Running makes me happy 💃💃💃

Gorgeous photo. Yes running makes me very happy and the after effects last for days!

I think if life is tough, running can't fix it but it definitely does more for you than work your lungs and leg muscles. Don't believe us? Try it!

Awesome photograph, no wonder running makes us happy. I agree that running feeds the mind, soul and body. Running gives me space to think and reflect and at the same time is keeping me fit. What is there not to like? I wouldn't have said this a year ago. I thought anyone who ran was mad!

Me too, I thought running was something you'd force yourself to do to get fit but we get totally frustrated if we have to miss a run now. I like that time to be with myself and my thoughts. At home there is always someone who needs your time and energy and work is even more like that. I jealousy guard this me time but thankfully my family are supportive.

Hmm - I don't think that I can say that running makes me "happy" - but I am amazed that these days I go out and "just" do an easy 8Klms - or something like that - without thinking about it too much!!!

Maybe you were always a happy guy, Bazza. I like seeing what my body can do. It is not much to write home about but it certainly is a big improvement from pre c25k

There are a few reasons why running makes you happy not least the fact that it releases the neurotransmitter dopamine into your brain that makes you feel pleasure and happiness. 😀

Wouldn't that be true of all aerobic exercise? Have felt good after dancing, aerobics or tennis but not as much as with running. Maybe the difference is I only did the other sports once a week. Wondering if yoga releases dopamine actually or tai chi. Are they too slow?

It's true of all excercise, I guess the duration, intensity and frequency all have an effect too.

There's also the confidence, pride and shock that we can actually do it. That's got to make you feel great too 😀

Aren't we all proud to be running? I think it kicks in w1 already. I know other runners are a lot faster and stronger but I am proud of the little I can do. I couldn't do it a year ago that's for sure!

You don't have to ask.... totally, utterly and completely.

Beautiful photograph and beautiful post. I am just back from my run... posting later.

Lovely. lovely... thank you for sharing

Looking forward to your post floss. I am full of smiles, I love running. If anyone is reading this and thinking about doing c25k or just setting out, stick with it, whatever the reasons behind it, running regularly will make you a happier more positive person. And it really isn't that hard if you follow the programme and stick with it.

Keep running, keep smiling.

Yep, that's my motto these days!

Lovely photo! There is quite a lot of research out there on the positive impact of nature and green space on our mental health. The RSPB in particular have published quite a lot of articles on it. I agree, I too have felt a huge emotional improvement since I took up running and I am sure that some of this is down to being surrounded by nature on my beautiful trails. Don't want to go all 'hippy' on you, but it is after all, where we are supposed to be!🌳🏃🏻🌳😀

The call of the wild. I am finally going to drive out to the forest to run next weekend. I am always saying this but I never find the time, weekends are so busy! I am also, let's be honest, a tad wary of the wild boar. It is true you do feel better fkr a walk out in the countryside, particulary if you're a city dweller. Some people have magnificent scenery to run in but even if you don't, the actual running is a pick-me-up with lasting effect. I think you're right though Sandra somewhere deep down inside we do feel rejuvenated away from the madding crowd and in nature somehow.

Definately head to the forest, but wild boar? Eek! I'd feel a bit wary too! Guess they would make you run faster!😉

You don't usually see them, just hear them rustling and snuffling about in the undergrowth but they can be bad tempered piggies, especially if they have their young with them. I am not much of a tree climber unfortunately. Dad says some of his friends kept wild pigs and I was always off playing with them. I don't remember this but if they were kept, they were not exactly wild. We'll see, maybe we'll hit it off or maybe we'll just scare each other!

Yes! It gives me a great sense of wellbeing( to be honest, especially when I finish!) and achievement. Love the photo!

Thanks Sue. Hold onto that good feeling and remember it before you do your next run. Once the gremlins set in, we tend to forget all about it!

I ran Thursday, yesterday and this morning, but found getting out to do a club run hard to do today, felt a tad low for some reason, may have been the 2 glasses of red & large bottle of Beck's I had last night, but managed to drag myself out if a tad late, and had a really good run, even the hill seemed a lot easier, I surprised myself really, did the peanut butter bagel I had beforehand help? Maybe.. and yes I felt better than before I started, happier? Possibly!😊

Isn't it strange that when you really do not want to get out there and run, it turns out to be a great run? That happens to me too Dave. Peanut butter bagel soundsvery good. I run on empty, just drink half a glass of water but I am not a huge breakfaster anyway., usually just eat a small Greek yoghurt in the mornings. Glad the run went well Dave but maybe you didn't really feel like it because it was only yesterday you last ran? Do you usually run 2 days in a row?

Have been feeling nauseous when doing the odd sprint lately, so is a trial, have never usually eaten anything much before running, so trying to put finger on it.

Couldn't live on just a yogurt for breakfast bop! I'm a big hungry fella! haha😁 But then it could have been due my reflux condition, for which I usually control with meds, but hadn't taken it before that run and felt dispepsia, a burning feeling in the stomach earlier in the run, then had the sick problem at the end when racing someone over the line. Which was a photo finish btw😁💪

Don't think the low feeling is anything to do with running 2 days in a row. I only did about 3k 28mins with Sue on her c25k w8 run, so nothing too heavy for me.. no, don't usually do back to back runs!

I really noticed how much easier the run felt this morning, and was good, so maybe I need more fuel in the belly for running, we will see!😊

That doesn't sound good Dave. I hope you can find out what's causing it.

Well done Bops ! That is such a beautiful photo !

