Fast Running Blog

Just curious, how many of you fellow runners feel that running helps you fight or offset addiction(s) you may have?

I feel that it does for me personally.  I think that I have an addiction to food linked to emotional eating behavior I learned as a child.  Running keeps me from gaining weight, but I do punish myself for eating too much by running more miles.  I know that's not a healthy view and it's a constant battle.  I had several relatives, including my father, that were alcoholics (weekend binges types) as well.

I know it's a personal question so you don't have to go into any details.

Running IS my addiction.


I don't smoke.
I don't indulge too much in beer.
I don't do much of anything...
but eat, sleep, work, read, write.. and RUN!

I have been a smoker off and on for most of my adult life(more on than off).   Running has made it possible for me to quit smoking permanently.  When  I am running it becomes my outlet, and I don't even crave cigarettes.  Running makes me feel very good.  It helps lift my spirits, and I sleep much better.  The last 3 months or so have been when I really got into running and fitness again--I want to see my children grow up and I want to set a good example for them as well.  Smoking is my big vice, and I feel better about quitting this time than ever--because of running.  Running is a new addiction of sorts for me--I have been having a problem with my ankle for 6 days that has kept me from running and I am having withdrawals!  I want to run so bad, it is unbelievable.  Right now I am keeping myself sane with an elliptical trainer(UGH) and hoping this ankle heals quick!  Good news--no cigarette cravings, just RUNNING cravings!

Yeah I've battled an injury about 11 months now. And I miss running a bunch, just started back to it in October actually. But I really think running for most of the people on this blog is a way of life, and borderline addiction. Trust me. I've seen how cranky some of our peers get just by having to cut a run short :-P Got to get those endorphins!!

Running has become my addiction now.

As a previous smoker (for a long time), this addiction is way better.

I chewed tobacco for over 15 years. My wife made me quit. I didn't want to quit. I still don't want to quit. I started running in the evenings after dinner to lose weight and to exhaust my body so that I could simply fall asleep and not think about chewing. It is requiring more and more miles to have the same effect. I've become addicted to running. But I'm still addicted to tobacco, I just don't use it. I basically have an addictive personality, so it more a question of what focus will occupy the attention of that personality.

Every day that passes, after a run, it feels like if smoking was part of my long past life.
I crave smoking less and less everyday, and that feels soooo good.

The first month a had to count the hours that I had not smoked to keep me going forward.

I agree. Running is a sweet addiction!

And the post-running effects last much longer !!
Man, I feel great today!  8)

Running is not an addiction. Addiction by definition is a harmful compulsive behavior. Addictions destroy either the mind or the body, or both. Running, when done right and in combination with a proper recovery regimen builds both.

But running is an addiction for me.

When I don't run I get moody, get the chills/fever, and feel like junk. (i.e. withdrawal affects).

And the "runner's high" leaves you craving more.. we are all addicts here that's why there are so many people that crave more miles. More endorphins, more of "nature's LSD"

Then drinking water is an addiction as well. Try going without - you'll have withdrawal symptoms in a few hours. Sleep would be an addiction as well. Severe withdrawal symptoms in 24 hours. The worst one is breathing air. It takes only a minute for the withdrawal symptoms to become problematic.

I use to have the opinion that running was an addiction until I finally realized deep down that it was truly a blessing.  That's why I posed the question as the running (positive) fighting the addiction (negative) and not addiction replacing addiction.

The reason for my question is that I feel that people who participate in endurance events do so for reasons beyond the simple health benefits.  Deep down inside there thoughts or negatives that running somehow fulfills for the individual.  I'm not saying that we are all angry runners that were abused when they were children.  Perhaps it's an addiction or maybe a search for empowerment.  For me, it's fighting a tangled web of depression and addiction.

I view running as a very healthy outlet.  At the same time, I definitely understand the "addiction" component.  Is running healthy when it takes priority over family?  Does it make you moody with friends or family when you miss a day or two?  I've been known to rearrange my entire day to fit a run...would I do the same to help my neighbor in need?  The healthy benefits have been a blessing to my life, yet I have to discipline myself so as to not let it "take over"- family, social life, mission projects, etc. 

