Sharon Waltman Story

Just Another Runner’s Perspective September 2024 By Gale Fischer

Addiction or Necessity

“Once you’re exercising regularly the hardest thing is to stop it.”

—-Erin Gray

6/4/2024: Jane’s body was consumed with exhaustion but the smile that decorated her face was all that mattered. Jane Rolfe and I had shared five miles in the early morning darkness every Thursday morning for over a decade starting in 2000. Our weekly runs helped prep both of us to several marathon finishes. Now at the age of eighty-two, Jane’s running days are in the rearview mirror. Her weary body gives her grief daily from a year-long battle with cancer a few years ago, a bad hip, and a damaged back. Although this has been Jane’s life for the last twelve years she has refused to give up her exercise routine. Walking, snow-shoeing, swimming, and workouts on the elliptical have kept her active in her golden years. Jane moved from Battle Creek to the east side of the state a decade ago with our friendship and her inspiration providing the motivation for me to make the two-hour drive a few times a year to visit with her. Our day-long visits typically include a walk and today was no different. Jane had not been able to walk longer distances since our last visit but today there was no stopping her. By the time we arrived back at my car, we had covered three miles. Her aching back and hip may have been sending her ongoing signals of pain but you would have never seen any sign of this. Jane was provided an instant mood boost with our three-mile stroll.

For some, physical activity might become an addiction that is difficult to go without. This illustration is easily seen in the world of runners. The human will and refusal to relinquish to the physical pain is a common theme for the last six miles of a marathon. Sometimes this determination exists even earlier than the twenty-mile mark as athletes fight through muscle soreness and overall fatigue to push to the finish line. 

Although this persistence is on display in a high volume on the course of a marathon, it is not exclusive to just runners. I can vividly recall an interaction that I had with my father-in-law,  Garry, twenty years ago.  At the time Garry had been retired from farming for a few years. He was dealing with the effects of diabetes including neuropathy in his legs and amputations of some of his toes. Garry and my mother-in-law Judy had just moved from Iowa to Battle Creek to be closer to us. We were unloading the moving van and although Garry should have been letting the rest of us handle the grunt work he refused to sit and watch. We urged him to stop but it was not in his DNA to sit still. I felt some frustration at his refusal to take it easy but I also understand his display of resistance in taking a seat on the metaphorical bench.

Constant movement is the key to maintaining physical health. The increase in blood flow can maintain and improve heart and lung performance and in turn, decrease blood pressure, providing benefits for all the body’s organs. The human skeletal system is rewarded by physical activity as well, with an increase in bone density and mass tied to exercise. A reduction of obesity, higher levels of energy, and overall brain capacity are also bi-products of implementing a routine of movement. 

With all that being active can do to enhance our physical well-being, perhaps the biggest payoff is the mental component. Running and all forms of exercise can reduce stress, hold anxiety at bay, and fight off depression, making it the most natural antidote to what ails the human spirit. From what I have witnessed in being around others in the running community and what I have experienced personally, running has the potential to boost one’s confidence which can spill into all areas of life. Heading out the door at any given moment and covering five, ten, fifteen miles, and more on foot can provide a sense of accomplishment that is difficult to replicate anywhere else.

As positive as running can be, too much of a good thing can sometimes be detrimental. Many get sucked into the mental and emotional part of the sport and as a result, may run too often, run too frequently at a high intensity, or run too long. Sore muscles may lead to long-term injuries. The daily grind and fatigue of pounding out the miles without proper rest and recovery will likely suppress one’s immune system. One may be lucky enough to avoid these undesired circumstances for a period of time when throwing caution to the wind with a workout routine, but eventually, it will likely come to a head. Like anything in life, the best results come with proper balance. This balance looks different for each individual and for many trial and error may be required to find one’s sweet spot for equilibrium with fitness. 

There are times when runners may need to take time away from the sport to let the body heal from injury. For many, this doesn’t mean an extended period of time sitting on the couch. Some runners will usually find another form of physical activity to fill the void. On one level the sport of running might be what we crave many crave but oftentimes another layer exists for those who participate in our sport, and cardio exercise becomes a part of this addiction. This might not be a part of the equation initially but as running becomes a routine that is hard to go without so does the habit of daily moving. Injury or other circumstances may take running away from some, but a replacement activity will often be sought to satisfy one’s craving to keep moving. 

There are many who live a sedentary lifestyle which leaves one to wonder if having a body in motion is necessary. I suppose that if the goal is to maintain overall physical health then exercise would be a necessity. A daily routine including movement is needed to keep the body healthy but the mental contentment and clarity is a the root cause of the craving . You don’t have to be a runner or an athlete to despise sitting still. Moderation is probably the best way to think about being active. The addiction that is sometimes associated with those who exercise in large doses daily comes from the mental component. This balance is key. Some are guilty of overdoing it, myself included but at the end of the day, I’d rather be in the heavy end of the exercise spectrum than sitting on the couch all day every day.

Until next time, this has been just another runner’s perspective.