There are various exercises one can engage in as a form of site action, running is one of the most meditative activities out there. There’s something both calming and energizing about a run; the soft, repetitive slapping of your runners against pavement, the fresh air, the ability to remove yourself from whatever environment is causing your stress, and the opportunity to do it anywhere, any time. It lets you shrug off whatever’s got you down at the moment.
It also takes a certain amount of focus to push through when you begin to hit a wall; and you focus hard on doing it and soon you’re not thinking about the things that are on your mind.
The fight with your friend, the negative thing someone said at work, your worries about school or money or mortgages… none of it follows you on a run. There just isn’t room for those thoughts. Not to mention the healthy dose of adrenaline that your body starts to pump out… It’s hard to stay focused on being sad or mad or annoyed after you’ve drained all you have in you to go that extra mile.