Latest news with #runclubs
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Can run clubs really replace pubs? I immersed myself in both crowds to find out
Run clubs vs pubs: the title of this article is likely to spark some debate. As a new wave of social fitness clubs and sober raves sweeps the nation, and more nightlife venues shut their doors for good, public opinion seems to be swaying in favour of a healthier approach to socialising. But despite this boom in health-conscious events, and the fact I recently ditched drinking and ultimately feel better for it, I still feel the pub remains a British institution. As a fitness writer, I also love the gym, CrossFit and the various fitness communities I'm part of – that includes a couple of run clubs. In the process of weighing up whether one social setting might soon replace the other and why, I stumbled across a bigger issue – one that the founders of pubs and run clubs were seeking to combat in their own ways: the issue of loneliness. We live in a world that actively discourages us from interacting with others. High streets are declining in favour of online shopping and when we do venture to a store, we're met with self-checkouts. Working from home is the proverbial 'new normal', and you can use public transport with zipped lips and a tap of your card. Not that leaving the house is essential anymore. Whether you want a film or a fling, there's an app for everything, and streaming services invariably ram takeaway ads down your throat. Loneliness is worryingly common, with the Office for National Statistics reporting that one in four adults experience feelings of loneliness at least 'some of the time', and seven per cent feel lonely 'often or always'. The pandemic has surely played its part in how isolated we've become as a nation, but given the UK appointed a minister for loneliness back in 2018, I'm not sure we can place the fault solely at Covid's door. In my eyes, run clubs and pubs can provide part of the antidote by encouraging us to leave the house, see other people and develop a sense of belonging. On that basis, can we really say that one is better than the other or that one might replace the other entirely? How lonely is the UK? According to data from the newly released Global Flourishing Study, Britain ranks among the poorest countries for 'human flourishing'. The survey, which looked at the populations of 22 countries on six continents, rated the UK 20th based on levels of happiness, health and financial security. Of course, relationships with others and feelings of social isolation were an important factor in determining this score. 'I tend to liken loneliness to being hungry or thirsty,' says Professor Andrea Wigfield, a leading researcher and the co-director of the Campaign to End Loneliness. 'Social interaction is an essential thing, and as a human being you need people around you.' Transient (or temporary) loneliness is unpleasant, but it's quickly fixed by reaching out to people, Wigfield says. The deeper issue lies in chronic loneliness, where you're 'lonely often and it's persistent'. Long-term loneliness has been linked to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, as well as other conditions including cardiovascular disease and dementia. 'Through these various mechanisms, there's a higher risk of mortality [or death] – you'll have seen the research comparing it to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,' Wigfield tells me. Older people and young adults are most likely to suffer chronic loneliness, data suggests. In recent years, the 16-29 bracket has consistently reported higher levels of loneliness than other age groups. I'm 28 years old, placing me at the upper end of this demographic, and it's easy to see why it might be so prevalent. Until the age of 21, I lived with people – first family, then housemates. Throughout this time, school, university and various sports clubs served me a smorgasbord of would-be friends. Then, at 22, my partner and I moved from Dorset to Brighton. We knew no one and, while we were lucky to have each other, you can't form a social circle by joining just two dots. Without structures in place to introduce us to potential friends, we didn't know where to find them. 'Every one of us at some point in our life is going to feel lonely because loneliness is triggered by life transition points,' Wigfield says. 'That could be moving school, moving home, bereavement, retirement, becoming a carer or ceasing to become a carer. All these key moments in your life lead to a change in your social connections, and can lead to loneliness.' During this period of my life, social media seemed to suggest people my age were permanently surrounded by a huge network of friends. Having access to others' highlight reels in this way can be overwhelming and increase feelings of loneliness, explains Stephen Buckley, head of information at mental health charity Mind. But he encourages people to remember that 'things aren't always what they seem from the outside'. 'We often think that friends are just going to be there, but that's not always the case,' Wigfield adds. 