1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: Hey, it's Gemma and I have something really special to 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: share with you. I'm hosting my first ever virtual live 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: video podcast. Not a pre recorded episode, not a highlight reel, 4 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: but a real time, face to face moment where we 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: get to connect, laugh, and kind of just reflect together 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: no matter where you are in the world. Plus, I'm 7 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: hosting a VIP after party for my inner circle. I 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: will be answering your questions and getting to talk to 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: you guys even more. It's happening August twelfth at seven 10 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: pm Pacific time, or August thirteenth at twelve pm. If 11 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: you live in my hometown of Sydney, you can grab 12 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: your ticket now at pave dot Live. 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: I cannot wait to see you there. Hello everybody, and 14 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 2: welcome back to the Psychology of Your Twenties, the podcast 15 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: where we talk through some of the big life changes 16 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: and transitions of our twenties and what they mean for 17 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 2: our psycho. Hello everybody, or welcome back to the show. 18 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 2: Welcome back to the podcast, new listeners, old listeners, wherever 19 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 2: you are in the world, it is so great to 20 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 2: have you here back for another episode as we, of 21 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 2: course break down the psychology of our twenties today. We 22 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: are talking about something that has become absolutely mega huge. 23 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 2: I would say, in like the last year, what we 24 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 2: are talking about is the rise of run clubs, ron Mania, 25 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 2: half marathon ambitions, people putting their Strava on their hinge profiles, 26 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,399 Speaker 2: People's Saturday mornings booked out to run three k, five k, 27 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: ten k. Seemingly overnight. Running has become like the new 28 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 2: frontier of fun. And I have to admit I myself 29 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 2: have been bit by the running bug, and not just 30 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 2: like the running bug, the run club bug. Here's the 31 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 2: thing I distinctly remember. It's a core memory, core memory 32 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: for me. I remember saying to one of my best 33 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: friends last year, if I join a run club, stop me. 34 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 2: Something is wrong, Like something is wrong. 35 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: This is not me. I've turned down the wrong path. 36 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 1: I have always hated running. I would try for a 37 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: few months, maybe run like macs, like three kilometers, which 38 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: is still quite far, and then kind of just give up. 39 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: And I always was like, you know what, running just 40 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: isn't for me. I'm just not going to be that 41 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: kind of goal, Like it's just not in the cards. 42 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: Now I'm at a point where I'm running thirty kilometers 43 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: a week. I have a running vest, and every Sunday 44 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: without fail, I am at the park at eight am, 45 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: ready to do my three labs with my friends, and 46 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: I keep thinking back to that person, that version of 47 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: me who kind of didn't know what she was missing. 48 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: I love my Roun Club, and this, it turns out, 49 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: is no accident. I think, especially in our twenties and thirties, 50 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: when loneliness can creeping quite easily and our identity feels 51 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: very slippery, there is something quite powerful about showing up 52 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: for something so simple, so repetitive, so social, and kind 53 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: of quietly very transformative. You know, you don't need to 54 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: be fast, you don't need to know anyone. You just 55 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: need to keep putting one foot in front of the other, 56 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: and then at the end you get rewarded with a 57 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: really convenient kind of socialization that I don't think a 58 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: lot of us have experienced since high school or college, 59 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 1: or maybe like a graduate program. Additionally, I think when 60 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: some of the earliest structures we relied upon to give 61 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: our life meaning fall away, running is a really positive 62 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: and easy space to set goals in. It is very 63 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: easy if you are capable to see effort directly reflected 64 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: in performance. You know, you run more, you add more kilometers, 65 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: you train harder, you will see an improvement, whereas in 66 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: other areas of our life progress it's a lot harder 67 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: to track, it's not as not as linear, and you know, 68 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: of course, exercise also just makes us feel good, so 69 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: there's like the inherent reward in that as well. So 70 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: in today's episode, we are going to dive into the 71 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: psychology of run clubs and their emotional pull, especially in 72 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: our twenties and thirties. We're going to talk about their 73 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 1: inherent benefits, how they are actually quite positive anchors, and 74 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: what they reveal about how we want to be seen 75 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: and support and how we want to connect as humans 76 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: in this decade. We're also going to dive into the downsides, 77 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: downsides that I have seen myself, especially when run clubs 78 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: are not inclusive or they're too image based, and how 79 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: we can continue to engage in them in a way 80 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: that serves us without feeling let down by these other 81 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: elements that have no space in this community. So this 82 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: one is for all my runners out there, my run 83 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 1: curious listeners, maybe even the movement avoided, who are like 84 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: looking at run clubs thinking that looks awful. Why would 85 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: anyone want to do that? Hopefully this episode gives you 86 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: kind of an idea. So without further ado, let's get 87 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: into the unexpected psychology of run clubs. So, first off, 88 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: let's answer this very big question, why are run clubs 89 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: suddenly ever reware? What has changed in our social fabriak 90 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 1: that has made this simple act of collectively jogging together 91 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 1: such a powerful magnet for community. It turns out run 92 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: clubs are basically feeling a very crucial void that we 93 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: have as a generation that very little else is prepared 94 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 1: to fill. Consider this, many of us in our twenties 95 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: are experiencing what psychologists would call social displacement. So we 96 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: are often moving to new cities for jobs. We are 97 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: chasing opportunities far from our hometowns. We graduate from university, 98 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: or we finish school, or we finish a prints, and 99 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: suddenly we kind of lose those built in, effortless structures 100 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: of friendship. You don't have daily class, you don't have 101 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: campus clubs, you don't have shared dorm rooms that constant 102 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 1: easy proximity to friends. I feel like it almost vanishes overnight, 103 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: and you're suddenly spending a lot more time alone when 104 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: perhaps you don't really want to. You're trying desperately to 105 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: build new communities in new spaces, and it's really hard. 106 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: This is not just you. This is not an isolated experience. 