Running for body and mind

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‘’ Your mind is a reservoir of potential; your heart an ocean of strength; your soul a well of talents; and your body a vessel of power.’’

As I sit here pondering the above quote, I look out at the lunchtime rush around Limerick city. People running from one appointment to the next, buried in their iPhones, finishing off their presumably 5th coffee of the day in a desperate effort to keep their energy levels high as they get caught up in the hustle and bustle and stress of life. It’s apparent as a society, that we have lost the ability to be in the present moment and prioritise what is truly important in life- health, family, love. The above quote for me is the essence of what life should be- maximising your potential as a human being and living your life to its full capacity no matter what curve ball is thrown your way. Prioritising our physical and mental health is something which can seem daunting to many people, but the community of running In Ireland can offer you just that and so much more.

Running- it’s simple. A pair of shoes and the outside world. Running in my opinion, is the ultimate connection of mind and body. Running can be something for all of us- a time to spend with family, a moment to clear your thoughts, a chance to explore your potential and your talents. Running offers us all (no matter what age or fitness level) a wealth of benefits for both mind and body. It can be a medium for exploring what life has to offer and you may even find yourself on a path to achieving your goals and beyond.

Running for mind

Maintaining a positive mental attitude for me is a big factor in aiding with gaining the most from every situation. Learning to stay in a positive mind frame no matter what life throws at us is key .This is where running can have a huge impact on our mind-set. Running brings about many challenges, whether it’s trying to improve fitness, reaching your own goal or dealing with an injury. These obstacles teach us lessons and help us to expand our minds. It forces us to deal with an array of emotions and maintain a positive outlook in negative situations. You will also find yourself surrounded by people who are self-motivated, positive and have similar goals and outlooks on life. This can aid in the creation of a positive mind-set which can be applied to not only your running, but to work and family life.

 Growing up, running was my way of expressing who I am. Not only has it helped me to grow and find myself as a person, it is also a time of my day where I can choose to be and feel what I want. Sometimes, a run can simply just be a run. But other times it can be my time to think, to make decisions, to let go of negative thoughts and enable positive ones to come through. I have never finished a run unhappy, and I have gone on lots of runs I can assure you. Yes, running has a positive effect on my mental state, but the key is to accept this fact and never to become dependent on it.

Running for body

As beneficial as running is for our mind, the same can be applied to our bodies. The wealth of benefits associated with adapting running into your daily life is endless- improved cardiovascular fitness, increase in overall health, and decrease in the risk of disease. Running is easily accessible to all which is one of the aspects I love. No matter whether you are young or old, novice or elite, youth, adolescent or adult, we can all come together as a community and partake in this sport, reaping the benefits for body and mind. It can bring families, friends and communities together to work as one, gaining health, happiness and knowledge. It can be a chance to grow and maybe even find a passion you didn’t realise existed. As a massive advocate of running, and someone who has already gained so much from what started out as a pastime, next time you find yourself with  a free moment, why not lace up those trainers, take yourself to your favourite location, and see what running can offer you? Maybe you will adopt a new pastime, or maybe you will gain so much more, beyond your wildest dreams!

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