There is still a stereotype that exists about running: that it is an individual sport and a solo pursuit. Across the world, however, more and more informal running groups and running communities are springing up.
This series of blogs aims to give voice to those groups – celebrating the power and impact of running with others.
What is happiness?
As an intention, it is something we all want to achieve – there is no human being who deliberately sets out to be unhappy.
But what exactly does it mean, and how can running with others support our collective aim to be happy?
Luckily the father of positive psychology, Professor Martin Seligman, has given this some extensive thought and research. Positive psychology was founded in order to explore what helps us to build the best qualities in our lives.
He argues well-being is as follows:
“Well-being cannot exist just in your own head. Well-being is a combination of feeling good as well as actually having meaning, good relationships and accomplishment.”
He uses a model to explain what his extensive research has discovered is key to wellbeing: PERMA. The rest of this blog will briefly look at how running with others supports in achieving each of the five aspects of the acronym.
In short PERMA stands for the following:
Positive Emotion
Engagement
Relationships
Meaning
Accomplishment/Achievement
Positive Emotion
Positive emotion involves savouring and enjoying times when you feel more positive, and trying to replicate those emotions. When we increase those positive emotions, we feel happier and more resilient.
When we run with others, we increase the amount of time we are spending with people we care about. We further our positivity by increasing connections and doing a hobby that releases lots of positive endorphins. That shared experience can add to the feelings of positivity that are experienced.
Engagement
Seligman describes engagement as “being one with the music.” Ultimately it is about being present and fully focused on the moment.
When we run with others we often find ourselves experiencing this kind of flow. We are present for the people we are running with, and focussed on the shared experience of running.
It is very hard for our minds to drift off into usual pre-occupations when are surrounded by conversation and movement.
Relationships
In the PERMA model the definition of a strong relationship is feeling supported and valued by others. Seligman also highlights that we are deeply social creatures and need genuine human relationships to be content.
By running with others we already have a shared experience and enjoyment that forges a connection. I’ve written about this in more detail a couple of weeks ago, but the regularity of running with others also deepens relationships and trust in groups.
Meaning
Meaning in life is different for everyone: for some people it is achieved through work, family or through religious or spiritual belief. But for everyone, purpose is important – we all need to feel like we are working towards something and contributing something positive.
Running groups have this joined and shared purpose and meaning: they are all about the enjoyment of meeting others and exercising. There is a real sense of identity that grows with the more times you go along to a running group, and more of a sense of belonging. Club vests and t-shirts helps this sense of common purpose, as does building in social and community events.
Accomplishment
Accomplishment in the PERMA is closely aligned to feelings of achievement. It is about working towards goals and having measurable outcomes in what you invest your time in.
Those layers of achievement when you run with others are significant. There is the accomplishment that comes with getting out and running in the first place, and then there is the fact that has been achieved with another person.
Often people who are running together may decide to work towards shared goals and challenges, helping to keep each other accountable and tracking their progress. One of the best things about running with others is you enjoy the process of supporting and encouraging each other towards achieving set goals. As Seligman highlights: “reaching beyond where you are is really important,” – a perfect representation of the purpose of setting goals in running.
So, if you want to feel happier and experience more well-being this week, go for a run with others!
Thank you for reading.
Listen: The Psychology Podcast with Martin Seligman ‘From Learned Helplessness to Learned Hopefulness’.
Read: ‘Flourish’ by Martin Seligman.