Depression,Mo Bartley and Trail Running Secrets

"When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. And that is my religion."
– Abraham Lincoln

The following are symptoms of depression. If you are experiencing or know someone that you think are experiencing some of the symptoms of depression  then a more thorough evaluation is indicated: 1. A sullen mood  2. Having feelings of hopelessness, guilt and/or anxiousness  3. Loss of interest in things that were pleasurable at one time  , i.e. sex  4. A change in appetite, primarily but not always in loss of appetite  5. A change in sleeping patterns in either inability to sleep, or in sleeping too much   6. Inability and difficulty in concentration 7. Lack of energy( i.e. for sex) and/or feeling rundown .

In thinking about depression, it brings me back to a class-seminar at the San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute that I attended in the late 1970s. I remembered talking to the psychiatrist who was teaching the class about the benefits of  aerobic exercise, especially running and how that activity combats and is good therapy for dealing with depression. That unnamed psychiatrist looked at me with a puzzling expression on his face. He might’ve thought that, may be, I was out of my mind. In any way, I made my case back then.

Today, aerobic exercise is more universally accepted as a major benefit to those who have a depressed mood. And of course, aerobic exercise has many other benefits as well.

Mo Bartley was last week’s guest on our TV show “It Has Nothing to Do with Age or Gender.” Mo began running in her 30s and credited ride and tie participants for her  beginning. This young woman loved horseback riding and then combined running. She ran  ultras, and  then in her 50s  switched to shorter distances. While still in her 50s, she has become faster and now leads Trail running groups with Tim Twietmeyer and Mark Falcone at Fleet Feet in Sacramento. Watch her video and participate in a running group. http://youtu.be/Xi0D3EPHmx8.

Last Saturday, Tony, Chris and I met the ride and tie competition In Cool. Susan Smyth, the race director, hosted her  second  ride and tie in Cool. The three of us, past ride and tie competitors are currently running. So we decided to run the first loop of the event. We started out about 10 to 15 minutes before the others and it took a while for them(competitors) to catch up to us. They did as we were headed and close to the coffer dam.

My previous horse Gypsy was in the event , and was doing well. However, as we were  heading down the switchbacks, Gypsies, female partners were walking her back. Unfortunately, Gypsy tripped and scraped her right leg which was bleeding  in the process. I didn’t see her again until we finished our trail run. Her leg was wrapped and she was a little off at that point. I expect that the current owner, a veterinarian –Jen Mather will treat her well. By the way, Jim emailed me about a month ago that she finished the Virginia City 100 mile endurance ride. Way to go, girl.

Make it a point to keep moving, laughing, smiling, deep breathing and bonding to assist you in your aging.

PS

Mo Bartley ,a number of years ago, called Tony a cute name during the very first Run on the Sly. He revealed that cute name on a  trail run a while ago. However, he gets embarrassed; when I call him by that name. He didn’t want us to reveal” the name” during our TV show.

Yesterday, Tony, Chris and I ran a short loop. Tony had a brilliant idea, but because it was mentioned on the trail, It remains on the trail. I must admit we laughed a lot. Join us if you can, because I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.