'I think that's where a lot of young people struggle at the moment; they see others on social media and they expect to have friends.' The solution, as prescribed by Wigfield, is to take things back to basics: 'Reach out and connect with other people.' The runner's 'hi' I recently spent a day working from home alone. By lunchtime I felt flat; by 6pm transient loneliness had started to set in, making my head a less than pleasant place to be. At this point, I shut my laptop and started readying myself for the run club at my gym. Within seconds of walking through the gym door, my silent streak was broken. Several familiar faces gave a wave and a cheery 'hullo', while another friend gave me a hug and asked how I'd been. I felt immediately and significantly better, and this trend continued throughout the hour-long session. Despite being in the freezing cold with legs that turned to lead after a few kilometres, the camaraderie kept me going. Members cheered each other on, and there was a constant thrum of excited chatter in the brief intermissions between lung-busting efforts. By the end I was socially sated, and enjoying the bonus perk of having a wave of feel-good endorphins whizzing around my body. Buckley says this is symptomatic of a run club member. Exercise can boost mood and reduce feelings of stress and anger, alongside its well-documented physical benefits, he tells me. It also provides opportunities to meet new people, helps manage mental health problems and forces you into the great outdoors. 'The colours, sounds and smells can provide a welcome distraction, allowing us to switch off from everyday pressures,' he says. I've seen people roll their eyes at the rise of run clubs in recent years, and many will have scrolled past this feature with a groan. But I can't help but feel their disparagement is misplaced. If a group delivers the physical perks of exercise and the mental health benefits of a social setting, surely it's a positive thing? This is particularly true if younger generations are turning their back on nights out. In the eyes of experts like Wigfield, interaction is a human need, so social alternatives are a must. Is the pub on its way out? Now I realise that, as a fitness writer, I'm inclined to enjoy gyms and run clubs more than the average person – exercise is a hobby for me rather than an obligation. And while I'll always sing the praises of movement for mental, physical and emotional health, Wigfield makes it clear that battling loneliness isn't a purely physical pursuit. 'The way I like to think about [fighting] loneliness is by talking about creating meaningful relationships,' she tells me. 'Meaningful relationships with other people, meaningful relationships with places and spaces around you, and meaningful relationships with yourself. Those meaningful relationships are essential for human beings. Obviously we're all different and some people will need more of that human connection than others, but we all need some.' For this reason, she prescribes any activity that brings people together, be that running, music, singing, eating or otherwise. The key is having a central point of connection. This is also why I'm not keen to celebrate one form of social enrichment over any other. Yes, I love to exercise, but I believe it should be accessible and fun, not exclusive or connected to some moral high ground. Playing padel with friends or joining a running club doesn't make you a better person than someone who prefers the pub – both have their merits for mental health. Healthy social events and activities may be on the rise, and I approve of that, but we still need other social spaces like pubs and clubs. Despite the fact that I don't drink, I headed to the pub with friends at the weekend after my chat with Wigfield. I was there with people I knew, but I also found myself having chats with people at the bar, around the TV screen showing the football and even briefly at the urinals. A chef warned there would be a delay on food, holding up a badly bandaged hand in explanation, and the barman laughed at my partner for several minutes when she asked for a latte. By the time I left, my cheeks housed deep divots from laughing and I had a raft of new stories in my back pocket – any thoughts of loneliness were off the radar. Combatting loneliness Wigfield explains that chronic loneliness can change our perception of others, making it harder to socialise. 'If you've been lonely for a long time and someone smiles or says hello to you in the street, you're more likely to see that in a negative way. That changes your behaviour, so when you walk past people you might look away rather than looking at them. There tends to be a spiral with chronic loneliness and it's harder to get out of.' After spending plenty of time trying to figure things out following my move to Brighton, I was fortunate to meet some amazing people through work, sports clubs and the gym. But these relationships didn't just happen, as social media suggested they might – I had to push outside my comfort zone to find them, then work to maintain them. Run clubs provide a container of sorts for friendships to germinate, in the same way your local bar or pub might. They streamline the socialising process and set us up for success, providing a powerful potential tonic to chronic loneliness. Both run clubs and pubs provide a sense of belonging to a place, and connection to the people there, Wigfield says. By talking to others, you're also more likely to receive positive messages and build a better sense of connection to yourself. Running naturally offers the bonus benefits of exercise, both physically and hormonally, but for combatting loneliness she struggles to pick a winner. 'The mechanisms are different, but I don't see one as more beneficial than the other; it just depends on the individual and what you like to connect to,' concludes Wigfield. It's also important to recognise that, if you're feeling lonely, there are other options on the table. 'The most important thing is to find a type of activity you love and can stick with,' concludes Buckley. 