she was telling me this, my brother and his girlfriend popped up on my messenger to say they are buying running shoes after work to start the program too. And over in Barcelona, my friend who is doing the program with me from afar just finished her 9 minute run in week 5 of the program. This news has made my day! And while they won’t be ready in time to run the MHA 5K with me this year, there’s plenty of time to get ready for next year!
 
 
About Amy
Amy M. Collins is a writer and editor working for a health care publication in New York City. She also works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator in the health care field and in fiction. After living abroad in Barcelona for 10 years, she now lives in her native New York, in Somers.
  
Tags: 
Boston Marathon
MHA Westchester

Like The Last Day Of School

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Tue, 04/16/2013 - 17:07

MHA welcomes blogger, Amy M. Collins' eighth post. Amy is blogging weekly about her quest to run a 5K. Here, this week's update.

Last week I finished my 10-week preparation program for running a 5K. The program started on Day 1 with a two-minute run and ended on the last day with a 30 minute run. Well, I’ve done the 30 minutes, but I’m not quite running three miles yet. I guess the program is based on a 10-minute mile, and I’m a bit slower than that.

Luckily, I gave myself a three-week cushion between the end of the training and the actual 5K race, which takes place on May 5. But now the question is, what do I do for the next three weeks?

Like a kid on the last day of school, what I feel like doing is throwing my schedule up in the air and celebrating with a three-week no running vacation! (This is why I need a plan to keep me focused!) But unfortunately, running is not like riding a bike. If you miss a day or two, you can feel the effects. And, while I was constantly unprepared for tests, homework, the SATS, and other scholarly endeavors in my school days, I do not want to show up at the race without knowing that I can and will finish it.

So, I’ve filled in three extra lines on my schedule and made up my own training, with the help of my cousin, an avid runner. My first goal was to bring myself up to around 35 minutes to compensate for my slowness and make sure that I can, in fact, reach three miles. My second was to keep my body guessing by switching things up, not just doing a 30 minute run for three weeks. The plan is to now interchange running with walking, throwing an incline in every once in a while, getting my pace set, and tapering down a bit right before the race to conserve energy.

One other challenge is ensuring you get the right amount of hydration and food. Thirty minutes burns a lot more energy than the two minutes I started with. Often I run after work, when I am starving. Eating too much can cause a stomach ache, but not eating enough leaves me shaky toward the end of 30 minutes. I’ll have to work this out over the next few weeks to ensure the day of the race I am neither too full nor too hungry.

Last but not least—I wanted to mention a medical anecdote. We all know the benefits of exercise, but I have further proof in writing. My yearly exam results show that my HDL (or good cholesterol), which was always too low, has jumped up into the normal range. Since nothing else has changed in my life aside from starting to run, I’m going to assume the exercise did it. Despite what happens on the day of the race, despite the anxiety I still sometimes get while running, getting healthier as a result of this challenge is the real prize. 

About Amy

Amy M. Collins is a writer and editor working for a health care publication in New York City. She also works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator in the health care field and in fiction. After living abroad in Barcelona for 10 years, she now lives in her native New York, in Somers.

For more about Amy, go tohttp://www.active.com/donate/MHA2013/ACollin111 

Tags: 
Amy M. Collins
MHA 5K Run/Walk
MHA Westchester
couch to 5K

MHA's COO's PERSONAL FUNDRAISING EMAIL MESSAGE

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Wed, 04/10/2013 - 16:33

 

 

 
    Why are we running or walking on May 5th? Doris Schwartz, MHA's COO, explains why in the moving note she shared with her friends.
 
As I started to write this email I thought of the book I’m currently reading - Anne Lamott’s newest - Help, Thanks, Wow. So I turn to you for Help as MHA kicks off it’s annual Run/Walk….and Thanks for always being part of it …and  Wow—How lucky am I?!
 
So it’s that time of year again…..MHA’s ANNUAL 5K RUN/WALK! Once again, FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights at 8:30 am on Sunday May 5th.
 
Walk or run with me if you believe that people can and do recover from all sorts of mental health concerns. Join me if you believe that each of us is unique and spectacular and deserve to be treated only with kindness and respect. Accompany me to say a resounding no to stigma, bias and discrimination that is so prevalent and insidious and destructive. The responsibility to speak out belongs to us all....now is the time. Sunday, May 5 is the date. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
 
Please either register online at www.mhawestchester.org to join me - or support my walk with a donation  www.active.com/donate/MHA2013/Dossy
that is comfortable for you. It will make a difference. I promise.
 
