There are, of course, noticeable benefits of running: it shapes how we look physically being the most obvious. Some of the most profound benefits of running are less obvious, hidden from the mind’s eye.
This series of posts look at these secret benefits of running: How does running make us better able to manage our emotions? How does it help us to navigate the highs and lows of life? How does it help us with our relationships and show up as the best version of ourselves?
Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy is a vital part of succeeding in life: it is the self-belief you have in your ability to achieve. It is about seeing goals through, persevering and showing resilience when the going gets more challenging.
People with high levels of self-efficacy have more motivation and commitment in activities and view challenges as things they can overcome. They have energy, focus and take control over the direction of their lives.
Without self-efficacy, we focus more on avoidant behaviour, we put things off and don’t go through the process of goal-setting. We think more about what we perceive to be our weaknesses than our strengths.
Life without self-efficacy happens to us, rather than us steering the direction of it.
The Demands of Running
While the purpose of this blog overall is to encourage others to take up running, and to share the benefits of running with others, I hope I get the balance right in how I portray running.
I don’t quite buy the myth often shared on social media about running: that it is some kind of utopian paradise that can rid of us of all of our problems. The curated images of the outcomes of running, often hide the challenges and sheer graft that go into getting there.
What lies behind some of the gloss of running is that it is a relentlessly tough sport. The highs and lows of running are significant: some days you feel like you are gliding, others you feel like you are running through mud. Some days you feel brilliant after a run, some days you feel knackered. It is a fitting metaphor for life itself: there are many bumps in the road in life as a runner!
I had one such run yesterday: a twelve-mile long run, with four-six minute miles in the middle. The rain lashed down from the moment I left the house, the fast part felt like I was sprinting to keep up, and every muscle in my legs was screaming for me to stop. I think if I didn’t have others joining for the last four miles, I would have crawled back home!
Self-Efficacy running benefits
My rather laboured anecdote about my own run is, for me, the reason why runners often have higher levels of self-efficacy.
Runners set challenging goals, and then break those goals down into manageable chunks. They don’t put off going out and doing the runs they might be dreading, they take a deep breath and get out there.
They also see how easy it is to take the easy route: to stop, to procrastinate, to wait until another day. In doing so they fuel themselves with an inner confidence that they can see challenges through. It might not be that the times always match exactly what they hoped – but even the act of getting to the start line is an achievement that gives runners increased self-efficacy.
That mental toughness is then applied to other aspects of their lives. It might get them through a challenging few weeks at work; it might help fuel them with energy during the ups and downs of parenting. Whatever the circumstances, the knowledge that they run gives them a hidden source of strength that others cannot rely on.
That spirit and steel might always have been there, but running certainly helps to bring it to the front of our lives.
Take in the running good
As runners we often move from one challenge to the next. To help to secure that self-efficacy it is important to pause often and take in the running good we achieve.
It might be you do it weekly and allow some reflection on the following prompt questions:
- What have I achieved in my running this week?
- What strengths have I demonstrated in my training?
- What am I proud of myself for?
- How is running helping me in my life?
By making this a regular practice, we fuel our motivation for running, and in turn our motivation for life.
Thank you for reading.
Listen: The Run Alive Podcast (https://www.runalive.co.uk/episodes)
Read: Running: Cheaper than Therapy: A celebration of running.