'A run club might be best for you if you like running socially with others, but it's okay if you try it and it's not the right fit. Don't feel that you have to stick with something that's not working for you – you're much more likely to keep doing it if it's fun.' In my mission to discern whether the pub might soon be replaced by groups of social runners, I learned a few important things – Social interaction is a must, and it's important to find a form that works for you. Social media can't always (or arguably, often) be trusted to give us a realistic image of what our social circle should look like. We can't just expect friendships to appear – it's likely you'll have to put yourself out there to find them, and work hard to maintain these relationships. Tips from mental health charity Mind 1. Be patient and avoid comparisons Try to be gentle and patient with yourself. Take things at your own pace and try not to compare yourself to other people. 2. Make new connections This could be online or in person. Some people join groups that focus on a hobby they enjoy, or meet up to do specific activities. These may provide a space to meet new people and find support. 3. Open up to people you know Try and open up to people you know. Many of us have experienced loneliness, but it can be a scary thought to tell other people about it. It might be helpful to think about what you want to say in advance. You may find that they've experienced similar feelings before. 4. Join an online mental health community A prime example of this is Mind's Side by Side. It's a safe space where people with experience of a mental health problem can share their story, connect and learn from others, and give support in return. 5. Try talking therapies. Talking therapies can help you explore what feeling lonely means to you. Your therapist can help you develop different ways of managing your feelings Mind has several helplines available for advice and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem:
ABC News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Outback runner breaks new record
Running is having a moment, with run clubs and park runs booming across the country. In Nanango in Queensland, people take running to the extreme. The Dead Cow Gully Backyard Masters race sees participants run around cow tracks and up and down creek gullies for as long as they can. And as the last runner standing, Phil Gore's just broken a record.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
The coolest running events around the world, from Andes ultra marathons to Italian parkruns
To hit the ground running, little equipment or kit is needed. Team this up with the social aspects of run clubs and park runs, plus the mental and physical health benefits, and it's not surprising there has been a vast uptick in people pulling on their running shoes. From couch-to-5k schemes, to runs across the entire length of Africa, it's a community that thrives in a challenge and taking part in events. This year, a record-breaking number of runners crossed the finish line at the London Marathon, an event that captivates the nation every year, and inspires many to take up the sport. For some, a jog around the local park won't cut it. These runners need to go big and are willing to travel around the world to put themselves through their paces in global events. Known as 'running tourism', this new breed of active holiday often spotlights overlooked destinations, offering an entirely new perspective on a place. Sometimes runners will travel to take part in a particular prestigious race, like the Boston Marathon or UTMB. In other cases, it's to experience running across a whole new lanscape, such as across the Sahara Desert or through Patagonia's peaks. And you don't have to be a seasoned runner to enjoy this sort of holiday. Plenty of events offer shorter distances, including 5k and 10k races, and even runs for children. We've rounded up some of the coolest events around the world to seek that runners' high, while also getting to experience amazing landscapes. 1. PolarNight Marathon and Midnight Sun Marathon Tromsø, Norway Its extreme location 200 miles north of the Arctic circle means Tromsø has seasons like no other. From November to January, the city descends into full darkness, while it experiences full hours of sun between May and July. The city's two marathons offer runners from around the world the opportunity to embrace a unique climate. The PolarNight Marathon is a chance to run beneath the Northern Lights, or you can opt to run in the slightly bewildering constant daylight (even when it's actually nighttime) as the sun never sets at this time of year, during the Midnight Sun Marathon. With shorter distances available, this is a novel way to immerse yourself in the area's beauty. Where to stay Right on the water, from Clarion Hotel The Edge, you can take in the views over the Tromsøysundet strait both from your bedroom and rooftop terrace bar. As its walking distance from many attractions, you can slip out easily to enjoy the rest of Tromsø post-race. 2. Man V Horse Marathon, Powys, Wales As the name suggests the Man V Horse puts runners up against horses (and their riders) in a marathon across the rough terrain of Powys in mid-Wales. Founded in 1980, the idea for the race was curiously sparked up after a landlord overheard a conversation at a pub suggesting that at a great distance, any man is equal to a horse. It was only after 25 years of the race that this point could be proven as Huw Lobb clipped his equine challenger to the finish with a time of two hours and five minutes. Set within rich green hills, combine the race with a break exploring the region steeped in Welsh history and arts. Found in Llangammarch Wells, The Lake Country House Hotel and Spa is a Welsh country retreat with lavishly furnished rooms. Relax and ease achy your muscles in its swimming pool and sauna after tackling the hills. 3. Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc, Médoc, France Combining 'wine, sports, fun and health', the Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc doesn't take itself too seriously. From the start line near Bordeaux, the route takes runners through 59 vineyards where they are encouraged to sample the local wine and local specialties from oysters to steak, all while wearing compulsory fancy dress. With a focus on enjoyment, it's an event for all running levels. La Maison Reverdi is a historic guest house with boutique features, a small pool and a terrace. Fuel up before the marathon at the selection of delicious pastries served at breakfast. 4. Parkrun, Lucca, Italy Since the very first in London's Bushy Park in 2004, parkrun has gone global, with volunteer-led 5k events now taking place every weekend in 22 countries. This worldwide movement has given rise to a niche community of 'parkrun tourists' – dedicated runners who travel the world to tick off locations and meet fellow enthusiasts. Among the many locations now to choose from, Lucca in Italy is often heralded the most special. In Italy's Tuscan region, the fortified city is famed for its well-preserved Renaissance ramparts, which encircle the historic centre. Parkrunners swing around the tree-lined pathways atop of these medieval walls, enjoying privileged views of the city and a backdrop of the Apuan Alps and Pisan Mountain Range. With rustic furnishings, exposed walls and medieval features, embrace Lucca's historic charm at Luxury Corte Di Re Artù. The elegant four-poster beds are a dream to wake up in before taking on the parkrun. 5. Meridian Hydro Half Marathon, Te Anau, Fiordland New Zealand Home to massive fjords, snow-clad mountains, and dramatic waterfalls, the Meridian Hydro Half Marathon is a unique way to embrace the spectacular beauty of Fiordland, New Zealand. Beneath the shadow of the magnificent Mount Titiroa, the route snakes through beech forest and alongside the crystal clear Waiau River finishing at the stunning Te Anau lake. Passing Tui Bay and the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary, spotting New Zealand's native birds, a takahē and kākā, offer an interesting running distraction. It's an inclusive and community-focused event, and all the money raised is dedicated to the preservation of the trail. On the banks of Lake Te Anau, Fiordland Lakeview Motel and Apartments, unsurprisingly, offers stunning views and is within walking distance to Te Anau town centre. It's an ideal spring-board to explore the beautiful national park. 6. The Cabbage Marathon Tsumagoi Village, Gunma, Japan As one of Japan's main producers of cabbages, Tsumagoi Village celebrates its agricultural heritage with its unique half marathon. The route takes runners from Lake Baragi at the base of Mount Azumaya, through lush cabbage fields, and past Aisai no Oka or The Hill of the Beloved Wife – a point steeped in romantic legend, where visitors cry out their declarations of love. Fittingly in a village whose name means 'love for wife', the event embraces the romantic spirit by encouraging participants to enter as couples or as parent-child pairs. And if scenery and sentiment aren't enough – every runner goes home with Tsumagoi Highland cabbage and a cabbage cooler bag to keep it safe. Where to stay In neighbouring Kusatsu Onsen, Kusatsu Onsen Hotel Village is a serene retreat with indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, as well as saunas and pools. Hire a hotel bike to cycle around the mountainous green surroundings while giving your feet a deserved break. 7. Reverse London Marathon, London As one of the most iconic running events in the world, a ballot ticket to the London Marathon is one of the most-sought after. With a record-breaking 1.1 million entries for the race in 2026, the competition has never been more fierce. So if you, like many others, can't break past the spectator barriers, why not join the keen group who go out the night before and run it in reverse? Starting at midnight, the runners use the very course laid out for the morning but set off from Central London between 2am and 4am to the finish line at Greenwich. It's free to join the group who are now in their hundreds. Bright, modern and well-equipped Staycity Greenwich is ideally placed in the city to watch the marathon the following morning. After the excitement, explore the cultural offerings on the hotel's doorsteps like the Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum. 8. Aconcagua Ultra Trail, Mendoza, Argentina Set beneath the towering Mount Aconcagua – the highest peak in the world outside the Himalayas – this ultra marathon is a true test of physical and mental endurance. The Aconcagua Ultra Trail begins at over 2,500m above sea level and climbs to dizzying heights of 4,000m. Its rugged out-and-back route offers a unique way to experience the raw beauty of the Argentine Andes. Due to the challenging weather, lack of oxygen and gnarly hills, the event should generally only be attempted by experienced runners. Where to stay W&H Casa de Huéspedes is right in the action, so you can experience of the best bits of Mendoza's food and cultural life after recovering from your run. Its minimalistic décor compliments the city's relaxed cosmopolitan vibe while contrasting with the rugged adventure of the Andes.
