Running as Therapy – Show Notes

Why running is cheaper than therapy.

Why do you do all this long-distance running?

For me running is so much more than just a sport, a way to keep fit.  It is a way of life.  It is what I have used for my therapy.  It has literally saved my life.

Why running is so powerful as a means of mental health.  Movement in nature is the key point.  You find out so much about who you are and what you are capable of.  It helps you overcome the chatter that you have going on constantly in your brain.  When I go running that chatter slows down.  It takes about 20 minutes to get rid of the day’s grind then once you start to connect with your body and nature, your mind and your processes start to clear.  It is a wonderful time for reflection.  It is a very powerful mechanism to help find balance.

We are living in a very artificial environment.  This is not how our ancestors lived.  We are disconnected from our true nature. 

How blue light is affecting us. 

Inundated with messages from people all around the world who are struggling with mental health issues and massive challenges.  It is a privilege to hear these stories and try to help them.  I have tried to share with people the honest journey that I go through; the highs, the lows, the challenges.  I think people are hungering for real human connection. 

With our run training we start with the mindset, the motivation and helping them with their mental struggles before we get onto the nuts and bolts of running.  We can help them on a much deeper level. 

Wanted to share the back story and why I say running helped save my life.  In my early 20s I was in an abusing controlling relationship.  I was in a constant state of being pushed beyond my limits physically and being constantly told that I was useless.  Went from being an equal partnership to being controlled completely.  My mindset was all about survival. 

Talks about her horrendous journey across the Libyan desert in which her relationship unravelled.  It took a long time to recover physically but the mental scars left her a broken person for a long long time.  It took running to put her back together.

The Marathon de Sables.  Surrounded by positive people that she hadn’t been for years.  She found like minded wonderful crazy people.  She felt encourages and confident.  Did really well in the race and then wanted more and more.  I wasn’t as useless as I had been told.  Running became my therapy and hence the title of the podcast.  What followed was 25 years of mad adventures.

Had grown up in a family that valued mental and physical toughness.  Weakness was not tolerated.  Took me years to find my way back.  Running has given me so much.  I learned so much about what I am capable of.  I can overcome my fears.  I learned team work, I learned how to market myself, to speak, business, leading with a vision.

Having good daily ways of coping and de-pressurising ourselves. 

If you are facing mental health issues, if you are in a difficult relationship etc, you are not alone.  There are lots of people going through a lot of things and finding strength from each other and in telling our stories.  I hope this gives you the courage to feel not alone and that you can find a way through.  I encourage you to take up an outdoor sport.  Find your peace with yourself and get back on the road to recovery.  Reach out to people who can help you.  Find like-minded people.

All my life I’ve felt like a fish out of water in the workforce.  I cannot stand to be in an office environment.  I felt like it was all my fault because I wasn’t getting ahead in my career.  But I was always an entrepreneur.  I want to be independent, I don’t fit in anyone else’s square.  I like to say I am unemployable.  It doesn’t mean we are lazy, or dumb, or there is something wrong with us.  It just means that we haven’t found our tribe yet.

Find your tribe who will help you be the best version of you that you can be.

Never, ever, give up. 

Fail, fail fast and keep going.

Never stop.

We would like to thank our show sponsors

The North Face -

Premier Outdoor equipment specialists who have been kitting out adventurers around the world for the past 50 years. 

Specialists in trail running gear - Check out their full range at www.thenorthface.co.nz

Running Hot Coaching: 

The online training platform run by Lisa Tamati and Neil Wagstaff.

Do you have a dream to run a big race, maybe a half marathon, a marathon or even an ultramarathon?

Have you struggled to fit in the training in your busy life?

Maybe you don't know where to start or perhaps you have done a few races but keep having motivation or injuries troubles?

Do you want to beat last years time or finish at the front of the pack?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then we can help you.

We promise to get you to the start line in the best shape ever! We will give you the benefit of our years of knowledge and experience in competing and training athletes, so you can avoid the mistakes, train efficiently, have fun and stay in optimal health while you are doing it.

So who are we?

Lisa Tamati is an a professional ultramarathon runner with over 25 years experiences racing the world's toughest endurance events and leading expeditions. Author of two internationally published running adventure books. She is also a mindset expert. From crossing the Libyan desert on foot to running Death Valley to running the length of NZ for charity, she has been there and done that. For more information on Lisa click here: www.lisatamati.com

Neil Wagstaff is an exercise scientist, coach and ultramarathon runner with over 22 years experience in the health and fitness industry. He has trained hundreds of athletes and coaches alike to the successful completion of their goals.  For more info or to download our free run training ecourse go to www.runninghotcoaching.com/running-success

Training Tilt software - a complete toolkit for trainers, health and fitness professionals, coaches and nutritionists, combine your website, ecommerce needs, client communication and training plans into one easy to use platform. Find out more at www.lisatamati.com