Warmly,
Doris
Tags: 
Doris Schwartz; mental health stigma; MHA Westchester

Dedication

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Mon, 04/08/2013 - 16:11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MHA welcomes blogger, Amy M. Collins' seventh post. Amy is blogging weekly about her quest to run a 5K. Here, her thoughts about this week’s progress on the path.
 
A good friend of mine is doing the From Couch to 5K program “with” me from afar—in Barcelona, Spain, where I used to live. We try to keep each other motivated by reporting back after we’ve accomplished a training day goal, and making sure we never miss a day. Last week she told me that she went to the park to run, only to be met with a surly gatekeeper who informed her that the park wasn’t opened yet. When she asked what time the park did open, the gatekeeper said 10:00 AM. A look at my friend’s watch confirmed that it was, in fact, that time. “Well, a few minutes after 10:00,” the gatekeeper clarified. Frustrated, my friend walked all the way around to the other side of the park, where a different, more punctual, gatekeeper had opened the door at 10 on the dot.
 
This gave me a chuckle and some amount of nostalgia for Barcelona, and the cultural differences surrounding time and punctuality. We joked about how the sign with the park’s hours should be amended to read “A Little after 10.” But it also made me think about one of the most important elements of training for a race: dedication. Keeping up with the program, even when an unforeseen wrinkle in the plan presents itself, be it a spontaneous invitation to happy hour or a gatekeeper with a grudge.
 
In the past, whenever I’d try to stick to a routine, I let anything and everything get in the way of it. Working out was something I’d only do if I had nothing better to do. I had any number of excuses: it’s too cold, too hot, I’m too tired, too hungry, it’s girls’ night out, there’s a Criminal Minds marathon on TV. If the park had been closed for me, I would have just went home and done something else.
 
This time, I’ve instituted a zero tolerance policy for excuses. Obviously life happens, and interruptions to the routine are to be expected. But I’ve realized that often, if I keep my priorities straight, there’s always a workaround to keep me on track. So, if I have a dinner planned with my friends, I work out in the morning before work, even if it’s 6 AM and I’m tired. If I’m too hungry, I eat a breakfast bar on my way to my run. If there’s something good on TV, I can DVR it. And this weekend, when I was disappointed at the less than stellar increase in temperature on Saturday, I still did my 25 minutes (2.5 miles) despite being uncomfortably cold, and finished warmed up and proud of the accomplishment.
 
The benefit of being dedicated isn’t only that you make time for you, but also you can see progress. When I was haphazard about my exercise schedule, I never saw much of an improvement, which was disheartening and made it easier to give up. But now, as I enter week 10—the final week in my training program—the worry has shifted from I can’t do this (I now know that I can) to I must maintain (and improve) this. The dedication has paid off.
 
About Amy
Amy M. Collins is a writer and editor working for a health care publication in New York City. She also works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator in the health care field and in fiction. After living abroad in Barcelona for 10 years, she now lives in her native New York, in Somers.
  
 
Tags: 
from couch to 5K; mha westchester
mha on the move;

15 Reasons Why I Run by Dr. Stuart Weitzman

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Fri, 04/05/2013 - 15:25

 

 

 
     Exercise has many benefits from keeping the joints moving, strengthening muscles, improving the cardiovascular system, helps with blood sugar and keeps your GI tract moving as well.  Another 
great benefit from exercise is helping your mental health.   Some research shows that it can help with anxiety and improve your mood.     Exercise can help increase chemicals in your brain to help you feel good, increase your body temperature, allow you to gain confidence or better self image, gives you time to take your mind off of things and let your mind start to figure out different coping mechanisms. 
    These are just some of the ways it can help your brain and mental health.
 
Other benefits are that you can have are more energy, improved sleep, less fatigue, less tension, feel stronger, a healthy appetite, a sense of achievement and hopefully fun.   I know personally that all the training that I do, helps with all of those.   There are very few workouts ( if any) that I regret doing or starting.   Sometimes the best workouts  were the workouts that you didn’t feel like starting and you end up feeling great after.   I know if I train hard and work hard that, when I hit the pillow at night I don’t have any trouble sleeping.  I love the journey, working towards a goal and achieving it.  This is why I participate in running races and triathlons.   I also have fun doing it. 
 
So how much exercise is enough?   Well studies show that 30min of exercise 4-5x/wk can help with your mental health.   It is only 120-150min a wk that you would have to carve out of the schedule.   Very  doable.   Health is the greatest wealth, so make that time investment in yourself and it will pay you big dividends.
 