107 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 1: There was a twenty twenty one study published in the 108 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: very famous journal Nature, and it actually analyzed mobile phone 109 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: data from millions of users and it confirmed that our 110 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: friendship networks do tend to shrink significantly and quite rapidly 111 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: during our twenties. This is because we become more selective. Also, 112 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: it's just you know, convenience, distance, and the fact that 113 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: the effort required to forge new friendships it's really overwhelming 114 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: when you don't have that base level of knowing each 115 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: other or similarity. The best name I have for it 116 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: is a friendship recession, and it leaves many of us 117 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: feeling like a very profound sense of loneliness. Also, despite 118 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: being really hyper connected online, spending even more time on 119 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: our phone, it doesn't really seem to be helping. We 120 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: actually are more lonely than ever before. That irony is 121 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: not lost on me. You know, we are digitally saturated, 122 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: but we are relationally starved. Like social media has convinced 123 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: us that we can be more in contact than ever before, 124 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 1: but the level of contact is so shallow, and that 125 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: is actually a real growing concern. You may have heard 126 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: the statistic that loneliness is as dangerous as smoking a 127 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: packet of cigarettes a day. That's a scary figure, and 128 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: for many people in their twenties, that is their reality. 129 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: This is where run clubs come in. Run clubs offer 130 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: a really tangible, real world antidote to digital fatigue and 131 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: to social isolation during this decade. We aren't just looking 132 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: for exercise, Like if you just wanted exercise, you could 133 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: go to the gym, you could go and run by yourself. 134 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: It's the human connection, specifically a kind that goes beyond 135 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: the screen, that is really what people want. They're seeking 136 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: a tribe, they're seeking a place where they belong, and 137 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: they are also seeking a shared experience with other human beings. 138 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: Run clubs make all of this easier because they reintroduce 139 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: structured socialization, Unlike trying to kind of start a conversation 140 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: with a random person in a coffee shop or at 141 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: a bar, or trying to form connection with people at parties, 142 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: which oh my god, honestly is the worst. I can't 143 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: even be bothered doing that anymore. Run clubs provide like 144 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: a really low pressure, predefined environment for connection where the 145 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: rules of engagement are very very clear. You are not 146 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: forced into intense conversations. You can chat during the warm up, 147 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: you can chat during the run if your pace allows it. 148 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: During cool downs you could grab a coffee afterwards. But 149 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 1: you know, the primary activity of running provides a really 150 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: comfortable backdrop, so it takes the pressure off awkward silences. 151 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: There's also a number of people there who you can 152 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: go and run with. If the conversation has a lull, 153 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: you can always just focus on your runner, you can 154 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: play music, you don't have to carry the conversation. Basically 155 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: the run kind of does that for you. It's like 156 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: a version of parallel play, which is a concept in 157 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: developmental psychology where basically some of the best kinds of 158 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 1: experience is the most joyful experiences we have, or when 159 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: we are just doing something side by side with someone 160 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,559 Speaker 1: without being fully invested in what the other person is doing, 161 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: but we get a lot of enjoyment from just kind 162 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: of having them there. If you think about it as well, 163 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: you know, this whole idea is built around what you 164 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: would assume is a common interest, like you know that 165 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: everyone there shares a love of running or at least 166 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: has a willingness to try. So this breaks down a 167 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: huge initial barrier. There is immediately something that you can 168 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: relate to the other person about, and also you know 169 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:26,559 Speaker 1: there's a regular schedule as well. So it also introduces predictability, 170 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,439 Speaker 1: which means the cognitive load and the cognitive effort of 171 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 1: having to make plans and having to find the place 172 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: that's going to work for everyone and the time and 173 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: whatever that disappears. You just know who to show up 174 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: and you know they'll be there, and you can opt 175 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: in or you can opt out. I think in a 176 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: way someone actually said this to me the other day. 177 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: It kind of feels like run clubs have replaced like 178 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: after school clubs for us in our twenties. Like you 179 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: know after school when you used to like go and 180 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: play sport or used to go to like like craft 181 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: club or like, I don't know what you guys did, 182 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 1: I used to go to like band practice. Like yeah, 183 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: it wasn't always the most fun, but it was regular 184 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: and there were people there and you would make friends 185 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: through that. This is what a run club is. We're 186 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: basically just trying to replicate the social scaffolding that we 187 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: like enjoyed about being at school and that we enjoyed 188 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: about being around people our own age with similar interests 189 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: doing similar things. So this consistent, low pressure interaction of 190 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: run clubs is actually has a name. What we're experiencing 191 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: when we go to these is what psychologists call incidental intimacy. 