Let’s double the joy and make the world a little less lonely by running together.
As many as one in four people worldwide – or 1 billion people – are lonely.
Taking the first step to cure this crisis in connection can often be the hardest.
A run shared can be a wonderful tonic to the dizziness that comes with a fast-paced life. A social lubricant to help work through life’s struggles, such as loneliness, detachment, heartbreak, bad bosses, lostness or grief. At the very least, it’ll widen your friendship group and mix up your training.
This week’s Joy Run is an ode to running groups in all their shapes and sizes. Or the small but mighty boost of going for a jog with a mate. For all the physical and emotional joy they bring us.
In the spirit of togetherness, Joy Runs will donate £1 to the charity Mind for everybody running this theme and sharing a picture.
How to run this theme: Running Together
A run with others can be one of the most satisfying runs you can ever do.
It could be:
- completing a Joy Run theme as a pair
- tagging along to a local run group
- grabbing a mate for a run or making a new one
- joining a parkrun 5km this Saturday
- a lunchtime jog with a colleague
- meeting a pal halfway on your route
- showering your race volunteers in thanks
- swapping a trip to the pub with group exercise
You can run whilst having a chat or run side-by-side in silence. Whatever feels right.
Remember to post your runs and on Instagram and/or TikTok, tagging in Joy Runs. You can also share how you found this Joy Run theme and how it made you feel in the comments box below.
I’m excited to see where this week’s Running Together theme takes you!
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The benefits of running together with others
Solo running can be a lonely form of exercise so it’s good to occasional tap into communal runs.
Run clubs are having somewhat of a renaissance and the weekly parkrun has never been more popular. Welcoming, nurturing and fun, it’s not hard to see why.
Participating in group runs not only boosts accountability, but can also push you beyond your comfort zone. By setting and achieving goals together, there’s a sense of camaraderie and accountability that makes getting out in the bad weather days so much easier.
However, it’s the softer benefits of running groups that I’m here for. Running clubs or meetup events make it easy to make new friends who share your passion for running. With them can come new routes, more encouragement, and better chats too. It often pays to choose surprise over predictably. Joy over metrics.
You don’t need to tap into the big feelings to see the benefit either. A rounder, happier, more connected version of you can emerge simply by running in the company of others.
Celebrating 20 years of parkrun magic
The parkrun concept is simple: meet at one of 2,000 parkrun events in 22 countries across 6 continents, at 9am on Saturday, and walk, jog or run your way to 5km with fellow runners.
Parkrunners only compete with themselves and the grassroot vibes are 100% feel good.
As a running charity, parkrun relies on volunteers and donations. As weekly show of enormous public altruism the UK over, everyone is welcome and clapped their way round. All ages. All abilities.
For me, it’s the best way to start the weekend and doubles-up as a unique opportunity to soak up some of the most picturesque spots in the UK.
UK parkruns are on every conceivable terrain and backdrop – racecourses, historical sites, nature reserves, woodlands, parks… even beaches!
Although regimented in their format – perhaps reassuringly so – parkruns are a unique experience that I can’t recommend enough.
How I ran together with friends
A confession: 90% of the time I’m an introvert and solo runner, but I do love being around people who radiate joy. Their inner energy and contagious outlook feeding a better, happier version of myself.
Once such person is my good friend, Mark. A newish Cornish resident, a run along his local coastal path from Carbis Bay to St Ives was the perfect way to catch-up on his new life and soak up its stunning surroundings.
Let this Joy Run be a conduit to friendship, love, community, connection, care, generosity, happiness and growth.
Let's fight loneliness together...
A reminder: Joy Runs will donate £1 to the Mind charity for everybody running this theme and sharing a picture.
→ Other ‘Running is Self-Care‘ themes