MHA is putting on a 5K on Sunday, May 5 at FDR State Park and this can be a way for people to have a goal and work towards it.You can register at www.mhawestchester.org You never know where it can lead or how much fun you can have.  I started with a 5K 7yrs ago and have never stopped!!  
 
Yours in Health and Wellness,
Dr Stuart Weitzman   (AKA DrStu)
 
Bedford Hills Family Chiropractic, PC
Dr. Stuart Weitzman 
85 Adams Street
Bedford Hills, NY 10507
Ph: (914)242-8810
 
Tags: 
Dr. Stuart Weitzman
Bedford Hills
MHA 5K Run/Walk

Accepting—and Overcoming—Setbacks

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Tue, 04/02/2013 - 16:27

MHA welcomes blogger, Amy M. Collins' sixth post. Amy is blogging weekly about her quest to run a 5K. Here, this week's report from the road.


In this series of blog posts in which I write about overcoming my fear of running and training for the MHA 5K, I often try to be motivating and highlight all the positive benefits that running and working toward a goal can bring. But I also want to be honest—although I would never trade this amazing journey for anything, there have been set backs along the way.


But setbacks are to be expected. They come hand in hand with working toward a challenging goal . . . if challenging yourself were easy, would it be as fun? The thing to do when a setback occurs is to recognize it, accept it, and then move forward. Or at least that’s my humble opinion.


That’s what I did this weekend when, for the first time in a long time, I didn’t have a great run. It wasn’t terrible, mind you . . . but it felt as if I had taken a small step backwards. Part of the problem was that I had high hopes. Last weekend I had my first outdoor run, and ran two miles, feeling great the whole time. This past Saturday I opted for the outdoor run again. It was finally somewhat warm and I thought I would do just as well or better than my previous run. But though I accomplished the 20 minute goal, it was HARD and I had a lot of anxiety.


When I finished, I thought about what might have gone wrong. I’d had a big lunch that day, and although I waited three hours, I still felt a little full and nauseous upon running.  I also opted to use my iPod during the run. Maybe the alternative rock from my youth got me too pumped up— I think I ran faster than usual and thus got more winded. I also couldn’t focus on my breathing and started to get panicky. I pushed through anyway, knowing that if I quit, the unhelpful feeling of failure would set in.


As I enter the penultimate week of my 10-week preparation program, my goal is to finish what I started. I’ve come this far, and I’ve left myself a three week buffer between the end of my program and the race to practice, so I know that I can and will do this. I’ll make sure I keep my pace, not get too ahead of myself, and lose the music if I run outside again. I’ll enjoy the sounds of nature instead and focus on my breathing.


Years ago, I might have given up when things didn’t go perfectly. I’ve always been a bit of an overachiever and have often quit while I was ahead in order to avoid failure. This time, I recognize that there are a lot of ups and downs that come with a physically (and mentally) challenging goal such as running. But despite the few backward steps, this week I plan to leap ahead, leaving that setback where it belongs: in the past.

About Amy
Amy M. Collins is a writer and editor working for a health care publication in New York City. She also works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator in the health care field and in fiction. After living abroad in Barcelona for 10 years, she now lives in her native New York, in Somers.
For more about Amy, go to http://www.active.com/donate/MHA2013/ACollin111
  

 

Tags: 
overcoming training setbacks
MHA 5K
running and mental heatlh

What To Expect When You're Expecting (to run your first race)

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Mon, 03/25/2013 - 16:25

blog_1.jpg?itok=hK3x6ACxMHA welcomes blogger, Amy M. Collins' fifth post. Amy is blogging weekly about her quest to run a 5K. Here, this week's training report.

By Amy M. Collins
 
Over the past few weeks I’ve been blogging about training for my first race, and about anxiety and how I cope with it as I prepare. Now, in week 8 of my slow-but-steady training, and running 2.5 out of my 5K goal, I’ve learned a few things along the way. For other beginners out there who are just starting to run—or even just thinking about it—here are five things you might encounter along the way.
 
Running might hurt, but it gets better: even if you consider yourself relatively fit, if you’ve never run before it’s probably gonna hurt a little. Granted, I can no longer claim “youth” and my joints aren’t what they used to be—but you can probably expect the following at any age if you’re just starting off: shin splints, back pain, knee pain, foot pain, and let’s face it, all over body soreness. Getting the right sneakers will alleviate many of these symptoms. Making sure you have the right form helps too. I watched a YouTube video on form to help prevent my characteristic flailing arms. Stretching helps, and with time a lot of the aches and pains will fade as you get stronger.
 
