Welcome to the Why Run? podcast - all about the mental health benefits of running. Each episode I talk to an inspiring guest who has gone running to help them through a particularly difficult or challenging time in their lives. For them - and me - life feels better after a run. I hope that listening to their stories you will find the inspiration and motivation to put on your trainers and hit the road running. Happy listening!
DIANE CHURCH, HOST
Some of my guests on the show
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Anxiety, loneliness and running
Jane Dennison experienced profound poverty, loneliness and homelessness as a young woman. Through running, she found purpose and went on to share her passion and set up a running and walking club in Manchester for beginners, the Mile Shy Club. The group is hugely successful and now has 16 running and walking groups across the north west.
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Running with gratitude
Mark White is the founder of the Run Grateful movement, which has followers in 80 countries around the world. The movement focuses upon the importance of hope - however difficult times may be - and how by focusing upon the good things in our lives as we run/move, we can transform our mood and mind state.
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Running...at 80
Eighty-year-old Kate (pictured right) is the member of a unique running group, The Old Crones. All three members have been friends for decades and have run together for around 40 years. Diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes, running is an essential part of Kate’s physical, as well as mental, health. ‘Even if you have to drag yourself out on some days, you definitely feel better when you get back,’ she smiles.
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Mental breakdown..and running
Karen is a bright, loud and funny retired teacher. Throughout her life, she has experienced some very extreme low episodes, and has been hospitalised on several occasions. For many years, running has been a way for Karen to process the anxiety, anger and frustration, which are part of her struggles. ‘Running quite literally burns away the excess adrenelin,’ she says.
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Gambling...and running
In 2017, Graham had run up gambling debts of around £40,000 on credit cards that he was unable to pay and his marriage was on the rocks. He couldn’t see a way forward and seriously considered suicide. Running has now replaced gambling in Graham’s life and he completes crazy extreme challenges raising money for charities, including CALM, (the Camaign Against Living Miserably).
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Living life to the full after 40...and running
Life brings many challenges…more as time passes...and how we come to terms with these experiences has a profound impact on our mental and emotional wellbeing. Annie started running in her 40s to help her come to terms with loss, stress and fertiity issues and today is an active member of Black Girls Do Run.