192 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: It is the kind of familiarity and comfort that develops 193 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: from just simply sharing routine spaces and sharing activities week 194 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: after week with the same people, much like those after 195 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: school clubs. You know, think about your old school friends 196 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: as you get older, you kind of realize like you 197 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: maybe didn't really like them as much as you thought 198 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: you did. You probably didn't have much in common, but 199 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: you did have the shared in environment, and so that 200 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: meant that it the repetition of casual exposure and casual 201 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: interactions already gave you like a very pre prepared baseline 202 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: for friendship. Run clubs recreate this organic environment, and it's 203 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 1: something that a lot of people are really craving, and 204 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: it makes it easier, I think, at least, to transition 205 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: from running buddy to genuine friend if you have enough 206 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: of those casual, repeated moments with each other. Obviously, that 207 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: doesn't just provide fertile ground for platonic relationships. It's also 208 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: a great place to meet people romantically, and that is 209 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: coming up with run clubs time and time again. I've 210 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 1: been seeing this all over TikTok, like our run clubs 211 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: than new dating apps, like is this where you're going 212 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: to meet your partner? 213 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 2: Like it? 214 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: It seems like it's also meeting a need in the 215 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: dating space as well. Not only are we finding it 216 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: hard to meet friends in real life. Obviously the dating 217 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: apps are swampy and they suck and people hate them 218 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: and there's very little success on them. And so run 219 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,079 Speaker 1: clubs are also filling that space, like they have this 220 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: jewel ability to fill the need for real human connection 221 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 1: where you can see someone and be like, do I 222 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: like you? Do we have chemistry? Are we interested in 223 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: each other? Rather than having to go through like Okay, 224 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: let's talk on hinge for three weeks and then maybe 225 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 1: one day we'll figure it out. A couple of my 226 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: friends have actually been dating people they met at run clubs, 227 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:37,959 Speaker 1: And you know what, it's not just because it's a 228 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 1: shared interest, and it's not just because it's convenient and 229 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: because it facilitates real world connections. Exercise also famously causes 230 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: us to release endorphins and dopamine, the happy hormone, which 231 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,959 Speaker 1: play a really crucial role in the brain's rewards system, 232 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: but also in the development of lovey dovey romantic feelings. 233 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: So it's like you already are meeting people from a 234 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: place of a natural endorphin high and a level of 235 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: joy and happiness and openness, so you are more receptive to, 236 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: I don't know, like a little romantic bond. There's also 237 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: something to be said about the position of your body 238 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: when you attend these clubs that naturally lends itself to 239 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: openness and socializing, not just romantic but platonic as well. 240 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: There's something very primal about moving and sync with others, 241 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: that kind of collective motion, synchronized movement that comes from 242 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: running together. It is an incredible, incredibly natural way of 243 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: being for us as humans, and it promotes affiliation, it 244 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: promotes trust. There's been research into this that shows that 245 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: when we engage in coordinated physical activities, our sense of 246 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: cooperation improves. It can even reduce pain sensitivity among participants 247 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: because we know that community and feeling like we're part 248 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: of a collective is incredibly healing and nourishing, and it's 249 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: something we don't have enough of. It's also partly due 250 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: to the role of mirror neurons. You've probably heard of 251 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: these before. Mirror neurons are these specialized brain cells that 252 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: fire both when we perform an action and when we 253 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 1: observe someone else performing the same action like running. Interestingly, 254 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: these mirror neurons what is to blame, Like when you 255 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: see someone else yawn and we ourselves yawn. It's basically 256 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: like the building block for empathy and for allowing us 257 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: to have a shared experience of the world and allowing 258 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: us to feel bonded to other people. So when you're 259 00:15:56,080 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: running alongside someone, you're matching their pace, feeling the same exertion. 260 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: Your mirror neurons are firing like crazy, and they are 261 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: creating a subconscious bond of empathy, understanding, and camaraderie. I 262 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: know that sounds strange, but scientifically, you know, this side 263 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: by side dynamic is actually a really important part of 264 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: run clubs that people don't often talk about. Also, there's 265 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: a lack of eye contact, right, so having someone next 266 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: to you means you don't have to have that sustained 267 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: focus and attention on the other person that happens when 268 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: you sit down for coffee or you sit down for dinner, 269 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: and that actually really lowers the expectations and it creates 270 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: a low pressure environment that does make it easier to 271 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: share thoughts, to be vulnerable, to share personal stories. Therapists 272 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: and counselors actually take advantage of this a lot. This 273 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: is the principle behind walk and talk therapy, where therapists 274 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: understand and that when you're walking with someone outdoors side 275 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: by side, actually the likelihood that someone will disclose something 276 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: or the likelihood that someone will feel comfortable enough to 277 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: share is increased because it reduces inhibition between the client 278 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: and the therapists. So our run clubs also the new therapy. No, 279 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 1: but kind of. When we consider this, these principles, these 280 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 1: building blocks of intimacy and vulnerability that are shared between therapy, 281 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: between relationships, between bonds and empathy and all these things 282 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: are bringing people into the run club fold and I 283 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: think that's why they are so fantastic for people struggling 284 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: with loneliness and their mental health. Like this low stakes environment, 285 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: the fact that our attention can be directed towards something else. 286 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 1: Does mean that you don't have to put as much 287 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: effort and energy into trying to chat people up or 288 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: trying to talk to people when you are otherwise feeling 289 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:59,880 