Compulsive running as an illness

A quote I recall from the 70s or 80s, don't remember who said it: a jogger runs for health or some benefit and a runner runs if he thinks it will kill him.

A lot of this rings true for me. I struggled with disordered eating as a kid (middle school, high school), and gradually replaced that with high intensity endurance sports, including running, at which I had some moderate success in my 20s. I do think a lot of it came down to scrambling for a meaningful identity after college, as I graduated during the recession and struggled to find a meaningful career path. Another component of my obsession definitely came down to the comforts bestowed by control and routine. I was lucky I found some really wonderful career-building pursuits during this time, and I do think that having a disciplined running routine helped me bring that sense of discipline and work ethic into the workplace.

Actually, in my case, a long-term 4+ year chronic injury has gradually allowed the "I'm a runner" identity to ebb away from the forefront. I'm now in a place where I can run about 30-40 mpw (most weeks), and train a little and race a little (certainly not at the level I was before), and occasionally take 1-4 weeks off from running entirely in order to let the injury die back down if it flares up, and be content with that. I do a lot more body weight training and prehab now, and a lot less running. There is a fine line between commitment and compulsion, and looking back now from a healthier mental perch, I can see that I haven't always been on the right side of that line.

I recently finished graduate school in a STEM field. It was a tough five year process rife with self-doubt, and now I am starting a year of postdoctoral research. I can feel the existential dread and latent panic from 2008-2009 sort of settling back in, and I can feel myself wanting to turn to more running to deal with that. Luckily, I have a lot of other good coping mechanisms now (musical instruments, a supportive long-term partner, pride in my work and a general sense that my research and career path is meaningful/providing positives for humanity). But I know that obsessive tendency is there for me, and I and my loved ones know to watch out for it. Truthfully, I'm grateful that this chronic injury limits me from leaning on running too much these days. It's forced me to grow more as a person in other areas of my life.

On the other hand, someone has said that obsession is the aerobic base, a prerequisite, of love.

We'll, the term "obligate runner" never really caught on in 35 years since that article was written, so I wouldn't pay much attention to it.

This article is whack. The whole thing is built on a false premise. Two runners die, and suddenly we need a DSM classification for people who run too much? It's funny looking at it 30+ years later, as it shows how alarmist and off-base the whole thing was. There's no such thing as an "obligate runner."

Also, the basic idea of this article — that "[running] doesn't bestow or confirm identity. And it can't infuse meaning and purpose into lives that are otherwise unfulfilled" — is totally false (not to mention insulting). Running can absolutely do those things, and I don't see why the author acts like that's a bad thing. Isn't it normal for people to find meaning in the things they're passionate about? Isn't it rational for someone who has poured hundreds of miles and hours into training for a goal race to be depressed about an injury and reluctant to take time off? The author only sees running as masochistic because he don't understand it.

Guy probably can't break 30 for 5K.

I've been thinking about the Gambler's Anonymous 20 questions and how many I would answer yes to, replacing gambling with running. Seven or more "yes" answers indicates a potential problem. Obviously, not directly translatable to running, but food for thought.

Did you ever lose time from work or school due to running? - Yes

Has running ever made your home life unhappy? - Yes

Did running affect your reputation? - No

Have you ever felt remorse after running? - No

Did you ever run to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties? - No

Did running cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency? - Yes

After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses? - Yes

After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more? - Yes

Did you often run until your last dollar was gone? - No

Did you ever borrow to finance your running? - No

Have you ever sold anything to finance running? - No

Were you reluctant to use "running money" for normal expenditures? - No

Did running make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family? - No

Did you ever run longer than you had planned? - Yes

Have you ever run to escape worry or trouble? - Yes

Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance running? - No

Did running cause you to have difficulty in sleeping? - Yes

Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to run? - Yes

Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of running? - No

Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your running? - No

I agree. I'm sure we all run into this a lot. You tell people how far you run, and they look at you like you are completely insane. Its impossible to explain to an untrained person that running 10 miles doesn't have to hurt at all, and in fact can feel great. They just will never get it. The author writes this article from the standpoint of someone who can't fathom running is anything but pure torture.

Trying to explain to a non-runner why you are motivated to run through injuries, bad weather, illness, and at strange hours is an impossible task. Runners are gonna run, that's just the way it is. The author makes it sound like this is all some sort of self abuse. They miss the fact that even a bad run is still a good run. I run through all sorts of bad conditions because I know that I have not felt worse after a run than before it. Running is not the sickness, running is the medicine.

hank jr wrote:

Running is not the sickness, running is the medicine.

Totally. In the years since that article was written, exercise (and running) has been well established as being beneficial for someone's mental health. I have no data to back this up, but I'd imagine the percentage of runners who have a demonstrably unhealthy relationship with the sport is incredibly small.

man, you can do this with any hobby! Substitute game of thrones, video games, hiking, biking, etc in there and you could get the same yes answers.

It always seems like running is the one form of exercise under attack. I have yet to see an article saying the person who swims an hour a day is mentally ill.

That's the crux of it. Everyone has coping mechanisms (video games, booze, cigarettes). At least running/working out has health benefits.

Post of the Day. Love the last line.

"Running is not the sickness. Running is the medicine."

Paul2432 wrote:

These questions made my chuckle at the thought of answering "yes"

Did you often run until your last dollar was gone? - No

Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance running? - No

I'm a bit surprised you didn't answer "yes" to these two:

Did running affect your reputation? - No

Didn't you have any running friends who'd notice a good or bad performance?

Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of running? - No

You never enjoyed the freedom of going for a long run once you'd met a deadline or something?

I'll hobble around a track for two laps in my cast because I have a broken leg. Can't stop my stupid streak.

Drew Peacock wrote:

I'm a bit surprised you didn't answer "yes" to these two:

Did running affect your reputation? - No

Didn't you have any running friends who'd notice a good or bad performance?

Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of running? - No

You never enjoyed the freedom of going for a long run once you'd met a deadline or something?

I interpreted the affect reputation question as running being harmful to my reputation. Running certainly has given me a reputation as a runner, my neighbors often tell me or wife that they saw me out running.

I thought about the celebrating question too, ultimately deciding that "a few hours of running" was too much (even though I do occasionally go on 5+ hour runs in the wilderness). I did celebrate my 50th birthday by running rim to rim to rim at the Grand Canyon, so I suppose I could have answered yes to that one (making it to 50 and being able to run R2R2R is certainly a good fortune worth celebrating!)

I love love LOVE running! I can't see my life without it! It's not an illness. It's a passion for life!

https://imgur.com/a/2EeykUM