I was an unlikely marathoner. Nearly 50 years old, overweight, and suffering from the crippling depression of bipolar disorder, I was sitting on my sofa in my pajamas at noon on a weekday when a social media post caught my eye. Several of my middle-aged friends had taken up running! I'd already been dreaming about running - it felt like flying. The easy, floating feeling of the dream seduced me into believing that, like my friends, I too could run. I leashed up the dog for emotional support and began. Two and a half years later, I crossed the finish line at the Columbus Marathon.
Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink follows me from couch to marathon. In the story, I experience physical injuries, panic attacks, paranoia, thoughts of suicide, hypochondria, and every negative thought ever had by anyone who attempts the impossible. Through running, I faced many fears (bridges and boredom, for example), learned to cope with my bipolar symptoms using exercise, and discovered inner strength I didn't know I possessed.

Running Can Be the Best Therapy for Depression

"Nita's brave, honest book imparts hard-won lessons on using running to combat depression." Scott Douglas, contributing writer for Runner's World and author of Running Is My Therapy

#1 Best Seller in Running & Jogging, Exercise & Fitness, and Bipolar Disorder

An unforgettable story of tenacity, running therapy, beating depression, and the companionship of a dog. The Dog Writers Association of America awarded Nita Sweeney a Maxwell Medallion for excellence in writing about the Human/Animal Bond for her memoir.

Running is my therapy. Before she discovered running therapy, Nita Sweeney was 49 years-old, chronically depressed, occasionally manic, and unable to jog for more than 60 seconds at a time. Using running, Nita discovered an inner strength she didn't know she possessed, and with the help of her canine companion, she found herself on the way to completing her first marathon. In her memoir, Sweeney shares how she overcame emotional and physical challenges to finish the race and come back from the brink.

It's the best therapy for depression. Anyone who has struggled with depression knows the ways the mind can defeat you. However, it is possible to transform yourself with the power of running. You may learn that you can endure more than you think, and that there's no other depression therapy quite like pavement beneath your feet.

Depression Hates a Moving Target is a witty and poignant story of rediscovery. Whether you're born to run or just looking for rebirth:

• Be inspired by the powerful story of one woman and her dog
• Cheer on Nita as she endures the challenges of a marathon and a mind in turmoil
• Discover the power of running to overcome obstacles and boost your mental health

If you loved running books like Born to Run or Let Your Mind Run, you'll love Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running With My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink.