Move every day!

Earlier this month it was announced that a runner had given up his daily running streak, due to a day’s ill health. Why did this make the national news scene?

Mainly because the runner in question was 78 yr old, ex-Olympian Ron Hill.

Ron, who competed in the Tokyo (1964) and Munich (1972) Olympics had come to a natural pause to his 52 year and 39 days running stretch!

Whilst this is undoubtedly phenomenal, the idea of running streaks has been around for a while with many other athletes cited as running daily for over 40 years.

Is this something though that is attainable or desirable for most people today?

Since 2010 there has been a noticeable increase in the number of daily challenges being participated in, mainly in line with social and on line media.

In 2014 Runner’s World magazine challenged its readership to try running a mile every day, and in 2016 Ron Hill “run every day” challenge was also widely shared and spread in the running world.

In more recent times this notion of run every day has evolved to also embrace and include everyone with the challenge of “move every day” becoming perhaps a more inclusive challenge.

The benefits of exercise and activity are widely known and spoken of when TV and media focus on a new report out in relation to fitness, activity, mental health, obesity and health funding. For many reader’s this is not news, however a large number of people are unaware of the huge benefits, to both individuals and the nation, of regular participation in exercise.

The Department of Health, NHS and The world health Organisation (WHO) are unanimous in their current advice to adults between the ages of 18 and 64.

To gain the best benefits to health, all adults should be engaging in 150 mins of moderate exercise AND a minimum of 2 strength training sessions per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise and two or more strengthening sessions per week. WOW! What does that actually equate to? Broken down, and accepted by the organisations this equates to 30 mins of moderate exercise 5 days a week. However, there is conflicting evidence to suggest to lose weight, a minimum of 45 minutes of exercise needs to be performed daily.

This is where M.O.D (move every day) or R.E.D (run every day) challenges can step in. Starting out on the step to increasing general, sustainable activity can be difficult to do, and actually working alongside others in a daily challenge programme may be the key for you. A daily programme of challenge may help to motivate and inspire, and because you can have a fixed finite point, IE: there is a goal in sight, and you can share this journey with friends, loved ones, the whole family, or with a new on line community of friends around the globe, who can help encourage and congratulate you on the easy and hard days. Not only that you will be taking your steps towards reducing the incidence of stroke, colon and breast cancer, diabetes, coronary heart disease, depression, hip fracture, but also increasing your bone health, your strength, cardiac fitness and health and maintaining a healthy weight and body composition. Runners who regularly participate in such challenges also report "time out" daily gives chance for mediation or mindfulness, or just 10 mins breathing space.

Mike Stamp and I are currently in our third monthly running challenge! Having already completed November with the Movember charity raising awareness of men’s health. We achieved our target of running 5km a day!

(left to right: Mike Stamp, Justine Laird Boldy, Simon and Rob Gudgeon)

2nd was R.E.D January with MIND raising awareness and support for mental health, by just doing a run a day. (left to right: Matthew Baker, Justine Laird Boldy and Ruth Taylor)

3. Mike Stamp and I are currently completing R.E.D lent. Despite bad weather, cold and dark nights the feeling of accomplishment of not having sat on the sofa for the evening and knowing I am investing in my future health is my motivating factor. Again, just by going out and doing a run every day throughout Lent. (left to right: Mike Stamp and Justine Laird Boldy. Rudding Park for Justine's 40th birthday)

So what is stopping you? Whether it’s time to push yourself hard towards a goal, time to have some quite time to yourself, toning up for a holiday or getting fitter for life……go on……move every day.