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There is no finish line

One African descent woman takes water break in neighborhood park.

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This is for those that have ever felt stuck, like really stuck. You know, the “there is no light at the end of the tunnel, it just what it is, I have tried everything and see no way out” stuck. This is for those moments that feel like every scenario leads to the same dead-end road. Running has taught me that it’s never really the end. It has shown me that with patience, care, self-love, curiosity and persistence almost anything is achievable. Running has always been a bit of a litmus test for me to determine how my life is going. My 2016 running statistics reflect the stressful, difficult, struggle that was existing. In addition, I had gained weight that I had once lost and got injured as a result of not taking proper care of myself. After Berlin, I knew I needed rest and reflection. At the beginning of 2017, I wiped the slate clean and came back with a vengeance. I had allowed my body to rest and heal, set boundaries in spaces that were causing me crippling stress and used that time to engage in spaces that would guide me to a more physically and mentally healthy space. I invested in me, forcing myself to do things that were not just challenging, but scary and seemingly impossible. This included leaving the safety of my fulltime job to launch my own practice full time. I realized I wasn’t stuck, but needed to build a new path. I just completed the 2018 Brooklyn Half Marathon in 1:57:06, 36 minutes faster than my 2016 time. I will begin training for my fourth World Major Marathon in two weeks. 8 years ago I would never guessed I would be on this journey. I am not sure how far it will go or what will happen along the way, but we just keep going, learning from and embracing the process. Running is literally placing one foot in front of the other and the physical aspect of the sport has manifested in the way I think mentally as well too.

Stacey Younge, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and owner of Sixth Street Wellness. Her private practice focuses on utilizing both traditional therapy and tele-behavioral health specializing in depression, anxiety and trauma. Stacey is a California native, runner and mental health advocate who is here to help you.

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5 Ways Running Taught Me To Break Through The Wall Of Life’s Challenges  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com

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