Catharsis Runs

Running with purpose

Something the Running Channel Podcast often mentions is that every run should have a purpose. That can be keeping fit, a specific distance/time goal, mental health benefits, getting time to oneself, anything that gives the run a “reason”.

This rings true for me. When I’m following a running plan (Couch to 5k, Nike Running Club 10k, Nike Running Club Half Marathon), there is a clear motivation as to why I am doing each run. Similarly, when I run in a new place (e.g. on holiday) the goal is to explore a new place and discover a little bit of the culture. Another reason I run is to be in a group with other people, spending time talking and meeting people.

In contrast, when I’m not following a plan (due to finishing one and not starting another yet), and I’m running in the same place and without a clear goal, the run seems to take longer than usual (even though it is the same, and sometimes quicker than at other times!).

I know that I run better with purpose. Now, I am adding another purpose for going for a run. Catharsis.

Is catharsis not the same as running for mental health?

For many, these would be the same. In some ways, running for catharsis is a subset of running for mental health. I would class the following as mental health runs: -

• Processing - Focussed time to process events/emotions/feelings while running
• Raising my mood - Running usually raises my mood, but particularly when I’m dealing with something challenging
• Catharsis - See below…

The runs that I am currently finding cathartic (i.e. those that help to deal with/release/reframe strong emotions/feelings) are those that focus on a certain event, location, or memories of a time period in my life.

Why are you running for catharsis?

As mentioned in previous posts, I am going through separation/divorce. During this process, I am challenging a lot of core beliefs I’ve held about myself. This includes how I interact with people, and my approach to life. Up until the separation, I have rarely given myself the chance to reflect on my life and what led me to where I am now.

The best way for me to deal with some of these emotions and thoughts is to combine them with running. By revisiting certain places and time periods in my life, I’m turning them into an achievement. I am reframing the location and events as an act of self care, an act of improving my physical health, and an act of improving my mental health

Okay, where?

Currently, I have three runs I am treating as catharsis runs. I have ran one of them (although I will likely do a longer and less illness-influenced attempt in future), and I have two more I will be doing by the end of the year.

Sheffield (UK)

Most of my twenties were spent in Sheffield. I worked in Sheffield, my bands gigged in Sheffield, and most of the times I went on a night out, they were in Sheffield.

For this run, I started at a former workplace, and then ran around all of the venues in Sheffield that my bands gigged at. This covered around 6km. I had intended to run to some other places within Sheffield, but this was the first run after a short illness and I wasn’t 100% recovered yet.

What was nice is that I did this run the day after meeting up with my old band (some who I haven’t seen in person in nearly a decade), so as catharsis goes, it was pretty powerful!

Birmingham (UK)

I went to university in Birmingham. This was the first time I lived away from my parents, and I also formed my first band there. While I only lived there for 3 years, it had a huge effect on my life.

For this run, I am going to start at where I lived in my first year of University, going to each house I lived in over the next two years, the university campus, and then around the venues my band played the most (Scruffy Murphys, and Edwards No 8).

Again, I am going to be doing this after meeting up with a friend I haven’t seen in years, so it is going to help a lot with some of the feelings I still have about the place.

My home town

Most of my childhood, and a significant part of my 20s were spent in my home town. I have a lot of emotions and feelings from these times that I need to work through. Some are formative from my early years, others are from when I moved back from university, others are tied to the first house I owned.

For this run, I am going to start with the streets I grew up on, visiting homes I lived in, as well as going via my old school, and other significant places too.

What outcome are you hoping for?

By doing these runs, I’m hoping to get the following out of the process: -

• Change my most recent memories about each place
• Turn each place into somewhere I achieved a goal on my path to being healthier (physically and mentally)
• Help other people do something similar
• Add some more activities to Strava 🤣

I tend to remember and focus on the “last” event at a place (as I’m sure many others do). Going through this resets that.

Anywhere else?

I don’t have any plans or any other locations I intend to do these runs at yet. There are some I may do in the future, but they are in places that are tied heavily to my current situation. I don’t feel ready to deal with these just yet. One day though, especially if the catharsis runs help me in processing other events, I hope to be in a place where I can.