Running: The Dopamine Hit That Helped Me Heal

On the 17th of February this year, at the age of 42, I started running. I started slowly – running in 60 second intervals with the NHS Couch to 5K app as my sidekick. Six months later, I can now run for 45 minutes without stopping. I think it’s safe to say I’m now officially a runner. But why did I start? Why now?

What is an empath?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt things deeply. Whether it was sadness, worry, or a subtle tension in a room, I’d pick up on it. For a long time, I’ve put it down to being emotionally intelligent. But recently, I’ve realised it’s something deeper.