At the end of 2017, I was at a crossroads. As a professional athlete just starting out, and not totally at the top of my game yet, there are a lot of issues I faced. I made a loss of 400 dollars a year, I was away from my boyfriend and family to train and was spending most of my time working on skills to improve even just an inch. I was broke, I wasn’t improving, and most importantly, I wasn’t happy doing a sport that I used to love. I was told by almost everyone around me that it was time for me to give it up, a decision I didn’t feel comfortable moving forward with.
Running is a huge benefit for not just your physical health but also your mental health. Some of our very own Runners Need and Cotswold Outdoor team members discuss below the reasons for why running has been a benefit to them regarding their mental health.
When was the last time you went for a ‘naked run’? It’s something someone asked me just before Christmas, and I was as surprised as you are. Of course, they didn’t mean a 5km jog in the buff, they meant when was the last time you ran without an app or tracking device. Basically, without any accountability to an app, other runners, or yourself.
When you think about running, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it excitement? Joy? Even sometimes dread? Running makes people feel different things, and whilst for some people it’s the last thing they would like to do, for many it can be a saviour. My own mental health has benefitted enormously from running, it has become a way to escape from my own thoughts (and during lockdown, my own home!) and continues to be a reliable friend through a pretty tumultuous time for everyone. Frustrated at work? Run. Bored of not being able to go out and see your friends? Run. Too much bunched-up energy needing an outlet? Run.
As a teenager, nothing scared me more than the idea of doing Cross Country. It happened once a year, and always coincided with a sick day for me – I would make up any excuse to get out of having to run around the fields for what seemed like an eternity.
Staying in the UK this summer, we look at running routes that are just as fun as famous global ones, ideal for beginners and experienced runners alike.
Jamie Ramsay is an Endurance Adventure Athlete, presenter, public speaker and brand ambassador. He has completed over 32,000km of human-powered adventuring in 29 countries and 20 different adventures. He is a runner, cyclist, trekker and mountaineer. Read below to learn about how running has helped Jamie in his life goals.
Asics Frontrunner Bernadette Dancy discusses how to find motivation during the lockdown.
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