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Today we have a great guest blog from one of my favourite runners! Lesley is a coach in running fitness and a big part of the local running community in Brighton. She’s recently been made an England Athletics Mental Health Ambassador and has been working alongside the brilliant Suzy Hawker who’s a leader in running fitness and qualified personal trainer. Lesley’s very kindly written us a blog on the benefits of running for mental health and the role of the Mental Health Ambassadors…
Like many runners I discovered a love for running at a relatively “mature age”. Someone once said that us “later in life runners” are usually running away from something rather than running towards it! Relationships, loss, bereavement, body image, health issues, stress, anxiety, alcohol/substance misuse, depression the list is endless. Many like me have found running to be the antidote to the above, our medicine, our prescription and way of coping.
Running has enabled me to manage my anxiety and given me a greater sense of perspective. It’s not a cure all but it sure helps! Through running I have learnt to love myself, well maybe not exactly, but certainly like myself a bit more and have a greater confidence in what my body is capable of. I am no longer in battle with my body (like sadly so many people, often women) but have called a truce and we respect each other.
My children dread a time when I cannot run and when I am grumpy will throw my trainers at me and shout “For God’s sake go for a run”. Through running I have made so many friends and become nicer to myself and everyone else!
I was so pleased and excited to learn about the England Athletics Mental Health Ambassador programme organised in conjunction with MIND. I applied and was delighted to become an ambassador! The programme aims to establish a network of ambassadors attached to running clubs and groups, to support those of us who experience mental health challenges. The programme links to #runandtalk – an England athletics campaign to improve mental health through running.
The programme aims to:
- Get us talking about mental health
- Raise awareness of mental Health issues
- Support those experiencing mental health issues to be physically active through running.
To find out more join the conversation on social media #runandtalk
Lesley and Suzy are affiliated with the Run England group Active Run. They can be contacted via email [email protected] and [email protected].
For more information contact Liz Purbeck (National Disability Manager, England Athletics) or visit www.englandathletics.org
For more on the benefits of sport and physical activity for mental health see the Mind Website.
One of the liveliest and informative bogs today – can’t wait for the next one !
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