“How Running Helped Me Grieve”
NAME: Ali Tremaine
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: Student, physical therapist assistant
HOMETOWN: Memphis, TN
FAMILY: While I technically live alone, my house is often full of my close friends and family visiting, as well as golden retrievers that I foster!
What prompted you to start working out?
Being a twenty-something can lead to a lot of bad choices and hard times to struggle with. Add to that a friend's tragic passing and my parents rough divorce, and I just had to find something to get me out of bed. It was a very hard time, but there was something comforting about only worrying about getting one foot in front of the other, one day at a time.
How did you start?
I've never been very athletic, so running seemed like the only thing that was easy enough to try. I had no idea how hard it actually was going to be, or how that would make it more rewarding. I still vividly remember the first time I ran a whole mile without stopping, and how insanely happy it made me. From that point on, I was hooked on finding that happiness again and again.
Describe your regular workout routine.
I generally try to run three or four times a week, and with an amazing running community in my area, I can't resist signing up for a 5-K here and there for fun, too. Often, I will get my boyfriend or best friend to join me on the trails because I feel better in the woods, and I enjoy sharing that experience with people I love. I encourage everyone to run with friends at least once a week--it's the best therapy and bonding activity.
TRY THIS: 5 Easy Steps to Becoming a Runner
What was the biggest hurdle to working out and how did you get over it?
Finding the motivation, and just mentally being determined enough to stick to it. Depression and grief will bring out the worst apathy, and it makes it extremely hard to actually get out there. I make a little deal with myself where I get dressed and drive to the park, and if I get there and still don't feel like it, I will go back home. So far, I've never turned back around and I always feel better after running.
MORE: 50 Ways To Inspire Your Next Run
What's the most rewarding part of your running life?
No matter how bad I feel a run or race went, there is always a part of running where I am smiling from ear to ear. If running can keep me smiling like that, it will always be a part of my life. It helped me build back my life, introduced me to some of my closest friends, and even lead me to my career. My running life has been nothing but a series of rewards, and I know I am a better person because of it.
What advice would you give to a beginner or someone just starting out?
Don't give up--it is worth it to keep running. I struggled with being very hard on myself, so I just would want a beginner to know that if I did it, anyone can. I also have to suggest getting involved in your local running community or participating with a friend. It's what got me started and what kept me going.
PLUS: 4 Steps to Making Exercise a Lasting Habit
What are your favorite motivational quotes?
"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"And the more I run, the more certain I am that I am heading for my real goal: to become the person I am." -George Sheehan
What's your favorite piece of gear?
I swear by wool socks. I can't get enough, especially because the dogs keep some of them "mysteriously" disappearing.
Find The Best Workout Shoes for Your Feet
What is your long-term goal?
I want to continue running for a long time, and I would like to get to longer distances. I am convinced that the farther I run, the more I get to enjoy myself. So keep the miles coming!
More from Runner's World:
