running and personality types

Yesterday I felt completely out-of-sorts. I had a good, physically draining Pilates session but no running (I don't run every day), and as the day wore on everything seemed to be putting me in a bad mood-- bad weather, bad traffic, bad meetings, bad movie selection at the video store. I tried telling myself that I had nothing to get upset about and no legitimate reasons to feel mad at the world, but to no avail. I was glad to get the day over with.

Today, by contrast, was terrific, and I can't help but wonder if running was that magic bullet that started things out right. I went for a six mile run and the weather was fine-- partly sunny but not too hot, breezy, just the right weather to cruise along in a tank top and shorts and feel perfectly comfortable. Later some friends and I went to a cultural festival in honor of the novelist Zora Neale Hurston. Isaac Hayes of "Shaft" fame was singing live, there was jerk chicken on offer, people dressed in colorful outfits, and lots of cool Afro-centric art and jewelry. While the rest of the South experiences ice storms, the weather in Florida continued to be balmy and nice.

I sometimes wonder if running attracts a particular personality type. While I try as hard as possible to give the impression of being a laid-back person, I know deep down that I'm very anxious, and I've found that running is a good thing because it forces me to chill out. Running reduces my anxieties, boosts my moods, and somehow makes it easier to handle whatever curve balls life throws me. The more serious I get about running, the more it seems to have this effect. Is this true for others who love running?