Running is so good for the soul..... xxx

So much beauty around if you have the leisure to look which to be honest we don't often have. I think the world would be a better place if more people were out running. Less aggression perhaps, more smiley faces - and according to another post I read here the other day, more hanky panky. Can you beat it?!

Yes Bop, I'm still buzzing after yesterday's run.

I used to cycle quite a lot about 5 years ago. I loved the scenery, wildlife and tranquillity.

I got a bit of a buzz, but nothing like from running.

It's so good for you mentally. It's literally life-changing.

That's how I feel finchy, walking, cycling, being out in nature - it is all good but I notice more of a positive effect from the running. Life-changing it is and we could have been running our whole lives if we'd been taught how back in the day. You also don't have to have a talent to do it. I think that's why it would be great for kids to learn running at school, bit like we do c25k, at their own individual pace. You can run even if you could never hit anything with a bat, catch a ball, throw it through a hoop, balance on a beam or jump a high bar. It would be great for the non sporty kids as well as the naturally gifted sporty ones.

Absolutely. Recently, I was wondering to myself why schools don't teach running like this.

That had occurred to me too. Rather than being tipped out on to a cross country course which most of us walked anyway until we sighted our teachers coming round a corner, if over a term we had been introduced to a course like this, it could have made all the difference. I teach (not PE, you will be relieved to hear), and when I think back on how it was done, I'm horrified. I'd never dream of doing the equivalent in my subject.

However, I know my PE colleagues are very hot on fitness and I also know that they have a huge amount to cram into the PE curriculum, not just running. Maybe there's an opening for a C25K club as an extra-curricular activity, with former "couldn't do that if you paid me" figures like me helping to lead it? Might just work.

my main memories of school PE were the ones of being the last person to be chosen to join the two teams for whichever competitive team games we were going to do. I have rubbish coordination with balls and no competitive motivation, therefore spent PE lessons avoiding the ball and looking like I didn't care. I remember the shock on the teachers face when she first saw me swim, she had clearly written me off as useless and got a shock I was super fit from club swimming and being out with horses and dogs all the time but they never noticed as they only saw the kids who were good at hockey or basketball...very demotivating for a child and enough to put them off exercise for life. I think its a bit better nowadays but simple non competitive programmes like C25k and classes like zumba fitness or similar would be more motivating for the non 'sporty' type with team sports playing a part for the ones who enjoy them.

Some kids really shine at sports and presumably look forward to PE but I remember an awful lot really dreaded it too. As you say picking team members has to be one of the crappiest situations you get placed in at school. I think the whole approach to PE needs a drastic overhaul. It leaves too many kids feeling they're useless at sport and it isn't forthe,. Zumba keeps you as fit as netball, if not more so in my opinion because you're all constantly moving. I supposeyou don't get the team spirit thing but for a lot of non sporty kids being in a team isn't enjoyable. No one passes to you, you're last to bat etc.

Lovely photo and true words. Running definitely makes me feel good arguably more often after the run! Those that say you must be mad to run are more than likely partially true, but it's good. I enjoy running through the local woods/loch and have even taken to a route where I'm less likely to see people just to have some time to think. Truly unsociable but it works for me.

We live in such a beautiful part of the country and the trail run is only a warm up away from the house which has probably contributed to my continued running. Taking the dog for a walk used to be a chore but she quite happily trots along in front of me.

Some people have commented on running at school and our schools have recently introduced a walk/run a mile at the start of the school day. The idea is to increase their health and wellbeing but also to maximise attainment levels. I didn't know I could run but if this was done when I was at school You never know I may have been a lifelong runner.

Lucky you! That sounds idyllic. In a setting like yours, it really makes sense for schools to start the day with a run/walk. It definitely wakes you up and makes you more alert for the day. It might be hard for inner city schools to organise but the others could surely do something like this.

Yes running does make me happy all day and usually the next day too. I've tried lots of different exercises classes the feel good factor isn't the same but you have to concentrate on these forms of exercise. I think with running, as well as being challenging for the body, the repetitive motion allows you to switch you mind off more than other forms of exercise (yes even yoga), and your body can relax into the movement, put this together with fresh air and nice scenery and what's not to be happy about. Plus when I look in the mirror I no longer think about the lumps and bumps in a negative way, I see the difference running has made, hence more happiness.

That's a good point, running happens pretty much automatically and if you aren't fighting gremlins, it does give you a great chance to clear your mind. A sort of empty cache!

I'm not sure running makes me 'happy'. Getting to the end of a run makes me happy, and the feeling after makes me happy.

I do know however, after a few weeks of not running due to injury, that NOT running makes me sad. Am I just a little bit contrary? Or a lot?

This is the first week my hip feels a *tiny* bit better and I am thinking maybe one day I will be back out there. It's costing me an arm and a leg for physio, so all my bragging to my husband that my hobby wasn't costing him much has gone for a burton. Hey ho.

Oh I know exactly how you feel. It is so frustrating to not be able to run. Time on the IC is really rough. It is good that the hips are starting to mend, all that physio and all your work at home must be doing you good. Did the physio find the cause of your hip pain?

Just very big knots in about every muscle at the top of my left leg and bum. Absolutely no idea how I managed it!

I'm not sure how I ended up on this thread - I have been away for a while and was reading today's posts, or so I thought! I felt better this morning, but walking around Cambridge shops this afternoon has made me realise I'm a long way from mended. Walking makes my back hurt too.

Boo hoo!

Sometimes old posts crop up at the bottom of your page. I've posted on really old posts without realising. Really hope you're feeling well and are able to run again soon.