The running man
Cool title eh? Borrowed from an eighties flick set in the futuristic world of 2017 (lol), where Arnold Schwarzenegger and a load of convicted criminals must escape death at the hands of professional killers. If that hasn’t got your attention, nothing will (but it gives you a little clue to this week’s subject matter)…
For anyone that’s read my blog before, you’ve probably noticed there is no limit to the areas covered (note previous entries ranging from Cinema to Sumo). Random is good, but truth be told… it’s usually because I can never think of what to write about!
When I hit that writers block, I’ve found going for a run tends to inspire. This morning the block was no different. Trying to ignore the monstrous weather outside; I slurped back the rest of my coffee, before opening the door to be greeted by cold, wet wind… this is gonna be tough.
41 long, slow, horrible, drenched minutes later, I fall through the front door, dripping from head to toe. Egggh, that was horrible! I hate you running… that’s it, subject confirmed!
The not so fresh prince of need-air
From my first ever dance move, to weekend Parkruns and even a Brighton Marathon thrown into the mix, it’s fair to say I’ve always been a bit of a running man. But not so much through choice, more the incapability of being able to lay-in at the weekends.
I’ve got one of those annoying body clocks you see, that means my brain starts beeping like an alarm clock bang on 7am. There’s not much going on that early in the morning, so I usually end up getting out there to burn off the guilt an imminent full english will bring!
I also find its the perfect way to blow away the cobwebs, listen to some music and clear the head. Even though I run alone, there is a feeling of community it brings with the nods and sweaty smiles you get from fellow runners as you cross paths!
Faster fashions
Like many, my running increased as we went into lockdown last year. As the doors of gyms slammed shut around the country, we were allowed one form of exercise a day… with running topping most lists.
One of the beneficiaries for this spike were sports shops. Take Sports Direct for example, Mike Ashley with briefcases full of cash, thanks to:
A 218% increase in online sales of trainers;
An increase of 243% in running clothes; and
A 268% increase in running accessories.
I’ll hold my hands up, I got sucked in… spending a good three days comparing running shorts. At one point it was the first thing I scrolled through in the morning, and last thing at night. The relief could be heard around the house as I finally decided on a pair (oh that black pair you first looked at).
Running through a ghost town like North Laines, Brighton (blame the rain for the sexy hood)
Apps, laps and maps
As the popularity of running snowballed, so did our usage of running apps. Previous to lockdown I had always used the Nike Run Club app. It was great as it commentated on your run, letting you know how fast you were running and saving the routes you’d done etc: it was a million miles from the little sensor I used to tie to my laces to link up with my iPod (alright grandad)… the only thing was no-one else was really on there?
Cue the Strava app, that came along and filled the gap (poet, know it). Social feeds everywhere became flooded with posts (or should that be boasts) of peoples exercising efforts for all to see! I’m pretty sure it probably saw a few profiles hidden, nonetheless Strava saw its users jump from 42m in 2019, to a whopping 55m in 2020… and it’s revenue increasing £9m to £53m: cha ching!
Healthy body, healthy mind
I always thought that one was an old wives tale, how wrong was I! The restrictions of lockdown have seen many stuck indoors, which is enough to send anyone a little stir crazy, which can have obvious knock on effects to the old mental health.
Something that used to carry a bit of a stigma around it, mental health is now a much less taboo subject that people can now discuss more openly. So the benefits associated between it and running are a huge positive for all to see.
Take research from Asics that showed a massive 82% of UK runners found it cleared their mind, and 78% felt more sane and in control of their MH as a result! In some cases being active throughout the week could even help reduce the risk of depression by 30%.
And that’s not all
If you’re still not sold on the rewards of running, let me leave you with a few last benefits:
It’s good for your heart: improving blood circulation and reducing stress hormones;
Running absolutely burns the calories (generally three times as much as cycling); and
It’s a full body work-out, working all your muscles (hidden abs, reveal yourself)…!
Whatever your previous experience, running is easy to start with no membership required! The great outdoors is your running track, meaning you can always mix up your route so it never gets boring. Oh and runners on average live three years longer than non-runners… I make that about 1,095 extra days you can spend celebrating; eating and drinking whatever the hell you like, hurrah!
WriteHereWriteNow is my new adventure, diving into the world of freelance writing. Personal blog aside, I’m available for all types of content requirements (Articles, Emails, Socials etc). Feel free to get in touch by clicking ‘Contact’ below. Cheers!