Running is having a bit of a moment, isn't it? In the spotlight as an affordable, accessible way to boost your fitness, Google Search around the topic has been steadily rising since 2020, with run clubs popping up left, right and centre around the globe.
Spoiler alert: while I now run most days, I used to really, really dislike cardio. I found running boring, difficult and unrewarding - that was, until one particular Runner's World article about the many benefits of running caught my eye and I decided to sign up for my first 5km race. From better cardio fitness, to improved muscle tone, to boosted mental health, running is a real all-rounder, with one 2020 study concluding that running improves both mood and mental health and a further Psychonomic Bulletin and Review paper credited the "insurmountable" proof that regular exercise curbs age-related cognitive decline.
