Do you find it possible to run when you are mentally drained?

For me it is a release so whilst on days like that I may have to dig deep as it were I know that it is a fab way to feel better.

After a hard day at work I always feel better after a run, the difficult thing is getting the kit on and getting out of the door.

Good thinking time!

Yeah as it helps clears my mind.

 It was great when studying just to put down books,go out and run for 20-30 minutes.

Yes- and good after a bad night on call too- I was feeling like death after getting up at 3:30am to go in to work, having only had 2hrs ( repetedly interupted) sleep- a 5mile run made me feel much better!

I fell going running clears my head and releaves stress. Also feel better when I get back. Probably the best on Friday afternoon, where a me and a friend did a nice run in the county, and just ran and chilled out, as well as pacing each other. 

Went this evening with the club -  a nice steady pace, with people I know. Better than sitting, moping at home all night - and as a bonus burns calories and keeps mind and body fit. 

Yes.  It's the best therapy.  99% of the time I feel loads better after a run. As previous post said, it's the getting out that's the hard bit.

Normally a run makes me feel better but when my Dad was terminally ill I found it almost impossible to run - Id go out with good intentions but end up walking home totally demoralised.    I guess it depends on how serious the stress is.

Minnie, that must have been pretty tough. I had similarly poor results when my marriage fell apart in the six months before the Brighton marathon in 2010. I wasn't sleeping or eating properly and had no drive on my long runs especially. I was trying to use running as a distraction to what was happening in my personal life, but I think the long runs require you to be in a pretty good head space, and I found I had no energy and just couldn't push through any type of discomfort, and would find myself walking a lot. Consequently my training for the marathon was very poor, and although i made it round I promised that next time I'd give myself a fair crack of the whip.

Thankfully life has taken a turn for the better, and I'm enjoying my running now

Dont sit down for a cup of tea or anything when you get home from work. Straight in the door, kiss the dog, stroke the wife put your kit on and get out the door. As soon as I sit down its game over, there is plenty of time for relaxing when you get back home