Trail Runner?
Trail running “helps boost physical and mental healthâ€, a study has claimed.
17:30 12 January 2016
A recent survey of runners has revealed that 88per cent agree that trail running improves their mental and physical health. A further 40per cent said that the practice was a form of therapy for them.
Trail running, which is steadily gaining popularity, involves running over grass, woodland, beaches or any other outdoor environment.
Health psychologist and Manchester Metropolitan University lecturer Dr Eric Brymer, said: “There’s a growing body of research on ‘green exercise’ that shows the simple pleasure of connecting to the natural world can put you in an optimal frame of mind and reduce the risk of poor mental health.”
Another survey, which was participated by 4,904 runners, found that those who try to work out in the gym are more likely to not exercise due to lack of motivation or feeling too tired.
However, almost a third of trail runners said that they felt there were not barriers to exercise. They even suggested that it is easier to stick at trail running once you get started. However, treadmill runners cited bad weather as one of the reasons they stick to the gym.
Hayley Madigan, a personal trainer and professional athlete with the Worlds Natural Bodybuilding Federation, said that wintry weather shouldn’t stop anybody from working out. She advises exercising at lunch time, trying short high intensity training workouts, going to the gym with a friend, and trying different activities to stay fit during the winter.