What Are The Biggest Hurdles to Taking Up Running?

Hi there, and welcome back to the Mohsin Salya blog.

Running is a great way to pass the time and boost your health. There are so many benefits to running, but some people still decide to not take it up, due to various reasons – not all of them good. What are the biggest hurdles to taking up running and are these issues as troublesome as you might think?

Biggest hurdle

BT.com reported on some fascinating research, which shed light on why people believe they can’t do half marathons. It was carried out by Cardiff University, who polled 500 people who were taking part in the World Half Marathon Championships, which was held in the Welsh capital in March 2016.

Cardiff University questioned these novice runners both six months before and after the big competition. The biggest hurdle to taking up running, they discovered, is that many people just don’t have the time – an answer which was cited by eight out of every ten people. This is understandable, as it can be difficult to find time in the day for running, when you have a lot of work/life commitments.

Extra roadblocks

But a lack of time isn’t the only roadblock people face. Another significant issue, the research showed, is concerns over safety – something which a third of women and 15% of men said is a hurdle to running. Meanwhile, 12% of people said that they have been dissuaded from running by busy roads, which can make it difficult to get the most out of running as you constantly have to stop and start.

What was interesting however, is that despite these roadblocks, those questioned do recognise that there are a lot of benefits to be gained from running. The most popular reason people gave for why they decided to start pounding the pavement, at 28%, is that it promotes a sense of well-being, for example studies suggest that long distance running can improve cognitive health. Other high ranking answers included that it allows people to get outdoors (22%) and betters people’s health (20%).

Overcoming barriers

Commenting on this study, its lead researcher Dr Liba Sheeran said: “We know that physical activity is good for our health but the challenge is understanding how we can instil a lasting change in the nation’s physical activity and exercise behaviours. Although mass races provide motivation and opportunity, it is not clear whether that alone is enough to ensure a long-term change in someone’s behaviour and take up regular exercise.” There are some things, however, that could up participation.

The study indicated that if they were offered a free place, 80% of people would be more likely to do a half-marathon. Also 50% said that the chances of getting an injury was less likely to impact their half-marathon training, when they attended physiotherapy workshops. Continuing, Liba commented: “We now hope to see changes from mass race organisers, sponsors and running clubs, in partnership with physiotherapists, to take greater responsibility over the health and wellbeing of the novice race entrants.”

Always a way

The most interesting thing about the University of Cardiff’s research, was that nearly every single person questioned said that now they’ve run a half-marathon, they intend to keep on running. This really shows that although we consider things such as busy schedules major hurdles to taking up running, they don’t have to be. If you want to pound the pavement and get fit, there’s always a way!

Until the next time,

Mohsin Salya.