Running–The New Anti Depressant!

Okay so when I last left you dear readers I had a raging case of PMS and was being very down on myself for not running.
It seems the two are related.  I took four days off of running and was miserable all four days.  Like seriously falling into a depression.  I have also noticed this on my days off in the past, I just never let it go passed one day off usually before I start running again.
Well what started with my usual Friday off extended through Saturday and Sunday due to my period and really bad cramps but I had every intention of getting back to my lunchtime runs at work on Monday.
The universe had other plans for me.

At any rate, it may be working for the best right now since we are down to one car and this is the end of quarter at Rob’s work I have to get up early and come in an hour early every day this week.  Perfect time to get my run in while I have nothing else to do and it is nice and foggy and cool out!

So today I started back up after four days and was able to run for 30 whole minutes–a new record for me.  I was running about a 13.5 minute mile, just a light jog really but since I was doing it more for endurance than distance or intensity it was perfect.  I was very proud of myself and to further the proof that I need to exercise to feel better(duh really?) I was in a good mood all day.

It’s so odd to me that I’ve been on anti-depressants for most of my adult life and all along I could have just taken up running??    Don’t get me wrong, I am not about to leap off my prescription or anything and I know it isn’t that easy but it is nice to know when I find myself falling into a funk that a quick jog might be able to perk me out of it.  I will experiment more and report back later!

The bad news is that I think I may have overdone it a bit today.  As I was finishing up my run I felt my hips start to hurt a little. Soon after I discovered my right thigh in the front was really stiff and sore when I stepped on it after sitting for a bit.  I iced it for awhile at my desk and after walking on it a bit it was fine but it would still flare up after I had been sitting a while.  It also changed position from my thigh into my knee for a bit than back to my thigh.  The thing that kind of bothers me is that it almost is reminding me of when I had a pinched nerve in the way the pain is changing position and acting in general.

I bought some icy-hot on the way home so I think I am going to go draw a hot bath and then use some of that to see if it helps at all.

So tell me, do you get depressed on the days you don’t work out?