We all know running is good for our general fitness, but it also helps improve our mental health and it’s all in the science! Running releases chemical endorphins and serotonin in your body that lifts your mood and can help relieve anxiety and depression. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme this year is loneliness so we wanted to share how running can reduce the feeling of loneliness and help bring you together with others who share the same passion for running.
Loneliness is affecting more people every year in the UK and has had a huge impact on mental health and well-being over the past 2 years. We want to help find practical steps to help tackle this issue and bring runners together to help improve our mental health and wellbeing.
Many runners are familiar with the ‘runners-high’, an emotional boost which results from running and giving you that extra boost and stress relief you may need. No matter what distance or intensity, running can improve psychological well-being in most runners with even one single bout of running seen to improve your mood. That’s why our sponsors at M&D Care feel passionate about getting behind our event. Mike Bevan, Director of Operations said:
“As an organisation that is keen to support positive health and wellbeing, we are thrilled to be continuing our support of the M&D Care Llanelli Half Marathon this year. The event provides a challenging yet achievable focus for many, including our very own M&D Care running team. Giving the opportunity for those we support and staff from across our company, to engage in a mentally and physically beneficial event, within a supportive peer-led environment. We look forward to seeing the athletes and our very own run team take part in this year’s event!”
Whether you join a running group, find a running buddy, run with a new friend you meet along the way or sign up to take part in this year’s M&D Care Llanelli Half Marathon, being part of a running community is a great way to socialise. If you’re just getting started with running or it is an activity you have enjoyed for years, running provides a sense of community and togetherness for all involved. Having that company besides you when running can assist in pushing you further and reducing the feeling of loneliness on those long, tedious runs and chatting away with a friend will help that run fly by. The running community supports and inspires one another, challenging each other and can help to reach our goals whilst making friends for life!
Why not join a running club, sign up for one of our events or take that first run with a friend you’ve been putting off and see the difference in your mood and well-being whilst making friends along the way. You’ll soon find that running on your own or with friends will soon become something you enjoy and want to do as opposed to an activity you should do.