I’m often asked, in my capacity as a personal trainer, if I recommend running as part of an exercise regime. The answer is yes! Running is an activity that is not only great exercise, it’s also one that can help improve your mental state. Even if you run only short distances, you will experience a lift in your mood, and here are 5 reasons why.

Running is Empowering

As with any pursuit, the more you do it, the better you will become. The more you run, the more you will realise that you are improving all the time, and this gives you the impetus to take on even greater challenges. It’s about telling yourself that yes, you can reach that extra mile, and not just when running. Improving your running will improve your attitude, and that means you’ll be more aware of what you can achieve in all walks of life.

You Can Reach Your Goals

When you start running, your personal trainer will set a goal for you, one that is perhaps just that little nit out of your reach. This allows you to start slowly and yet have to push yourself to achieve your aim. As with any area of your life, when you achieve that goal you will get a rush – a feeling of having got somewhere – and you’ll want to reach the next goal, and then the next. Once again, it’s not just about the running, it’s about gaining that confidence to move forward.

It’s a Social Thing

If you are looking at taking up running, I recommend you join a local running group, or schedule your runs to coincide with your friends. Look for forums on running websites for local groups, and you will find the support you get from other runners – even as a beginner – is excellent. From my own experience, I’ve seen clients forge strong friendships through running, and that can only heighten the mood.

The ‘Runner’s High’

If there’s one aspect of running that will certainly lift your mood, it’s what is known as the ‘Runner’s High’. Running is an exercise that, like many others, releases endorphins into your system, and endorphins are a hormone that give us a natural feeling of euphoria. Coupled with all the other mental benefits of running, this is something that will most certainly leave you in a better frame of mind.

Improving Your Self-Esteem

Many of my clients tell me that once they began running, in conjunction with their regular exercise routine, they found that increased confidence and self-esteem were a bonus. This is thanks to the combination of all the above factors, and the general feeling of being able to go further than you could before – and I don’t just mean in miles! If you can run and keep improving your physical and mental state, you can get ahead in life, so start looking at a running schedule now – ask your personal trainer for advice – and get running!

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About Paul Wallace

Personal trainer of 15 plus years and creator of FT-Fit one of Glasgow’s largest fitness classes