Get your body feeling good

From a very young age, I have always been very active. From extracurricular sports in school to other sports outside of school, to outdoor activities that keep me active. I love moving my body and feeling good mentally and physically. I love being able to go for a run outside and getting some fresh air. I love working my body in ways that sometimes don’t seem possible, and feeling so strong at the same time. I recently read an article for a class that talked about different ways in which exercise is good for you (Find the link here). It shares how being active can increase cardiovascular, bone, and mental health as well as decrease cancer, diabetes, and stress. Being active, even just a small amount can change your body and mind and make you feel amazing in your everyday life. My best example of how being active has been a positive influence in my life was at the beginning of my freshman year here at Dickinson State University. The cross-country team went on a camping trip down to Spearfish, SD, and we decided that we wanted to run a trail in Deadwood called the George S. Mickelson Trail. I had been having problems with shin splints for years and was really worried about how my 10-mile run would go. It was hot out... probably around 75o and I was coated in sunscreen ready to get on the trail. We got going and I was feeling good after three miles. Time marched on and I hit the seven-mile mark thinking I was going to fall over and pass out. Then, mile eight rolled around and I started to feel good, really good. I felt like I was on top of the world in fact. This is called a running high and it commonly happens to people (typically runners) exercising for prolonged amounts of time. When this happened, my body didn’t feel achy and painful and I was breathing good deep breaths. I felt so calm and I was even running faster than I did at the beginning of my run. This was one of the only times I have experienced a runner’s high and I can safely say that it was one of my favorite running experiences yet. It was life-changing in a way. So, when I started this post and wasn’t sure about what I wanted to share about being active and moving your body, I immediately thought of how amazing it felt to get out there and move. I think that everyone needs to experience the benefits of exercising and being active. This doesn’t mean that you have to go run to obtain a runner’s high. You can walk, swim, weight train, hike, do yoga, or anything else that gets you moving and feeling good both mentally and physically. After being active for some time, you’ll feel so good that you won’t even want to stop. So, go smell the roses... or the gym floor, whichever you choose, and get your body feeling good!