3rd September – Run 4 – 1.56m Miles (50.97m to go)

This afternoon’s run was not easy. It’s really warm, and that alone would pose a problem. However, two days of drinking, eating awful food and smoking the odd cigar or five has left me in whatever the opposite of peak fitness is. I had a great time recharging the batteries with good friends in a good environment, and sometimes neglecting physical health, albeit for 36 hours, is needed to truly benefit your mental health. You can go out and enjoy life only to feel guilt afterwards – that’s almost as bad as not enjoying yourself at all.

That said, I struggled to get into the same shirt I ran the 10K in, which was a bit of a blow. I also knew I had to get a mile or so in today, just to keep chipping away at the total. I’m going to do this challenge, even if every so often I fill in a little run like this. However, I have vowed to not do a run under 1.5m as loads of little ones would feel a lot like cheating.

I’m keeping this diary to let you know how I’m doing, and to imbue some wisdom on those who do struggle with mental health issues. Today’s point is really summed up in the first paragraph. I have a good set of friends and getting out and about with them is massively important, as it is for anybody. The trick is to make sure you enjoy those moments. I didn’t feel guilt as I troughed a Burger King, or sank pint number ten, even though that lifestyle over time can lead you to feel bad. Life is for living, for enjoying, and you have to be able to enjoy weekends, events and time with mates. You can be un healthy every so often, it’s not a crime!