Your lung power will soar: I’ve been told that with the amount I talk, there can be nothing wrong with my lung capacity, but on my first day of training I was hyperventilating at minute 2. Uneven breathing can also bring on cramps and a burning sensation in the chest. But expect to be amazed each week, as the amount of minutes you can run with growing ease increases and your breathing begins to regulate on its own. I’m now up to 18 minutes with slow, even breathing.
 
You’ll be HUNGRY: I was all excited to shed a few pounds with my new endeavor, but wasn’t expecting my stomach to convert into a bottomless pit. I guess it’s normal to want to chow down when you’re putting out loads more energy. I try to have small (healthy) snacks during the day and an energy bar before I run. It’s also important to stay hydrated. 
 
You may not want to go to the gym . . . but you will: Despite my excitement at finally feeling like I can do this, after a long day of work and an hour-plus commute, the last thing I want is to go out in the cold and drive over to my gym. But when you’re training, and each day builds upon the next, you will go whether you want to or not. And once you get going, you’ll be happy you didn’t give in to the beckoning couch and Big Bang Theory marathon. Also, when you can, make the switch to running outdoors—this weekend I ran almost 2 miles on the local bike trail and it was glorious . . . no monotony, just the beauty of nature to contemplate instead of a TV screen.
 
Others will motivate you: Even when you might want to give up on yourself, others won’t. I can’t tell you how many people ramped up their support when they heard about my race.  Even friends and family who have run marathons, half marathons, and who excel at running have always made me feel that my 5K goal is worthy and important. Several people have signed up to do the MHA 5K race with me, and one of my friends has challenged herself to use the From Couch to 5K program over in Barcelona, Spain. Nothing is more motivating than having people you care about taking the ride with you.
 
About Amy
Amy M. Collins is a writer and editor working for a health care publication in New York City. She also works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator in the health care field and in fiction. After living abroad in Barcelona for 10 years, she now lives in her native New York, in Somers.
 
Tags: 
training for a 5K
MHA Westchester
FDR State Park

Breaking THROUGH

Submitted by Audrey Brooks
on Mon, 03/18/2013 - 18:44

MHA welcomes blogger, Amy M. Collins' fourth post. Amy is blogging weekly about her quest to run a 5K. Here, this week's road report.


By Amy M. Collins


When I was diagnosed with panic disorder 10 years ago, I remember my doctor suggesting that I exercise to reduce anxiety. Then, last year, when I had a small relapse of anxiety, particularly hypochondria, I took a group therapy class targeted at reducing health anxiety. There were several tenets to the class, but the top one was to exercise.
I don’t need to be convinced logically that exercise is good for both the physical body and one’s mental health. I’m a health care journalist, and scientifically I know that the endorphins released when exercising help anxiety and depression.


But what do you do when exercising in and of itself gives you anxiety? This was my dilemma when I started training for the MHA 5K race seven weeks ago. It’s a simple formula. My heart races + I think I’m going to die = panic attack. This makes running hard—imagine running with a tight belt around your stomach (or a girdle!). It’s hard to breathe if you’re that tight; if you don’t breath properly you can feel dizzy or have palpitations; if you have those symptoms, your brain, if it’s like mine, sends a warning that something is terribly wrong. The cycle can be endless and vicious.


After years of learning to cope, I now rarely have crippling panic attacks. I think of panic as a needy, attention-seeking roommate who needs to be ignored. But since training for the 5K, I’ve been having small attacks at the end of each and every run.


Until now. I’m happy to say that this past Saturday, after I ran a mile and a half (half way to the goal), I didn’t have any anxiety, no signs of panic, no tightness in my stomach . . . in summary I felt amazing. So if there’s anyone else out there reading who can commiserate, who perhaps has anxiety or worries about similar things, my advice is to push through and don’t give up. Exercise will benefit you when you give the process a chance to work. It’s not easy, and it’s not fast, but it will make you feel good sooner or later.


When I feel anxious, I remember that panic isn’t going to kill me, just make me feel uncomfortable. That the more I keep doing, the less intense and the shorter the attack will be each week. That the stronger I get physically, the less taxing running will be on my heart and breathing  . . . these things will regulate naturally. That exercise is good for me and that even if it makes me nervous to be out of my comfort zone, I am helping—not harming—myself. And lastly, I remember that even if I have another attack next week, it won’t take away the fact that this week I didn’t. And I will keep going.


About Amy
Amy M. Collins is a writer and editor working for a health care publication in New York City. She also works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator in the health care field and in fiction. After living abroad in Barcelona for 10 years, she now lives in her native New York, in Somers.
For more about Amy, go to http://www.active.com/donate/MHA2013/ACollin111 
 

Tags: 
5K
anxiety
training

Pages