Jog On: How Running Saved My Life

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If a refund or reimbursement is payable to you, we will transfer the money using the same method originally used by you to pay for your purchase. Runner's World participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Through her story she gives the reader tips with a non bullshit approach, without sounding smug or preachy. Exercise has long been hailed as a solution to all, and of course everyone’s experience of mental illness is different and must be considered on an individual basis, however for me, running has really helped alleviate a lot of my symptoms and I found this book to be really comforting and relatable, and a reminder to just do what works.

I’ve now discovered the author has more of a runners journal with practical guides which is probably more like the book I actually wanted so I’ll try this. Bella Mackie isn't your average coach - she's much swearier, and she's never going to give you a nutrition plan or join you on a marathon. This funny, moving and motivational book will encourage you to say 'jog on' to your problems and get your life back on track - no matter how small those first steps may be. Then I swiftly grew to love that peace; the sense of giving my mind a rest for a while and just letting my body take over.I was a bit worried it was going to be a bit 'look at me, I'm now an amazing runner, regularly entering marathons' etc. The book encourages you to see other benefits to running other than weight loss, and it’s something I’ve never considered before. Sometimes the most trivial things force you out of bed, not the most meaningful and important things in your life. A compassionate and important book' Joe Lycett 'Perfect for resetting a glum January mindset' Alexandra Heminsley 'My kind of role model' Ben Fogle Divorced and struggling with deep-rooted mental health problems, Bella Mackie ended her twenties in tears.

There were large sections in the first half of the book that described a variety of mental health issues. I like that she acknowledges that running is a helpful tool, not something that will solve everything. Based on the description, I thought this book was going to be more of a memoir about a woman who used running to overcome a tough time in her life.I listened to the audiobook of this, which is narrated by the author, and really enjoyed this format. I think how Mackie charts how running helped her come to terms with her anxiety and develop coping mechanisms was excellently done.

As someone who has never experienced anything like what Mackie has gone through, I feel this book has helped equip me to be a better friend to those in my life who have suffered/are suffering from anxiety. In the modern world, we’ve separated them: we see our minds as the primary thing to be prized and our bodies as vessels that carry our minds. Quite a relatable read which will hopefully motivate me to create a healthy relationship with running. It feels like the author wrote a really exceptional essay that she made the mistake of turning into an entire book.Mackie knows what she’s talking about from a non-medical point of view and openly admits everyone is different so I’m going to find out more for my own mental health. As someone who often feels I should run more, this helped me realise that I can run more when I want to, but should also use running in a way that benefits me, and not as a way of bargaining with myself or forcing myself on bad days. She began to set herself achievable goals - to run 5k in under 30 minutes, to walk to work every day for a week, to attempt 10 push-ups in a row.

If a refund is payable to you we will process the refund as soon as possible, and, in any case within fourteen (14) days. This is why most people equally think of running as some kind of punishment or something they have to endure to get the desired after effects.

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