Speaker 1: in incredibly brained. But of course their benefits do go 290 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: far beyond simply filling our social calendar. They also tap 291 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 1: into some brilliant psychological mechanisms that actively boost our well 292 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: being on an individual scale. So we are going to 293 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,159 Speaker 1: take a short break, but when we return, we're going 294 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: to talk about these individual benefits and also maybe some 295 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: of the downsides that we need to be aware of. 296 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: So stay with us. Anyone who has ever tried to 297 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: kind of stick to a solo exercise routine knows that 298 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: it is very, very tough. You could probably do it, 299 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: but it's not as enjoyable or perhaps as motivating, or 300 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 1: there's not as much accountability as when you exercise with 301 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,239 Speaker 1: other people. And that is where run clubs have a 302 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 1: massive psychological advantage in terms of motivation. The mere presence 303 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,439 Speaker 1: of other people when we are exercising has been shown 304 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 1: time and time again in research to Booth's physical performance. 305 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: This is known as social facilitation. Running with a group 306 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:09,919 Speaker 1: can make you push yourself harder, can make you maintain 307 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: a faster pace, and it can just simply help with 308 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: showing up when you otherwise may have skipped your run. 309 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: I know, personally, I run so much better when I'm 310 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: with others because I kind of forget what I'm doing. 311 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 1: My friend Maddie and I we've actually realized are the 312 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: exact same pace. Like she's a member of my roun club, 313 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: and when we're running, like we have this rule in 314 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: our run club that we don't have to run together 315 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 1: and we kind of just meet back at the end 316 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: for coffee. But me and her always are like within 317 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: a meter of each other, and I often run so 318 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,919 Speaker 1: much further, and I feel like I can maintain a 319 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 1: much steadier pace because she is by my side. You know, 320 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: when you're on your own, there is so much opportunity 321 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: for self doubt, But when you're with others, it's like 322 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 1: a positive form of fear pressure, because you're like, oh, 323 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: my gosh, here is this example right in front of 324 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: me of someone proving to me that this is possible 325 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: and that I am also perhaps capable of doing this. 326 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:11,399 Speaker 1: Also a fun fact for you, achieving milestones as a 327 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: group actually feels more rewarding then achieving a milestone alone, 328 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: and so the reward is sweeter when you do run further, 329 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: run faster, and someone is doing it with you. And 330 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,239 Speaker 1: that reward is what sustains effort over time and what 331 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: sustains people kind of coming back for more. This is 332 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: where the concept of the social cure actually comes in. 333 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: I love this concept. It's one that I talk about 334 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: so much in my personal life. It was developed by 335 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: psychologists Alex Haslin and Michelle Ryan, and the social cure 336 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: theory basically posits that belonging to meaningful social groups, it's 337 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: not just a nice feeling, it can actually fundamentally determine 338 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: your physical and mental health. When we strongly identify with 339 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 1: a group, it provides meaning and purpose. When there is 340 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: a shared identity, goals, there's social support. That physical network 341 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: of people can actually change our health status. It can 342 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: really boost our self esteem as well, and it can 343 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 1: really minimize symptoms, or not minimize, but reduce symptoms of 344 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: anxiety and depression. We see this time and time again 345 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 1: in different communities and different cohorts of people. When you 346 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: have more than one social group that you belong to, 347 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: you feel so supported that your body actually is able 348 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,879 Speaker 1: to take itself out of survival mode, is able to 349 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: heal itself, is able to just be more present. Run 350 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 1: clubs are an example of this. When you go from 351 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: irun to I am a runner with this run club, 352 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: with the Utah run Group, with the Slow Girls run Club, 353 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 1: with the anti social run club, whatever it is, that 354 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 1: social identity becomes incredit be powerful. This also taps into 355 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: a very famous idea called third spaces. So third spaces, 356 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: it's like an idea that was first kind of labeled 357 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: by a sociologist, not a psychologist, a sociologist called Ray Oldenberg. 358 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: And to explain it is basically this, we have our 359 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 1: first spaces that's your home. We have second spaces that's 360 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: like our workplace or our school. Third spaces are what 361 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: is really crucial for our mental health. These are these 362 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:39,439 Speaker 1: crucial informal public gathering places that foster community and social 363 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: interaction and belonging beyond our primary daily obligations. So think 364 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: coffee shops, think local pubs, think community centers, bookstores, or 365 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: run clubs. Third spaces are so crucial to us because 366 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 1: they provide a positive, neutral ground to meet others. There 367 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 1: isn't really ever that hierarchy or specific social role that 368 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,199 Speaker 1: you would perhaps need to take on at work or 369 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: even at home. So this often gives way to spontaneous 370 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: interactions and friendships and excitement. And it's in these spaces 371 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: that you're kind of allowed to be whoever you want 372 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: to be. I saw this really fascinating article that was 373 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: published on the site Medium where the author kind of 374 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: talked about how third spaces bring back the joy of 375 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: just being so. In the article, the author talks about 376 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 1: how for a lot of us, the pandemic almost blended 377 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 1: our first and second spaces together. A lot of us 378 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: started working from home, a lot of us became remote workers. 