Run for Your Mental Health, But Know When to Rest + Past Self Comparison, AI In Running, Leadville 100
Still I Run’s Sasha Wolff shares risks of relying too heavily on running for mental health, plus comparing past vs. present, pros and cons of AI run coach apps, and more.
Lately, I’ve seen a bunch of Instagram Reels by running influencers with captions along the lines of, “I started running for my mental health, and now I can’t function without going for a run,” or, “Just another Millennial runner who signed up for another marathon because therapy is too expensive.”
I don’t reshare these Reels because I think these messages are dangerous. They position running as a drug or a replacement for therapy.
Don’t get me wrong, running is SO GOOD for our mental well-being. It’s played a central role in my life and my own mental health for decades now. Honestly, I don’t know that I’d be here without it.
And that’s exactly why I think the messages we share with the masses about running for our mental health are important.
Running is not the only way to function.
Running does not replace therapy.
It’s a tool in our mental health toolkit, as Sasha Wolff, founder and executive director of Still I Run, described to me recently. But relying on it too heavily creates risks.
What if you need rest but refuse to take it?
What if you can’t run due to an injury?
Sasha started Still I Run after finding running as a healthy way to work through her own struggles with her mental health. The organization has built a community of support and resources. She and her leadership team help members approach running as a piece of the puzzle, rather than the glue that holds our mental health together.
In the bonus interview excerpt below, Sasha shares the risks associated with believing that running is the be-all and end-all, and a healthier way to embrace this incredible tool for improving our mental well-being.
- Kimberly, founder & editor
Run for Your Mental Health, But Know When to Rest
“For a lot of people, when they first get into it, it’s all or nothing. It’s very hard for them to understand that they need to take a rest when they’re new to the sport. They see rest as being lazy or almost like failure. And they get inside their brain…and that becomes a little bit of an obsessive thing.
We like to remind people that it’s maybe not a rest day, but think of it as a mind-body recharge. This is very important for your life and for running in general.
The other thing that we see is people saying, ‘I can’t run anymore because of an injury. Now what?’ And they start getting in their heads about that.
We really like to push people towards other means of movement. So, it could be just walking, it could be swimming, it could be yoga, it could be biking.
Running isn’t the end-all be-all. It’s just the catalyst that we’ve chosen here at Still I Run. But it could be: still I walk, still I hike, still I bike. It could be anything that you’re doing for movement, for your mental health.
The other thing that we have seen is, how do you even get started? You’re so depressed, you can’t even get outside. And that I completely understand, because sometimes depression has such a strong grip and hold on you.
The one thing I always say to that is, ‘Every day is a brand new day to try.’
Something that has helped me exponentially is, even on those days where I don’t want to try, I will at least put on my shoes and all of my workout gear — not with the intention of going out for a run, but at least just going out. Sometimes, I find that I will run a little bit because it feels good. Other days, I got my walk done.” – Sasha Wolff, Founder and Executive Director of Still I Run
Read the full Q&A on Running Lifestyle, where Sasha shares more on…
🫱🏻🫲🏽 How Still I Run’s initiatives are supported through peer-to-peer fundraising
💜 What to expect at a Still I Run city chapter group run
🧠 And why there’s a strong connection between running and mental health
New on Running Lifestyle
Run coach apps are popping up everywhere. But is following an AI-created training plan the best way to train for a race? Seven UESCA-certified running coaches recently shared their thoughts on AI’s benefits and limitations in this article on Running-Lifestyle.com.
Marathon Training Update: Weeks 8 & 9
I’ve officially entered unknown territory.
My longest run before beginning marathon training was 14 miles, which I matched for my long run last week. Today, I’m venturing into my 15-miler. It’s a weird feeling, not knowing what comes next. I’ve trained for so many half marathons, and runs up to that distance felt familiar. From here on out, I’m a complete beginner.
Despite being a beginner at this, my mind has been clinging to a past version of me for no good reason. When someone asks if I have a goal time for this marathon, I say, “No, my goal is to finish.” And that’s the truth. That goal is so intentional. I want to focus on enjoying the experience and avoid putting unnecessary pressure on myself. Reflecting on my first half marathon, I didn’t go into it with a goal time, and I loved that race. Running without expectations is FUN.
But when I tell someone that I have no goal time for this marathon, past me is whispering one in the back of my mind. It just keeps sneaking in there.
The problem is, past me’s expectations are not aligning with present me’s abilities. There’s this annoying disconnect happening in my brain.
I’ve been wondering if this is common for others who have been running for a long time and have plenty of past race and workout times to look back on.
I know my faster times are likely behind me. I see it on my watch during every training run. Still, there’s a small part of me that thinks, “But maybe not! Maybe I’ve still got a couple of fast race times left in me.”
Anyway, I really need this voice to take the bench. I’m here for the experience, and the last thing I want is to feel disappointed crossing the finish line.
Partners & Promotions
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Voted Utah’s “Best Running Event” and “Best Half Marathon,” the 23rd annual Salt Lake City Marathon returns on April 25, 2026. Take in stunning city and mountain views, then celebrate your finish with friends and family downtown! Get 20% off your marathon, half marathon, 10K, or 5K registration using the code: RunningLifestyle (Registration opens in September.)
The Lake Norman Half Marathon Series (in North Carolina, just north of Charlotte) is offering 10% off the registration price for any of its four races. Use coupon code kv through December 31, 2025.
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What I’m Listening to, Reading, and Watching
In this episode of the “Tread Lightly Running Podcast,” coaches Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris chat about recent running trends, including the downfalls of AI training plans. In addition to AI creating plans that are too easy or too challenging for the runner, they discuss ethical concerns, such as the environmental cost and how AI learns by pulling information from what running coaches have published online.
The top male and female Leadville 100 finishers both set course records. David Roche beat his time from last year, and 35-year-old Anne Flower broke the women’s record set in 1994! (iRunFar)
We’ve had “Breaking2” and “Breaking4” attempts, sponsored by Nike. Earlier this week was “Chasing 100,” an attempt to run 100 kilometers in less than six hours, organized by Adidas. Sibusiso Kubheka did it, averaging a 5:47 mile pace and with only 40 seconds to spare! (Runner’s World)
I’m not sure I’d recommend integrating these workouts into a marathon training plan you’re already in the middle of, but here are three speedier workouts to bookmark for a future plan. (Canadian Running)
Chances are, you’ve probably seen the recent news questioning the connection between long-distance running and colon cancer. (The New York Times) Here’s a more thorough analysis of current research on the topic and gaps in understanding. The short version: This connection is not a conclusion, but worth further investigation. Don’t ignore severe GI symptoms. (The Conversation)
This year, 29-year-old Adam Rodriguez is running a marathon in all 55 cities in England. (BBC)
A high school cross-country team in Minnesota stops by the home of Sandy Bass during each day’s workout route — for popsicles. (KARE11)
The Sydney Marathon is this weekend, its first year as a World Marathon Majors race. Here’s a preview. (The Guardian)
Over on Instagram…
That’s how it works:
Replace “ruined” with “elevated.” Running shoes do take up a lot of suitcase space, though.
In case you’re overdue for a run:
Happy running!
I started running after my husband died and really leaned in when I got sober. Running is a safe space for me. It’s a space because I can shut off the noise of what’s happening around me, it’s been a space where I have had emotional break throughs, and it has also made me realize that I am stronger than I thought I was.