Eh it's just like potato po-tot-o..

what's an addiction for some is a lifestyle or pasttime for others, eh?

I know that running is an addiction and I get grumpy when I go without it. That's all I know.

Addiction, according to Wikipedia:

"The term addiction is also sometimes applied to compulsions that are not substance-related, such as problem gambling and computer addiction. In these kinds of common usages, the term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life."

I would say running is a compulsion. I have to do it to feel good about myself despite potential harmful effects.

Interesting discussion.  Activities in one's life have to be prioritized, such as running, work, time with family, chores, etc...I think that running, just like any other activity, has to figure in to a balance of sorts.  I think most runners can balance family life and running quite well!  As a busy mother, I know that in order to take care of my family I have to take care of myself, and the benefits of my daily run aren't only to my physical health, but too my mental and spiritual health as well--giving me a little quite solitude time to reflect, etc.. I think running would only be harmful if a person used it for a purpose it was never intended for.  Examples of this would be an anorexic who runs constantly and eats next to nothing and is severely damaging her/his health.  In this case running is not the addiction, but rather the underlying issues leading to anorexia are the causes of the compulsion.  Another example would be a runner who is spending excessive amounts of money on gear, etc... while the kids are sitting at home with nothing to eat(this is pretty extreme and highly unlikely I know!)  In this case, once again, running being an addiction is not the problem.  The problem is that the individual has failed to properly balance their life and activities.  Running is an activity the body gets used to, so if you miss your run I can understand why you might feel sluggish, unwell, etc...the body has missed its usual activity.  As far as the spiritual and mental side--I do feel like I have lost out on some time of peace/reflection when I can't run.  I am also interested in getting into great shape and seeing how fast I can push my body--so when I'm injured and can't run I am definitely frustrated!  I think that is just a normal feeling stemming from a desire for a favorite activity to go smoothly, without bumps in the road! 

I run to support my chocolate addiction. Does that count? I eat chocolate and run it off :) Then I eat more and I run it off :) With out it, my chocolate addiction would turn me into a blob.

I run as part of a multi-pronged effort to silence the voices in my head telling me to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia.  It seems to be working but for some reason everytime I hear "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood I know Kung Fu and I start break dance fighting.  Plus running keeps me fit- so I figure its a 'win' no matter how you look at it. 

Not sure I understand where Neil is going, but I am totally in Sue's camp :)  I have for years run just to be able to eat chocolate and stay in decent shape.  Only recently has great quantities of running actually diminished my desire for chocolate, at least in the quantities I might otherwise indulge in.  Running has gradually decreased my appetite for bad stuff.

Sasha that is completely absurd!  Your body doesn't crave these things it need them to survive.  Your body doesn't need excessive running to survive.  As much as you want to say and believe (which is what an addict will do) running can be an a addiction.  BTW everyone there was a topic on this about a year ago, I took the same stance then and Sasha took his same stance.   We all have addictions and I am glad mine helps me stay sane without harmful drug, although I am beginning to think that the injuries are pretty damaging.  Like other addictions running can and does get out of control, where it is all we think about and can't wait for that next run.  I tell myself along with most of you that this is alright.  When I know deep down I have to maintain balance inorder for my life and family to be happy.   This is hard to do, esp. when you are striving to reach goals.  The only way to get better is to run more, or is it.  Do we break our selves down to much form being obsessive?  I do think running  can be an addiction.  The key is balance as with every thing in life.

word.

For those of you that are confused, I think that Neil is referencing the movie Zoolander.

Josse:

Depends on the definition of "survive". Physical activity, and running in particular in some form, is a part of a healthy natural life-style. Children run until you teach them to sit in school for hours. Eventually they their rear end accumulates more cushion and they feel more inclined to sit. But that is unnatural. You can change things from a natural to an unnatural state with physical activity more easily than you can with breathing. But the end result is essentially the same - reduced quality of life and premature death.

