2020 was to be my year of bucket list running events — Rocky Raccoon 50k, Grasslands Trail Marathon, The London Marathon, Transrockies Race.

All but one are now canceled or postponed. Not all at once, like a Band-Aid being ripped off or diving into a cold pool to get the pain over with, but slowly, painfully, gradually — just like all of your canceled graduations, birthdays, concerts, vacations, weddings, and work trips.

Study after study has demonstrated that lawyers have higher rates of depression, substance abuse and anxiety than the general population. Fun statistic right? As any card-carrying Type A lawyer understands, to stay healthy and sane during a decadeslong legal career, you've got to have an outlet. For some it's meditation and yoga. For others, it is the creative arts, such as piano, painting, music, theater and dance. Some choose volunteerism. Others choose golf, soccer, volleyball, tennis, swimming or the gym.

Peg Donahue Hall, partner at Spencer Fane.

For me, running is my therapy and my stress release.

Much of my travel and social life revolves around running events largely driven and planned by my running buddies. For example, a year ago they assumed we would celebrate my 60th birthday with a marathon — who wouldn't? — and signed me up for one in Hood River, Oregon.

No regrets there, it was amazing.

Naturally, when the stay-at-home orders hit, I turned to running. And for the first time in my life, running failed me.

Instead of relieving my stress, I became more stressed trying to avoid the hordes of people who had invaded my running routes. Normally, scenes of families out walking, biking and jogging together would warm my heart. Instead, I felt threatened and angry, finding myself yelling at neighbors to "back off" and "follow social distancing guidelines."

Fortunately, the yelling was all in my head, but as hard as I tried to focus on the run and the beauty of springtime in Texas, I couldn't stop those voices. One day it dawned on me: I was literally experiencing the "fight or flight" response.

For years I've handled a full litigation docket — complete with tough opponents, tough clients and tough judges — while at the same time juggling the needs of kids, family and community obligations, just like so many others. My optimistic outlook, supportive husband and a lot of running got me through it all, but this felt different.

Day after day the headlines crashed over me, the stories recounting the pandemic's effect on our health, the economy and the legal industry. I worried about my kids. I worried about my retirement. I worried about our health. I worried about the vulnerable. I worried about the country.

Despite the negative voices in my head, day after day I forced myself to lace up my shoes and head out for a run, seeking new and less-trodden routes. And with each run, I felt myself slowly crawling out of the pit I had fallen into.

Although my runs were largely solo, I didn't do it alone. The running community came to my rescue. My partner Eric — a super fast runner — sent me information on races that weren't yet canceled. Bloggers posted scenic, out-of-the-way-running routes. Runners of all speeds, shapes and sizes posted about their crazy feats of running around their yards or neighborhoods, and their completion of "virtual" events ranging from 5K to 48 hour-straight runs on treadmills. Their stories were funny, moving and inspiring.

As the rules relaxed in Texas, I decided it was OK to meet two of my running friends for our weekly long runs, albeit single file and six feet apart — not that different, as I am generally lagging behind in normal times.

As the Grassland Trail Marathon date neared, we decided we'd run it on our own and celebrated afterward with virtual hugs and high-fives. As the London Marathon date neared in April, we decided, "Why not?" and celebrated virtually after the run with our autism charity teammates in the UK who ran distances from 2.6 to 26.2 miles that same day.

My friends and I have now got a full summer planned, which will culminate in running a virtual version of the Transrockies Race — 120 miles over 6 days in August. Although this year's version will be done in the Texas heat, it will make the Colorado Rockies version that much sweeter in 2021.

So what's your plan? You don't have to write a novel or learn a new language to become engaged in a mindful, stress-relieving activity. It can be as simple as a paint-by-numbers kit, pulling out your kids' coloring books, picking up an old tennis racket, re-reading "The Lord of the Rings" or connecting with 10 friends you've lost contact with over the years. Not only will it relieve some stress but also perhaps for the first time since you earned that law degree, you've actually got the time to slow down and enjoy it.

In case you need additional strategies or assistance now or in the future, here's a link to the Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program. And please remember, you do not have to do it alone.

Peg Donahue Hall is partner at Spencer Fane LLP in the firm's Dallas office. She has spent her legal career assessing risk and efficiently resolving thorny business and legal issues for clients — whether by negotiation, litigation, or other dispute resolution mechanisms. She can be reached at [email protected].