RUNNING IS FUN, I CAN PROVE IT

Bobby Gordon uses his powers of persuasion to convince you that running doesn't have to be all pain and misery

Hi there, the names Bobby. I’m a 23-year-old running enthusiast who is amongst the generation of society who grew up during the worlds explosive technological revolution. A generation outraged by Brexit and disappointed with the new cast of Top Gear. But with all the mad things that come with living in the 21st century, I always find the time for a little run.

Throughout my life whether I choose to run for enjoyment or for a specific reason, I am met by several friends and colleagues who see the point in running, but still choose not to. After several excuses usually revolving around genetics or dedicating their time to “more important” hobbies, the most frequent answer was that running just isn’t fun. Whether it be tackling different terrains or changing weather condition, the majority of the people I asked wouldn't even think of running because they didn’t see the enjoyable side of a good old run.

I know many readers may be thinking, “who is this articulate young man attempting to change my perspective on running and what makes him an expert”? Well, I’m going to use all my powers of persuasion to convince you that you can integrate a cardiovascular lifestyle into your everyday life, and enjoy it.

Five ways to put some fun in your run...

1. Run with friends

I don't know about you but in my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of healthy competition. Next time you want to embark on a running adventure, bring a friend. Give yourself a bench mark to compare to or try bringing a sense of reward when successfully completing a route. The idea of competition has been embedded into the lives of so many people whether that includes being involved in school sports or choosing a team to dedicate your time to. Putting yourself in a competitive mind frame can be seen as another way to push yourself to the limit. Let’s really see how good you can be.

2. Revive a childhood game

From avoiding manhole covers to rebuke bad luck, to skipping past the cracks in between the pavement blocks. I think it’s fair to say that when we were younger, we used to be able to find the fun out of any bad situation so I have one question to ask: who told us we had to grow up?

3. Explore your surroundings

Ever tried running abroad? With huge advancements in GPS technology in mobile phones, people nowadays can know exactly where they are with huge accuracy as well as gain knowledge on their direction of travel. Next time you travel, try using famous landmarks as your checkpoints and plot all the places you wish to visit on your GPS while exploring your new surroundings. Best of all, with the rise in Athleisure wear, you'll be sure to fit in anywhere you visit.

4. Up the ante

Ever wish you were a participant in Takeshi’s Castle or Wipeout? Ever feel like you could complete the obstacles seen on TV? Well now’s the time to put your money where your mouth is with a load of great adult obstacle courses that stretch around the UK. Organisers such as Tough Mudder, the Bear Grylls survival race by the Terrence Higgins Trust, X Runner or the Gauntlet Games are just to a few of the great fun runs that can be found around the country. (For searching up a fun run that best suits you, google “UK adult obstacle courses” or “UK fun runs”).

5. Venture further afield

Living in a city like London is great, living in any city is great for that matter. The endless possibilities and diversity make a city like London a hub for culture and new things to try. Living in an urban environment has its pros that’s for sure, but what also comes with pollution, a lack of natural landscape and congestion. So tke the time to venture further afield, you never know what you might find.

Over the coming weeks, Runners Need will be focusing on the beauty of running, finding out what aspects of running really makes people tick. So be sure to check back regularly.

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