I said excessive running.  Don't get me wrong I do believe that exercise is important for the body to function properly, but when done in excess it can be harmful as well as any other addiction that get out of control.  I am sure people who start any type of excessive behavior does not intend it to get our of control.  We all think we have the capability to keep things balanced.  And some how they just get out of control.  We find ourselves 50 pound over weight or on the other end running way to much that it is breaking our body down.  We begin to justify cutting out things like sleep to get more miles in, if we really take a look we can see other effect it has on our personal life.    I love to run a lot of miles but when ever I do, and I think I am doing it smart, my body eventually breaks down.   Now why can't I just take a break once in a while, a good 6 weeks with no running, do other forms of exercise.  Because I am addicted to it.  I become depressed and have withdrawl symptoms.  As I would guess the majority of you out there do.  Maybe you don't experience this but I highly dought it.  Other wise you would take random break from running as well.
(I knew I shouldn't have opened my mouth ::)

I almost always take an annual 1-3 month break and enjoy it.  I actually don't miss running too much during it- I enjoy more sleep, more family time, more free time, more football time.  Plus I am sometimes burnt out and/or injured when I start my break.  No depression.  Just some weight gain.

You complete me.   ;)

Most non-runners will consider 50 miles a week excessive. I consider it survival minimum. Sacrificing sleep to run more miles is unhealthy and counter-productive. However, few people have schedules so busy that cannot be re-arranged to run 50 miles a week. "Sacrificing" TV or videogaming time to run more miles is very healthy. Going to bed earlier so you could get up earlier to run more miles is very healthy as well.

Good for you Jon.  We should all follow your example.  For the record I am completely ok with being addicted to running :)

Defining what we believe to be essential for life and what really is essential for life is difficult.

I love to run, and it is part of what I do everyday. It is essential to my overall physical and mental health and helps me gain confidence. But, if I were to lose my legs today, I would not die in the coming months. I would still live. I could still live in great physical health and happiness. I do not have to run, but I do. It helps balance out everything else. It does not define me. It is only a portion of the many things that do. I would rather have people see me as a good man than a great runner (though that does not mean I can't go for both).

Sometimes I do get addicted to running. I get caught up in mileage goals that may be unecessary. I go for times during runs that probably do more damage than good sometimes. I've run on stress fractures believing that I could run through it or that running would help heal me. I've rewarded myself with runs and punished myself with runs. I've let it consume me to the point of pages of split times and pace calculations. I have let it close me off from friends and family. I am not addicted now though. Right now I am running well.

Well said Adam.  I have very similar feelings and thoughts.  At times I struggle to keep running in check and not let it define my existence.  I do most of my running early in the morning and/or at lunch because I feel guilty for not spending more time with my family.  Not sure if this is valid medically, but I do feel I have addictive tendencies.  I have to keep an iron fist on the reins or I'll eventually harm myself.

Adam I like the way you said that.  It was what I was trying to say, but you said it much better.  Running doesn't have to be an addiction but either do a lot of things.  It is how we handle ourselves with what we are give.  BALANCE.

Anything that you put to much devotion to and that's all you think about is an addiction, and running can be an addiction.  I know because it happened to me last year.  If you don't balance your life properly than anything can happen especially if your mindset is not devoted to God.  Running can be unhealthy if you can't stop doing it when your injured, and if it's all you think about.

I'm a hopeless addict. Running is all I think about and having been injured all of last year, it was all I thought about! Why does running make us so nutjobby?

If you go without food or with limited quantities of it for long enough, food would be all you'd think about. If you've lived off bread and water all your life, you do not know any different. But once you've had a normal meal, and then go back to bread and water, a normal meal would be all you think about for a long time until you forget, if ever.

Running is natural to human body. Once you train it to do it properly, you experience a sense of balance that you begin to depend on.

I think Sasha is onto something here, imagine how fast you could run without that pesky "air" addiction.

For me, running takes time; sometimes it takes precious time, but mostly it takes about the same amount of time I used to spend wasting on addictions of sorts: TV, lying awake not sleeping, idle internet surfing...