The feel of a cool breeze and texture of the pavement or dirt as the shoes touch the ground help to describe a sport that has become one of my favorite. Running became a passion of mine when I was in high school and joined the cross country team. It is one of the few activities that helps me with my Tourette Syndrome and calms my tics. Being able to grab my running shoes and find a dirt path in the woods helps me to clear my mind of all the distractions that are going on in my life and to sort through the issues. Running is a sport where you can be with groups of people and run together or go off by yourself and spend it alone with yourself, nature and God. I like to use my time running to be with my Heavenly Father and meditate on the scriptures.
Running for me started out horribly and never seemed to be something that calmed my tics. I was distracted and frustrated by the movements that the TS caused me to make with my legs when I first started to run. It made it difficult and made me want to quit before I even got into it. I stuck with it, though, and now 16 years later I can say with much discipline that I am able to run for long periods of time. Waking up at 5am in the morning to get ready for a run seemed like one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do, but over time I able to look back and see the results of this one action during one day. You add that action up over weeks, months, even years and you begin to see how much time is really devoted to this one activity in your life. The result of this in the form of a medal or race completion under your belt which can help to make that dedication worth the effort put in. I am currently training for my 4th half marathon this fall and 1st marathon this spring and getting to this point was not an easy one. It is amazing, though, to look back and see how something so frustrating can turn out to be one of passions as well as something that bring about a great sense of calmness. You may be wondering if I still tic when I run? The answer to that is, of course I still do and I also get the anxiety to kick in before a race. It can be frustrating but, I don't let it control me or take my focus off of running.
The discipline that I have taken to the sport of running has changed my view on life over the years. By being a runner, it helps when you are on a schedule (although getting out of a routine can also be really fun) and follow it to stay focused on a particular goal. Whether that goes is to lose weight, stay in shape or run a race. Sticking to these schedules or staying up on your training can help you realize the importance of hard work as well as seeing that this mindset applies to all areas of our lives. When you are in school and studying for a test; at work and trying to meet a deadline; or even trying to save up for something of your particular interest, it is good to be disciplined in our actions. I have also noticed over the years that with some hard work I have been able to control my tics when I need to and have them not have as much impact on my life in certain situations as in the past (although they do seem to come out when they want to from time to time). Overall, hard work and dedication are two of the important things that both running and the Tourette's have shown me over my life. As long as your focused and willing to reach your goals, there is nothing that can stand in your way.
Stay strong and don't ever give up! Until next time, Take care and God Bless.
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