Mental Benefits of Training Outdoors

Train The Brain

Mental Benefits of Training Outdoors

Hope Short

Hi fellow walkers and runners!  I have experienced many of the benefits of training outdoors firsthand and am excited to share those with you.  But first, let me introduce myself.

My name is Hope Short, and I started running races in 2008.  Since then, I have run 40+ half marathons, 5 marathons, and 6 ultra-marathons.  Through the years, my “why I run” has evolved quite a bit.  I started running for my physical health and to improve my speed.  Over time, I have realized I run for my mental health first and foremost.  I am a mental health advocate and warrior who is very open with my mental health struggles, including taking medication daily for anxiety and depression, because I want others to know that they are not alone.  I also spend a lot of my time volunteering with Still I Run, an organization that raises awareness to end the stigma around mental health.

While I have known about MIT for years, my anxiety has held me back from participating in the past.  I always felt like I was not good enough - too slow, too big, or I just did not belong.  In January of 2023, I decided to overcome those fears and have really appreciated my experience thus far.  The connection, community, and bond developed over the course of one training cycle has been phenomenal (a big thanks to my coaches!).  I also especially enjoy training outdoors.

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir

This quote by Muir couldn’t be truer!  Sometimes, a trendy fast-paced lifestyle and the hustle of life can take a toll.  Whenever I find myself on the brink of a burnout, I know it is time to get outside for a run to connect with nature and disconnect from the digital world.

Nature has a way of speaking to me during my runs.  For instance, when I see any type of white bird while running, it feels like it’s a sign just for me that everything will be okay.  Every now and then, one will swoop down in front of me and no matter how tired I am, it invigorates me and makes me smile.  Sometimes I even run a little more because of that white bird! 

There are countless other times I have these little moments when running outside.  There is something amazing about running in nature that feels so good physically as well as emotionally.  And as fun as it can feel, there are also scientifically proven benefits of training outdoors including the following:

• Lowering a person’s bodily sensitivity to anxiety
• Reducing tension and stress
• Increasing mental and physical energy
• Improving well-being by allowing the body to release a chemical called endorphins
• Outdoor exercise can also help to generate new neurons in the critical parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus

I have most definitely experienced the joys of running outside and hope you feel inspired to work out in the great outdoors as well.

You have a place here.  You belong here.  Stay.