Many people share the opinion that you are either a runner or you’re not, but that simply isn’t the case. The human body is designed to move, and, like a machine, it works at its absolute best if it is maintained in the correct way; meaning it is given the correct fuel, it is used regularly and it’s parts are oiled from time to time.

As a non-runner myself, I don’t really get the appeal of bunging on the lycra, heading out in all weathers and subjecting the general public to my puffing, sweaty body, and my rather comic running stance. And I think ultimately that is what separates the two ways of thinking; those who care and worry about what other people will think of them and those that don’t even give it a second thought, because they are running for themselves.

So, for the beginner who really wants to try a new form of exercise and likes the idea of running, but is being held back by some of these negative mental blocks, how can they get started?

Well, that is where the all-female running group, runnyhoneys, comes in!

Who are runnyhoneys?

Contrary to the name, runnyhoneys isn’t a group about people who like their honey runny, no, runnyhoneys is a running group strictly for the ladies, aka ‘the honeys’, based in Petersfield, Hampshire and Putney, London.

Set up by Head Honey, Sue Browne, in September 2011, runnyhoneys now has four other run leaders spread across the two groups and the Petersfield group alone has close to 100 members.

They offer tailor made programmes that are based on individual requirements and goals, including:

 Beginners

 Circuit Training

 Distance runs

 Chatty runs

 Park runs

What are the Benefits of Running?

Running, as with any cardio exercise, has a multitude of benefits to your health and fitness. And we’re not just talking physical benefits, there have been various studies that show running is also great for mental health and improved levels of well-being.

Take a look at what running can do for your health:

Improves Fitness

Running improves fitness in a variety of different ways, but perhaps the biggest impact it has on our body is that it makes our muscles stronger, including the most important muscular organ of all; the heart. As we run, our muscles need more oxygen to help cope with the extra strain being put upon the body and evidence of this is displayed through breathlessness and a feeling that we can’t quite get enough air into the body. The heart has to work extra hard to pump oxygen enriched blood to meet the demands of the muscles and consequently our heart beats per minute increase. The more you run, the more practised your heart gets at working to this level, in a sense it becomes more toned, and running will suddenly feel a lot easier.

Weight Loss

It goes without saying that exercise, combined with a healthy, balanced diet, will lead to weight loss. What’s so great about running though is that it is a high cardio exercise, which over time requires an increased level of endurance. The more you run, the more experienced and in tune you become with your body and you start to realise that in order to run the absolute best you can and to meet your own personal goals, you need to fuel your body in the right way. This in turn leads to a greater awareness of what you are putting into your body and will hopefully stop you reaching for the sweet tin and instead move you towards the fruit bowl! Think of your body as if it were a car: you wouldn’t put diesel into a car that needs unleaded, would you? Likewise, if you expect to get optimum performance from your body, don’t go filling it with junk.

Gets you Outside

There’s nothing more uplifting than getting out in the fresh air and going for a run. Exercising outside gives you the opportunity to blow the cobwebs away, increase levels of positivity and exposes you to some much-needed sunlight (well, we can hope right?). The human body naturally makes Vitamin D when it is exposed to short periods of sunshine. Experts recommend that the most effective time of day is when the sun is at it’s highest, between 11am – 3pm. Vitamin D aids the body’s absorption of calcium and phosphorous, which are both essential for healthy bones.

Better Health

Any form of physical exercise is proven to reduce the risk of major illness. 

It’s medically proven that people who do regular physical activity have:

 Up to a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke

 Up to a 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes

 Up to a 50% lower risk of colon cancer

 Up to a 20% lower risk of breast cancer

 A 30% lower risk of early death

 Up to an 83% lower risk of osteoarthritis

 Up to a 68% lower risk of hip fracture

 A 30% lower risk of falls (among older adults)

 Up to a 30% lower risk of depression

 Up to a 30% lower risk of dementia

The figures clearly speak for themselves. Running is an accessible form of exercise that pretty much anyone can do. And as runnyhoneys run leader Lizzie says, “Running is the same as walking… just a little faster!”

