The Mental Health Benefits of Running By Melissa Oliver

There was a time when the thought of any form of exercise seemed like an impossible task; prior to April 2016, the thought of running anything further than a couple of kilometres was scary, unknown territory. I was not particularly interested in health and fitness; my diet consisted of microwaveable macaroni cheese, crunchy nut cornflakes, chocolate digestives and copious amounts of wine. At school I hated PE lessons so much that I would frequently ‘forget’ my kit or pretend to have a piano lesson and proceed to hide in the musical instrument cupboard for an hour!

So, what changed? Following on from a trip to China three and a half years ago, I came back to London with a very different mindset. This was a highly active trip; we walked and cycled a lot, plus we climbed the Great Wall of China! The post Great Wall hike endorphins (those feel-good hormones) sparked something deep within me; not only was it a great physical challenge, it also gave me an enormous sense of well-being.

Shortly after this trip, I set up a small running club at work. We would go for a gentle run every Monday evening, having regular breaks and just enjoying the freedom of being outdoors! After a few months of incorporating running into my routine, I noticed a few key differences within myself. My physical health had improved; I lost weight and improved my core strength. Mentally, running was making me feel calmer and happier. The combination of the physical, mental and emotional benefits of running simply made me feel good about myself.

In August 2017 (after a great deal of contemplation and unnecessary self-doubt), I joined my local running club. Over two years down the line, I truly believe that joining a running club is one of the best things that any runner can do – and please, please, rest assured that you don’t have to be an elite runner to join a club! Running clubs can be a great place to socialise and meet like-minded people; being surrounded by my enthusiastic and passionate teammates has had such a positive impact on my mental health. The social aspects of running should not be underestimated; it brings communities together and provides a sense of belonging and purpose.

I have now completed three marathons. I’ve hiked the three peaks challenge. I’ve run and cycled round a mountain in Malawi. I’ve raced a variety of events with descriptions like ‘Tough’, ‘Hell’ and ‘Grim’ (I have no idea why I find these events so appealing!) Most recently, I completed my first triathlon – six months ago, this is something I didn’t think I was capable of. I am proud of these achievements; pushing my body beyond my limits (or what I believed my limits to be) is a massive confidence booster and sharing these experiences with others is even better.

Whilst some may beg to differ, I don’t believe that running is a cure-all for our psychological challenges. However, running can have profound benefits for mental health, and it has been a fantastic coping mechanism for me. Over the past year I have gone through some intense periods of anxiety and panic attacks, and running has played a key role in helping me deal with this. When you run, your mind is no longer controlling you. You’re concentrating on your form, your racing heart, the trails ahead, the feeling of euphoria that is building up. When you run, you’re truly free; the feeling is indescribable!

Although I have predominantly focused on running, I want to stress that any form of activity can have a positive impact on your mental health. This could include gardening, walking or yoga to name a few – you don’t have to spend hours at the gym or run a marathon. There are so many fantastic ways to be active; try a few different things and find a sport or activity that makes you feel great.

Photography by Venetia Norrington
Blog by Mel Oliver