While most people start running for the physical benefits of the sport, it can also be hugely beneficial for your mental health. A study on 14,000 people undertaken by Asics(opens in new tab) during the pandemic has found that 82% of UK runners say running helps to clear their mind, and 78% feel more sane and in control as a result of running.
A recent workout trend I quite like the sound of is plogging - which is picking up litter while you're jogging. Plogging started in Scandinavia (the word is a combination of "plocka upp," which means "pick up" in Swedish, and "jogging"), and it's gaining popularity in the US. Digital health startup Lifesum launched an app feature that lets users track their plogging.
So why run, swim, cycle, play football or tennis? etc? Well, there are many reasons.
- Tips for the born again runner
- Running events around the world
- 50 running tips
- Quick speed running sessions
- 10 tips for beating your personal best
- 10 ridiculously easy ways to beat your PB
- Top marathon training tips
- General marathon tips and mistakes to avoid
- Why runners get slower with age
- Tricks for becoming a better runner
- Hill workouts for runners
Exercises and Diet
- The six minute six pack
- Core work for runners
- 5 exercises every marathon runner should do
- Weight training for runners
- Stress busting workouts
- The perfect runner’s daily diet
- 5 intensive fat burning workouts
- How to burn fat while running
- Boosting calorie burn while running
- Burn 500 calories in an hour
- 7 ways to boost calorie burn during exercise
- 5 ways to burn fat
- The "best workout you can ever do" - planks
- Top 10 best exercises
- Essential exercises for runners
- 5 exercises every marathon runner should do
- Yoga and pilates for runners
- Building muscle tips
- Boosting calorie burning during exercise
- Fat loss exercise tips
- Fat blasting exercises
- 5 workouts to target belly fat
- Improve your time by running at the right weight
- Foods to avoid post exercise
- Tips on how to run faster
- Exercises every runner should do
- Exercises every marathon runner should do
- Best exercises for each part of the body
- Exercising the core
- Exercises to strengthen your core; further core muscle exercises
- Top core strengthening exercises
- Training plans for 10k, half and full marathon
For a dose of reality, see also: I'm a jogger, not a runner.