The single undeniable truth about running

Trust me. Prove me wrong. Maybe I am wrong, but prove me wrong!

There are numerous blogs about running.

People of different abilities run to lose weight, to meditate (kind of), to stay healthy, or simply because they like running.

There is research too. Of course, running is known to be good for your health. Exercising is good for your health.

Today, for example, I came across this how-much-running-do-you-need-do-to-improve-your-mood-and-brain-function. A very mediocre piece posted by someone who’s probably not a runner (I don’t mean to offend the author!). Mediocre because the sample size referred to in the story is 26 people. You don’t have to be a statistician to understand that too few people were surveyed. More generally, as I runner, I find the substance of the story shallow. There cannot be a one-size-fits-all recommendation for how many miles to run to improve your mood.

I’m criticizing this particular piece for its mediocracy but am using it as an example of the numerous blogs praising the benefits of running. They are right to praise.

I can talk a lot about running and I absolutely plan to in my upcoming stories.

But I wanted to state one very specific perspective on running. Based on my experience. Not based on science.

In fact, if I look at my life in its entirety — my personal life and career, the various episodes in my life, my relationships, my…