Hi, and welcome back to the Mohsin Salya blog.
I’ve often talked here about how the benefits of running extend far beyond the physical – running is good for our bodies, but it’s great for our minds as well. And a recent awareness campaign in October – a collaboration between England Athletics and the mental health charity Mind – struck me as a great way of using running as a way of encouraging positive mental health.
Running is, for many people, an escape – it can be a way to get away from the stresses and strains of daily life, but it can also be an important opportunity to spend quality time with other people. The campaign is called #runandtalk, and the big idea is to get people out and about, running with friends and family, and to use that time as an opportunity to talk together about mental health issues.
The organised events are over for this year, but the campaign is ongoing, and I’d encourage everyone to support this fantastic cause again next year if you didn’t get a chance to this time around. I think there’s a real opportunity for everyone to think about how they can use running to promote great mental health – either in themselves or in others. Just by getting out there – whether you’re starting running for the first time, or taking it back up again after a long break – you’re making a positive step forward and making a change for the better in your life.
Running makes us stronger, happier and healthier, in body and in mind. Running with other people is a healthy, positive step, looking outwards into the world, rather than inwards towards our own worries. It is chance for us to share our concerns with others, and to give ourselves the headspace we need to cope with whatever life throws at us.
So, find someone who might benefit from running and talking with you, and encourage them to hit the road. You’ll both never look back.
Until the next time,
Mohsin Salya.