Article on why we love to run : I thought this... - Couch to 5K

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Article on why we love to run

iain-strachan profile image
iain-strachanGraduate
8 Replies

I thought this was a very interesting and inspiring article on why we love to run - it seems we evolved to do it, and that it brings back our child-like joy.

theguardian.com/lifeandstyl...

A couple of excerpts:

Running brings us joy. Watch small children when they are excited, at play, and mostly they can't stop running. Back and forth, up and down, in little, pointless circles. I remember, even as an older child, I'd often break into a run when walking along the street, for no reason.

....

Racing along out on the trails, or even through the busy streets of a city, splashing through puddles, letting the rain drench us, the wind ruffle us, we begin to sense a faint recollection of that childish joy. Somewhere a primal essence stirs deep within us; this being born not to sit at a desk or read newspapers and drink coffee, but to live a wilder existence. As we run, the layers of responsibility and identity we have gathered in our lives, the father, mother, lawyer, teacher, Manchester United-supporter labels, all fall away, leaving us with the raw human being underneath.

I think that really resonates with me - especially the part about all the layers of responsibility and labels falling away.

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iain-strachan profile image
iain-strachan
Graduate
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8 Replies
Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate

This is indeed a fantastic article that I think someone linked to once before (or maybe I just stumbled across it, googling all things running one day!) Either way, thanks for posting - I get it!☺

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Sandraj39

I think I posted a similar link a while back! One of the Snippets of the Day when Irishprincess was on her hols!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Great link.... thank you... it definitely resonates with me... it is why I run...it is why I do and have done some of the silliest things on my running journey! :)

JaySeeSkinny profile image
JaySeeSkinnyGraduate

I can resonate with this! Even as a student I would run home after lectures, mostly to run off any unpleasant feelings and get everything back into perspective. Walking fast has also been a great way for me to work off any emotions. Thinking about it I suppose it's only now that I run for pleasure!

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate

Very interesting, thanks for posting.

Gillma profile image
GillmaGraduate

Thanks Iain 😀

Lauracorin profile image
Lauracorin

If you want to see the persistence hunt used by hunter gatherers and mentioned in the article, there's a David Attenborough clip on Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=826HMLo...

iain-strachan profile image
iain-strachanGraduate in reply to Lauracorin

Wow! What an amazing video. What incredible endurance that guy had. Also, I thought, extremely moving at the end. Thanks for posting.

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