379 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 1: Home and work life got really really mixed up. It 380 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,919 Speaker 1: was hard to distinguish what identity you were holding at 381 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: any given time. With this new dynamic. As well, it 382 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 1: often made people feel quite monotonous. It felt like they 383 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: were isolated, they were stuck in their routine, and that 384 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 1: is still going on to this day. Third space is though, 385 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: and the reason everyone is being driven toward third spaces, 386 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: especially after the pandemic and the lockdowns, is because they 387 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: want to just enjoy being present in a space where 388 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: there isn't any obligation and where they can just show 389 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: up as themselves and also just talk to other people 390 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:25,400 Speaker 1: and feel like, oh, okay, I'm out of my routine. 391 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,360 Speaker 1: I've kind of slipped the mask off. I'm just allowed 392 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 1: to be. 393 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 2: So. 394 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: There's a South Korean philosopher as well called Bung Chul Khan, 395 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: and he talks about this as the concept of duration. 396 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: So duration as a concept is basically like his antidote 397 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: to constantly chasing our future. He basically says that we 398 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: more than anything else. I kind of don't agree with that, 399 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: but in his words, more than anything else, we need 400 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:57,119 Speaker 1: a break from the rush and the panic of modern life. 401 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:01,880 Speaker 1: If we can carve out space and spaces and time 402 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 1: in which we can just enjoy doing something for the 403 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,879 Speaker 1: sake of doing it, or if we can just create 404 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: ease and appreciation for the moments we get to spend 405 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 1: on things that aren't tied to productivity or career progression, 406 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: we will be a healthier species. We will love each 407 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 1: other more, we will love the planet more. It's a 408 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 1: big call to say that wrong clubs aren't contribution to that, 409 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 1: but there is evidence that they most certainly are, because 410 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 1: they provide people with this break from their reality that 411 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: allows them to feel, I don't know, almost human again, 412 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: and that allows them to feel like they are someone 413 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:41,160 Speaker 1: beyond what people expect them to be. So a lot 414 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,680 Speaker 1: of philosophy, a lot of sociology, a lot of psychology 415 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 1: all coming together. It's so funny, Like perhaps when you 416 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:49,360 Speaker 1: started this episode you were like, Wow, run clubs can't 417 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:51,360 Speaker 1: be that deep, and now we're talking about how they 418 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 1: contribute to the meaning of life. But I've promised there's research, Like, 419 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 1: there is so much research on this. Let's now move 420 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 1: into the shadows of this. Are run clubs just a phase? 421 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: Are they just a fad? Are they just a trend? 422 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: Some might argue that their recent search is simply, as 423 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: we were saying, a post pandemic rebound, and the reason 424 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: they're so popular is because they kind of came up 425 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 1: at the right time when a lot of people are 426 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 1: desperate for connection after prolonged isolation. I think whilst the 427 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: pandemic definitely amplified their need for what run clubs offer, 428 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: they are also still fulfilling and offering solutions to longstanding 429 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: societal issues that will mean that them or some version 430 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: of them will probably stick around for a long time. However, 431 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: a trend can only become a sustainable cultural shift if 432 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:54,880 Speaker 1: it continues to meet fundamental human needs in an adaptive way. 433 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: So this isn't necessarily a concern that run clubs are 434 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: going to disappear, but that some iterations might lose their 435 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: core community focus if they become over commercialized, exclusive or 436 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:15,679 Speaker 1: focus purely on performance metrics. If every run club is 437 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:20,199 Speaker 1: sponsored by Nike, if every run club has you know, 438 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: a series of Instagram models promoting them online, they have 439 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 1: lost their touch and they have lost their accessibility. There 440 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: is this idea that a club like a run club 441 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 1: can only get so big before people start to create 442 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: their own, smaller versions. Once they reach two hundred plus people, 443 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: perhaps even lower like you no longer can kind of 444 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 1: know everyone, and you no longer feel like you can 445 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 1: interact with everyone, and you do feel like there's more 446 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:52,360 Speaker 1: of a spotlight effect on you. I think a significant 447 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: potential pitfall that I've personally seen is again the lack 448 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: of lack of inclusivity. You know, run club lubs, despite 449 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:05,639 Speaker 1: their open door appearance, I think, and sometimes unintentionally or 450 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: intentionally become really harmful if they're not genuinely inclusive, and 451 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,439 Speaker 1: if there's this idea that you have to look a 452 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: certain way, or have a certain pace, or be a 453 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 1: certain kind of athlete to join them. Now, I'm not 454 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: saying that there can't be run clubs where people are 455 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: setting incredible paces, but you have to be clear that 456 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 1: that's their intention and that this is the kind of 457 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: standard that is set. But there have been some videos 458 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: doing the rounds recently. You guys may have seen some 459 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: of them where people are kind of shaming people who 460 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: show up to run clubs and don't fit the part 461 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 1: I saw one video in particular where members of a 462 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: particular run club were talking about their running x and 463 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 1: they kind of mention things that aren't involved in running, 464 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: Like they're basically like, oh, when people show up with 465 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: their shitty new balance, or when they're wearing a running 466 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: best for like their short run or blah blah blah 467 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 1: blah blah. I saw another video the other day that 468 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: was like, if your pace is below ten kilometers an hour, 469 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: that's not a run club, that's a wark club, and 470 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 1: actually guys to kind of stir the pot. I saw 471 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,479 Speaker 1: someone who I know like that video, who runs a 472 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: so called inclusive fitness club slash inclusive run club, Like 473 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: I kid you not. I saw that this person had 474 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: liked it, and I was like, I'm never going to 475 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: that run club again. I was like, I'm no, I'm 476 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: not going to show up because here is this person who, 477 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 1: like at face value, is talking about inclusivity, and then 478 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: their like online behaviors are obviously reflecting that their values 479 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 1: are quite different. I think basically, like a run club 480 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,880 Speaker 1: cannot claim to be something that it is not without 481 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 1: incidentally hurting people who might want a gateway into fitness. 