Stress Relief

Going out for a run is a great way to clear the head of any stresses that may have built up over the day. Whether it’s pressures from work or tears from a tantrumming toddler, running allows you to focus on just one thing: running! You’ll either be so busy ‘getting into the zone’ and pacing yourself to whatever music you’re listening to on your iPod or, perhaps more likely, you’ll be concentrating so hard on trying to breathe and making it to your next milestone without collapsing into a heap, that all other worries will pale into insignificance.

Feeling Good

Running helps promote a strong, positive body image, which creates a sense of self-worth and improved well-being. You’ll be amazed by how much the stronger and fitter your body becomes affects the way your view your body. Experienced runners start to see their body like a machine, fuelling it to make it more powerful and becoming increasingly proud of its capabilities.

It’s FREE!

Why spend an absolute fortune on a gym membership when you can go running for free? There is obviously an initial cost of a good pair of running trainers, a good sports bra and some leggings and a top, but aside from that you’re good to go. Running groups will charge a small fee, but it is well worth paying for the support and expert advice you will gain from it and it is definitely a lot cheaper than most other sports.

Support

Going out on your own for a run can be incredibly daunting, which is why joining a running group can provide the perfect solution. Groups, like runnyhoneys, offer both support from their experienced team of run leaders as well as the much needed support of other runners, who need your support as much as you need theirs! You are much more likely to succeed and to continue running if you have a strong support network behind you, spurring you on and giving you the encouragement and motivation, you need to keep on running.

Social

Running groups allow you to meet like-minded people, who will often have the same goals as you. It will open you up to a whole new circle of friends and hey, if it means you all end up in the pub for a cheeky glass of something after a hard running session, then that’s surely a burden you can bear to put up with, right?! Running as a group enables you to chat as you run (well it will do once you’ve been going for a while and you’ve managed to sort your breathing out!), which has the benefit of making you forget how hard it may seem and before you know it you’ll realise you’ve run a lot further than you thought you could. From a run leaders’ point of view, having a chat during a run is a great way for them to monitor how their members are coping with the run. If you are exercising at a level that is right for you, you should be able to at least hold a conversation. If you can’t, then it is a warning sign that perhaps you are pushing yourself a bit too far and should slow the pace or rest for a bit.

If that’s not enough to get you out there pounding the pavements, then I’m not sure what will!

For some women, however, the prospect of going out for a run, in broad daylight, where everyone can see you, with the worry that people will laugh at you, is just too huge a barrier to get over. Our minds can be our own worst enemies and until we overcome any mental barriers, we certainly won’t break any physical ones.

How to turn negative thoughts into POSITIVE ones.

So, how exactly can we go about turning the negatives into positives and break down some of the self-conscious barriers that get in the way of a run?

There is often an illusion that all runners are passionate about their running and whilst that may be the case for some runners, it’s certainly not a belief shared by all. As we’ve discovered, people run for a variety of different reasons and yes there are some who are incredibly passionate about beating their time or distance and challenging themselves to reach greater goals, but for many running is something that becomes a habit; something that simply becomes part of their day. Habits are formed through repeated actions, so the more you do something, the more you enjoy it and the more you come to depend on it. In fact, owner of runnyhoneys, Sue Browne, confesses she becomes very irritable if she hasn’t been for a run!

The psychological barriers that we put up are often a defence mechanism that the mind automatically creates when we feel as though we are out of our comfort zone. Don’t let this defeat you. Life is all about setting yourself new challenges and, looking ahead, imagine how amazing you will feel when you achieve something that you would never have dreamt you were capable of doing. It’s definitely worth a shot, right?

One key thing you have to remember when you start running, or indeed start any new form of exercise, is that initially it is going to hurt. Running is a high impact sport and hard pavements in particular are not going to be especially kind to you. Always remember to include a warmup before going out for a run as well as some cool down stretches at the end; this should help minimise any aching muscles the next day. And remember, all exercise will cause some degree of discomfort. Try to view this discomfort in a positive light, as an indicator that your body has worked hard and is readjusting the balance of how it functions, both internally and externally.