5 good reasons to run a half marathon
With only five weeks to go until the Morrisons Great Birmingham Run, we’re looking for people to enlist in our QEHB Charity running team, joining hospital staff, patients and volunteers as they take to the pavements.
If the mere mention of a half marathon doesn’t inspire you to leap off the sofa and into your trainers, we’ve come up with five good reasons for why you should consider it…
1. The physical health benefits. We’ll start with the obvious one. Whether you want to improve your fitness, reduce high blood pressure, build core strength or even lose weight, going running is a cheap and easy alternative to the gym. You can go at your own pace and in your own time; you’ll be amazed at the difference in your body come race time.
2. The mental health benefits. Aside from building muscles and trimming tummies, exercise can have a really positive effect on your state of mind. Running can clear your head, help you to work off your frustrations, or de-stress you after a long day at work. Plus there’s not much to beat the feeling of accomplishment at the end of a long run!
3. You’ll see new things while training. One of the best things about going running is the opportunity to see new things. Whether you’re jogging through fields or running at the roadside, you’ll be amazed at how much you can explore. Why not run a route you would usually drive and see what different things you notice?
4. Your body will amaze you. No matter what level of fitness you start off at, a few weeks of training can make a tangible difference to your strength, stamina and speed. Running can help you to achieve things you didn’t know you could, and there’s nothing like running half a marathon to make you respect your own physical abilities.
5. You can use it as an opportunity to give back. Every year a small army of staff, patients and volunteers participate in the Birmingham half marathon on behalf of the QEHB Charity. By asking friends, family and acquaintances to sponsor them, our amazing runners have raised thousands of pounds which in turn has gone on to do immeasurable good in the hospital. Our team members receive hints and tips, a professional running top, a post-race massage and plenty of cheering and support from the whole QEHB Charity team.