482 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: Like you cannot say that you have an inclusive run 483 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: club if someone shows up and they finish and no 484 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: one is there for them, or if someone shows up 485 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 1: and they aren't included in the main group and are 486 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 1: running behind, Like I think, a run club should always 487 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:10,560 Speaker 1: have someone who is part of the team who does 488 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 1: not care what their pace is. Their only job is 489 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 1: to be the last person in the group, so no 490 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: one ever feels like, oh okay, I could just stop 491 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: running right now and leave and no one would worry 492 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 1: about where I was, and no one would worry about 493 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 1: if I'm even here. Like that is not the social 494 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: antidote that rung comes are meant to operate and that 495 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 1: they're meant to be. Also, I think, like any social group, 496 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 1: very tight knit clicks can form in these groups, and 497 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 1: it can make it really hard for newcomers to kind 498 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: of break in and feel a sense of belonging. And 499 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 1: this is even harder if a club primarily attracts homogeneous 500 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 1: demographic for example, people from the same race soceoeconomic demographic age, 501 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 1: or people who you know have a certain style or 502 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 1: a certain vibe or a certain way of communicating or 503 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 1: connecting that isn't always welcoming and isn't always fair. And 504 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:07,560 Speaker 1: I'm trying not to give it any more names than that, 505 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: but I think when I explain it, you know the 506 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 1: kind of situation I'm explaining right, the kind of people 507 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 1: who don't make other people feel welcome. And it's not 508 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 1: just that you risk making your run club inexclusive, and 509 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:26,719 Speaker 1: it's not just that you risk exacerbating someone else's loneliness. 510 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: You also risk them not coming back to any run 511 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:33,440 Speaker 1: club in the future, or any kind of group exercise. 512 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 1: You run the risk of also ruining this person's relationship 513 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 1: with physical activity in general, and seeing themselves as someone 514 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 1: who you know exercise isn't made for and enjoying fitness 515 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: and enjoying movement that's not for them. And if you 516 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 1: can hear the passion in my voice, it's because I 517 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,760 Speaker 1: feel like I was made to feel like that so 518 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: often when I was a teenager, and even like even 519 00:31:57,160 --> 00:32:00,120 Speaker 1: when I was a kid, like you know, you're, well, 520 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 1: you don't belong there because you don't fit in with 521 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:06,960 Speaker 1: how everyone else looks. Who is doing this? So sorry, 522 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 1: I'm going to get off my soapbox, but it does 523 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 1: really bother me when I see communities online who say 524 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: that they're inclusive and who are like have all the 525 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,120 Speaker 1: merch and have all the branding, and then you rock 526 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:22,280 Speaker 1: up and it's like, oh, okay, so this you don't 527 00:32:22,280 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 1: really want me here, Like you don't want me here 528 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:28,239 Speaker 1: and that's okay, just like make your Instagram private then, like, 529 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 1: don't post these big announcements of being like inclusive, run club. 530 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 1: Everyone show up if you're not going to wait for 531 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 1: the last person in line, and if you're not going 532 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 1: to stay hi and welcome new people. Moving on from that, 533 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:41,000 Speaker 1: I'm sorry I've spent too much time on that. Moving on, 534 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,840 Speaker 1: I think something else can also start to happen. That 535 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 1: is equally insidious, which is that there is the potential 536 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: to fall into a comparison trap when running becomes this 537 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 1: thing that everyone is obsessed with and everyone is obsessed 538 00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:02,200 Speaker 1: with optimizing. Even something as wholesome as group running can 539 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 1: morph into a form of performance, especially when we add 540 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: in platforms like Strava. For example, Strava, if you don't 541 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:13,600 Speaker 1: know what it is, it's basically social media for running 542 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: where people can or social media for like endurance sports 543 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:20,239 Speaker 1: or exercise, where you can post the activities you've been 544 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:22,400 Speaker 1: doing and it gives you stats on your pace and 545 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 1: calories burned, and people can give you kudos and whatever 546 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:29,920 Speaker 1: fantastic tool I have Strava. I use it for tracking progress, 547 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 1: I use it for celebrating achievements. I use it for 548 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 1: connecting with my friends. But when every run becomes a 549 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:40,920 Speaker 1: public record, when every personal best is measured against another, 550 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 1: and every workout it's kind of tagged and shared and 551 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 1: you know, located to your area, it can really shift 552 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 1: the focus from internal enjoyment to just being another avenue 553 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 1: for performance. I have a friend who is literally training 554 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: for the New York City Marathon and who doesn't use 555 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 1: Strava for this very reason this is a direct feed 556 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:10,240 Speaker 1: into social comparison theory, where we often evaluate ourselves relative 557 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 1: to others. We can't help it, we cannot help it. 558 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:18,560 Speaker 1: When these comparisons primarily upward, so you can pay yourself 559 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:21,680 Speaker 1: to someone who is fitter, faster, seemingly more of an 560 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:26,640 Speaker 1: effortless runner, they can trigger feelings of inadequacy and envy, 561 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:29,279 Speaker 1: and the pressure to do more, to try harder, an 562 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 1: overall need to do better, which if you're just there 563 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:35,120 Speaker 1: for fun, isn't always helpful. At twenty twenty two study 564 00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 1: from researchers in the Netherlands, they actually use publicly available 565 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:42,160 Speaker 1: data from Strava to look into running behavior and in 566 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:45,200 Speaker 1: total they looked at five different Strava run clubs with 567 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:48,960 Speaker 1: over three hundred members, and they found the more kudos 568 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:53,439 Speaker 1: runners received on their activities, the more likely they were 569 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:57,360 Speaker 1: to run more and more often, and actually the more 570 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 1: likely they were to be injured. So yes, kudos fuels 571 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 1: our momentum. It can also fuel some other things as well. 572 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:11,640 