Guest Blogger Tracy H. gives us her secret to stay focused and relieve stress

Tracy shares her secret for keeping her entrepreneurial spirit focused.

Dear {SheRuns}:

I must admit, I was going to wait to write you this comment until after I ran, but thought I better do it now!

I am someone who started running later in life. I started running five years ago (I'm 43 now). I was never a runner but decided to start so I could lose weight. I had always been a swimmer, who never liked the idea of actually sweating to get in shape. I started running up and down in my pool because that was easy (and familiar territory)! I ran until the snow flakes started flying in mid-October (in Syracuse, NY), and my husband told me he had to cover the pool! I moved inside my house to continue running in there. I didn't buy a treadmill right away, because I wasn't sure I'd stick with it long enough to warrant the expense. So instead I just jogged up and down in place for 20 minutes every day!

By Spring, I started running outside around the perimeter of my large, rural house (too embarrassed to run in "public" yet). After my sister, a cross country runner in high school, came and gave my running style a "thumbs up" I finally decided to run in public with all the other sane runners in town. That was six years ago. I have been addicted every since! I run every single day, usually 3 miles a day and mainly to get my entrepreneurial energy out of my system. I can't imagine living without it. Running helps me take out negative business energy and replace it with positive, constructive thoughts, solutions and energy.

Last year, I took my new love one step further. I ran in my first 5K race. I am the President of Women TIES (Women Together Inspiring Entrepreneurial Success), a company that promotes women entrepreneurship in New York State. One of my members organized a race to raise money for her foundation, Maureen's Hope Foundation. It was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, Inc. in Baldwinsville, New York. I told my members I was "running for women entrepreneurs." At the end of the race, when they handed out the beautiful Michelob Ultra Beer Bottle first place trophies, my name was called. Surprisingly enough, I finished first place for my age group! I must admit it was one of the proudest moments of my entrepreneurial and personal career! My beautiful Michelob trophy sits proudly next to my very formal looking SBA Women in Business Champion Award! I'm proud to be recognized for promoting women entrepreneurship as well as winning first place in my first race!

Does running help you stay focused or relieve stress?