Official research and intelligence supplier to World Athletics has highlighted how runners have increased their participation and the health benefits they gain from it.
Across 10 surveyed countries, four in 10 people consider themselves to be runners and 30 per cent of those run at least once a week. Distinct from many other participation sports, recreational running has an equal participation split. Of all runners, 53% are men and 47% are women.
More than a fifth of all runners reveal that they run more often than they did previously as a result of Covid-19 and most in that group say they will continue to run more often once the pandemic is over
Among the many benefits of running is the chance to experience the ‘runner’s high’. “It begins with this peace of mind and then a greater ease of movement, a sense of power and confidence, optimism and hope, and you will often hear runners describe feeling loving and connected to everyone and everything,” explained Kelly McGonigal, a psychologist, educator and author of The Joy of Movement, during a recent World Athletics 'Run Anywhere' Webinar in collaboration with Mass Participation World.
But the stress and grief that this pandemic has brought with it, has also perhaps made running a form of “running” from grief or at least coping with it.
Sahina told Asian Voice that she used to run a lot when she was younger and was part of lots of athletic clubs and competitions but that slowly changed with time as life happened.
“I picked it back up about 4 years ago in the gym during Ramadan as a way to get fitter and have been running since. It’s also been an outlet for me during the last year of the pandemic when gyms closed and I started running in my local park and now prefer running outdoors to the gym. My Dad suffers from dementia and my Mum had brain surgery last year and it’s been a tough time for me as I look after them both. Running allowed me some me time, to let out my frustrations and hurt and get fit at the same time. It’s been a very good blessing!” she told the newsweekly.