Speaker 1: I think the question then becomes why am I doing this? 573 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 1: Am I doing it for me? Or am I doing 574 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 1: it for a version of me that I want others 575 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 1: to see? And if it is the latter. This can 576 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:25,200 Speaker 1: really transform a very joyful activity into a performance, and 577 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:28,840 Speaker 1: then you kind of do lose the genuine psychological benefits 578 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 1: of movement and community because they are overshadowed by anxiety 579 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:37,239 Speaker 1: about pace, anxiety about distance, about appearance, about like the 580 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:43,719 Speaker 1: relentless pursuit of what it looks like online. Basically, what 581 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 1: I'm trying to say is that when health becomes identity, 582 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:51,239 Speaker 1: your worth can become tied to your performance metrics. And 583 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 1: I think run clubs with their emphasis on physical achievement 584 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:58,279 Speaker 1: at times and visible fitness, which isn't a bad thing 585 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:00,880 Speaker 1: on its own, but when let's take too far, it 586 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 1: can inadvertently feed into this feeling. The danger isn't about 587 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:09,680 Speaker 1: being healthy. The danger isn't in the social aspect. It's 588 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 1: in the obsession with optimized health as a defining characteristic 589 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 1: of your self worth that can sometimes easily blossom and 590 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:23,239 Speaker 1: bloom in these spaces. Like I, for example, I know 591 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:26,880 Speaker 1: that I could never be in an ultracompetitive run group. 592 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 1: In fact, like I said, my run club, like we 593 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:32,719 Speaker 1: don't even run together, we don't compare paces, we don't 594 00:36:32,760 --> 00:36:34,880 Speaker 1: compare times. I know that I could not be in 595 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:38,279 Speaker 1: an environment where it felt like a race, because I 596 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 1: would push myself way too far and I would feel 597 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 1: terrible and I would not enjoy the sport anymore. And 598 00:36:43,880 --> 00:36:45,680 Speaker 1: I feel like the reason that I've been able to 599 00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:48,399 Speaker 1: improve as much as I have in the last year, 600 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:52,719 Speaker 1: it's because I have been so focused on just enjoying it. 601 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,560 Speaker 1: I don't have a running schedule. If I don't want 602 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:58,239 Speaker 1: to run, I'm not going to do it. And if 603 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:02,279 Speaker 1: I find myself comparing to other people's paces like I 604 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,879 Speaker 1: immediately shut it down because I feel like everything else 605 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:07,920 Speaker 1: in my life, I kind of define by metrics, and 606 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,399 Speaker 1: I kind of define by how good am I doing 607 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:13,360 Speaker 1: it relative to others, and how satisfied do I feel? 608 00:37:13,360 --> 00:37:16,279 Speaker 1: And what should I be doing. I want running to 609 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:19,640 Speaker 1: continue to be something that I want to be doing. 610 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 1: So with that in mind, we are going to take 611 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:25,680 Speaker 1: one more short break, but afterwards we're going to talk 612 00:37:25,719 --> 00:37:28,360 Speaker 1: about how to find a run club that's right for you, 613 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:30,560 Speaker 1: even if you thought you never were going to be 614 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,759 Speaker 1: a part of a run club, and how to kind 615 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 1: of remember why you started to maintain that joy in 616 00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:46,440 Speaker 1: the activity itself stay with us. I think the final 617 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:49,560 Speaker 1: question of the day is how do we engage with 618 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:53,360 Speaker 1: run clubs, or with any wellness brend for that matter, 619 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: in a way that is truly healthy, sustainable and genuinely joyful. 620 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:04,279 Speaker 1: It's all about intentionality, and I think remembering why you 621 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:08,120 Speaker 1: started firstly, try and find the right run club for you. 622 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,640 Speaker 1: If you really dig into your reason for joining a 623 00:38:11,680 --> 00:38:14,480 Speaker 1: run club, what comes up. Do you want to push 624 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:17,640 Speaker 1: for a PB, There are run clubs for that. Do 625 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:20,239 Speaker 1: you want to work out in a relaxed atmosphere, there 626 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:22,680 Speaker 1: are run clubs for that. Do you want to be 627 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:25,439 Speaker 1: competitive with others, or do you want a run club 628 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:28,640 Speaker 1: where you just actually get to maybe sometimes walk and 629 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:31,880 Speaker 1: chat with other people? There are run clubs for that. 630 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:36,160 Speaker 1: You know, it's really about seeking out a group that 631 00:38:36,280 --> 00:38:41,600 Speaker 1: emphasizes the shared experience and the shared goal and just 632 00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:43,279 Speaker 1: kind of reflecting on the fact that just because a 633 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:46,000 Speaker 1: run club wasn't for you doesn't mean that there isn't 634 00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:49,799 Speaker 1: a better one out there. I'm also a proponent of 635 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:54,520 Speaker 1: just creating your own run club. You would be surprised 636 00:38:55,160 --> 00:38:58,320 Speaker 1: at how many people in your life have secretly always 637 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:00,680 Speaker 1: thought that they could be a runner. Is that they 638 00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:04,360 Speaker 1: absolutely could be. It's just so boring when you have 639 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:07,040 Speaker 1: to try and do it by yourself. So if you 640 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:09,520 Speaker 1: want to make your own run club, like just start 641 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:12,840 Speaker 1: by showing up at a time and a place every 642 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:16,720 Speaker 1: single Saturday, Sunday, Friday, whatever it is, and just invite 643 00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:20,040 Speaker 1: people to join you. Like that's really how our run 644 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:22,080 Speaker 1: club formed. And oh my god, I'm such a big 645 00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:24,720 Speaker 1: fan of our run club. It is so inclusive. Everyone 646 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:26,640 Speaker 1: has separate goals, but it's just like we are there 647 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:29,839 Speaker 1: to have fun. And what really started as was one 648 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:31,920 Speaker 1: friend of ours, our friend Michelle, the one who was 649 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:35,319 Speaker 1: training for the New York Marathon. She was running a 650 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:39,239 Speaker 1: lot because she's training for a marathon. And our other 651 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:41,839 Speaker 1: friend Sarah joined her one day and then I ran 652 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 1: into them, and then I joined them, and then we've 653 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:46,719 Speaker 1: just slowly invited people to come along and it is 654 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:49,479 Speaker 1: a thing we do every Sunday. We also have walk 655 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:54,680 Speaker 1: club on Thursday, and it just means that we basically 656 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:56,360 Speaker 1: just get to hang out. And I feel like in 657 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:59,640 Speaker 1: the other run clubs I have tried, I just was like, 658 00:39:59,680 --> 00:40:01,560 Speaker 1: I want to get out of here. I want to leave. 659 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:06,239 Speaker 1: So if you can't find a group that works for you, 660 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:09,480 Speaker 1: make your own. I think related to this as well, 661 00:40:09,480 --> 00:40:11,920 Speaker 1: and I think it's really important to do this is 662 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:17,240 Speaker 1: to regularly check in with your intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation, 663 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:19,640 Speaker 1: I think we've talked about this on the podcast before, 664 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:23,040 Speaker 1: is the highest, most purest form of motivation. It is 665 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:26,040 Speaker 1: the motivation that comes purely from the joy of the 666 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:29,040 Speaker 1: activity and the joy you get out of it, without 667 00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:33,800 Speaker 1: anyone else's input. So ask yourself, are you running because 668 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:37,360 Speaker 1: you genuinely enjoy the movement? Are you running because you 669 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:40,640 Speaker 1: enjoy the feeling of getting stronger and the fresh air, 670 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:43,360 Speaker 1: or as a way to connect with your body, or 671 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:47,680 Speaker 1: is it primarily driven by external validation, by comparison, or 672 00:40:47,719 --> 00:40:53,799 Speaker 1: a rigid sense of obligation. That obligation part especially, is 673 00:40:53,840 --> 00:40:56,959 Speaker 1: the easiest way for you to never want to run 674 00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:00,440 Speaker 1: ever again. If you say to yourself, you have to 675 00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:02,520 Speaker 1: run and you have to do this, and you have 676 00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:04,960 Speaker 1: to meet that person's pace and you have to hit 677 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:08,880 Speaker 1: ten kilometers on Stava every single week. Yes, there is 678 00:41:09,239 --> 00:41:11,360 Speaker 1: such thing as a goal. But if you're like you 679 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:15,760 Speaker 1: should otherwise, you deserve to feel guilty and you don't 680 00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:19,960 Speaker 1: have any room for explanation or excuses. Watch yourself fall 681 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:23,960 Speaker 1: out of love with that thing so quickly. It's something 682 00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:27,440 Speaker 1: that we see time and time again in any single 683 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:31,279 Speaker 1: space or any single hobby or any single area of life. 684 00:41:31,360 --> 00:41:33,520 Speaker 1: If it is the latter, I think, just take a 685 00:41:33,560 --> 00:41:38,120 Speaker 1: break and try and return to the natural rhythms of 686 00:41:38,160 --> 00:41:41,160 Speaker 1: your body and the natural desire cycle of your body. 687 00:41:41,840 --> 00:41:44,040 Speaker 1: Only run when you feel like you really want to 688 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:48,480 Speaker 1: and when you're excited to do it. And always run 689 00:41:48,520 --> 00:41:51,359 Speaker 1: a distance shorter than you think you're capable of doing, 690 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:54,400 Speaker 1: especially when you are trying to get into running or 691 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:57,160 Speaker 1: come back to running after falling out of love with it. Also, 692 00:41:57,320 --> 00:41:59,840 Speaker 1: just just like a random side note tip to beginner runners, 693 00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:02,920 Speaker 1: you can run as slow as you want, Like you 694 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:07,239 Speaker 1: could literally walk and run and walk and run and 695 00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:10,880 Speaker 1: that is still a run. Like that is the biggest 696 00:42:10,880 --> 00:42:13,319 Speaker 1: tip I give people when they are like, how how 697 00:42:13,480 --> 00:42:15,239 Speaker 1: are you running that much? And I'm like, because I 698 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:19,480 Speaker 1: literally run so slow that sometimes people overtake me with 699 00:42:19,520 --> 00:42:21,759 Speaker 1: their strollers. Like the other day I was at the 700 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:26,840 Speaker 1: park and a child capital c child like who was 701 00:42:26,920 --> 00:42:32,640 Speaker 1: literally probably five, lapped me twice twice. I don't know 702 00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:34,960 Speaker 1: if it's even healthy that this child was running that distance. 703 00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:36,759 Speaker 1: Maybe I was just so slow. They really only did 704 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:40,759 Speaker 1: two laps, but yeah, like it. Who cares? Like if 705 00:42:40,840 --> 00:42:42,719 Speaker 1: you're putting one foot in front of the other and 706 00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:45,920 Speaker 1: you're lifting your feet like you are running. As long 707 00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:49,880 Speaker 1: as you're excited to do it, you are running. Well. Also, 708 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:55,480 Speaker 1: just rethink your relationship to fitness apps, Strava, things like that. 709 00:42:56,000 --> 00:43:00,720 Speaker 1: I've been really loving the podcast maintenance phase at the moment. 710 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:03,160 Speaker 1: It's like a it's I don't really know what kind 711 00:43:03,200 --> 00:43:07,200 Speaker 1: of podcast is. It's like a science cultural podcast about 712 00:43:07,239 --> 00:43:10,400 Speaker 1: diet culture. And I think they did an episode recently 713 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:14,239 Speaker 1: about like dieting apps and fitness apps and apps like Strava, 714 00:43:14,600 --> 00:43:17,320 Speaker 1: and how if you really want to do something long term, 715 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:21,359 Speaker 1: don't rely on those apps to bring you a sense 716 00:43:21,360 --> 00:43:23,920 Speaker 1: of control over the action or to bring you a 717 00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:26,520 Speaker 1: sense of achievement. So that is another thing. Maybe go 718 00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:29,240 Speaker 1: for a realm without your Apple watch or your garment. 719 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:32,560 Speaker 1: And also don't let a bad run or a miss 720 00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:37,960 Speaker 1: session trigger self criticism or guilt. Having flexibility towards running, 721 00:43:38,040 --> 00:43:41,560 Speaker 1: especially in a group situation, is really crucial for long 722 00:43:41,640 --> 00:43:47,480 Speaker 1: term enjoyment and really crucial for avoiding burnout. And finally, 723 00:43:48,080 --> 00:43:51,200 Speaker 1: I want to leave you with this huge, huge point, 724 00:43:52,200 --> 00:43:57,480 Speaker 1: just show up You absolutely do not need the latest, 725 00:43:57,520 --> 00:44:02,239 Speaker 1: most expensive shoes. You do not need the trendiest athletic wear. 726 00:44:02,760 --> 00:44:05,520 Speaker 1: I wear my A and U Women's department shirt that 727 00:44:05,560 --> 00:44:08,040 Speaker 1: has multiple holes in it, and I'm pretty sure has 728 00:44:08,080 --> 00:44:12,560 Speaker 1: not in it somewhere, and I'm still running, and I'm 729 00:44:12,600 --> 00:44:16,040 Speaker 1: still doing the physical exercise the way that thousands of 730 00:44:16,080 --> 00:44:19,120 Speaker 1: people before me and my ancestors have probably done. Like 731 00:44:19,600 --> 00:44:23,200 Speaker 1: there is so much amazing high tech gear. Doesn't make 732 00:44:23,239 --> 00:44:25,319 Speaker 1: you a real runner, and you don't need it to 733 00:44:25,400 --> 00:44:30,440 Speaker 1: join a run club. The true and only entry requirement 734 00:44:30,520 --> 00:44:32,839 Speaker 1: is simply just showing up. And I think a lot 735 00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:36,560 Speaker 1: of new runners feel intimidated by the level of professional 736 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:40,640 Speaker 1: gear and how amazing and incredible some people are in 737 00:44:40,680 --> 00:44:42,759 Speaker 1: the community. Like, You've got to remember they have been 738 00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:45,080 Speaker 1: doing this for a long long time, and each of 739 00:44:45,160 --> 00:44:49,960 Speaker 1: us has a different relationship with exercise and sport. The 740 00:44:50,280 --> 00:44:55,319 Speaker 1: social benefits, the physical benefits, the emotional benefits, they are 741 00:44:55,360 --> 00:44:59,880 Speaker 1: coming not from the running, but from the participation they are. 742 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:03,480 Speaker 1: It's going to occur regardless of your pace, regardless of 743 00:45:03,680 --> 00:45:07,600 Speaker 1: your equipment, regardless of your attire. Just focus on it 744 00:45:07,640 --> 00:45:11,560 Speaker 1: as a form of connection, not on esthetics. And if 745 00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:14,520 Speaker 1: you feel judged for what you're wearing or your pace. 746 00:45:15,480 --> 00:45:17,480 Speaker 1: You don't need to be there. You don't need to 747 00:45:17,520 --> 00:45:19,080 Speaker 1: be there. There's a huge boom in the amount of 748 00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:21,040 Speaker 1: run clubs out there. There is no shortage of other 749 00:45:21,080 --> 00:45:24,520 Speaker 1: ones that you can attend, and ultimately, run clubs are 750 00:45:25,320 --> 00:45:29,320 Speaker 1: incredible examples of third spaces and incredible examples of parallel 751 00:45:29,320 --> 00:45:32,520 Speaker 1: play and of community and of our desire for connection 752 00:45:32,640 --> 00:45:36,080 Speaker 1: and so many other things. They only bring you joy, 753 00:45:36,080 --> 00:45:38,960 Speaker 1: and we'll only have benefits if you actually enjoy them. 754 00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:42,240 Speaker 1: So also, I've been sitting here being like, these are amazing. 755 00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:44,279 Speaker 1: If you don't like running, and if you don't want 756 00:45:44,280 --> 00:45:46,680 Speaker 1: to join a run club, you also can find this 757 00:45:46,760 --> 00:45:48,719 Speaker 1: in other places. It's really the fact that it's a 758 00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:54,520 Speaker 1: joint activity that is so powerful. So pilates boxing, I 759 00:45:54,520 --> 00:46:00,160 Speaker 1: don't know, rock climbing, craft nights very similar as well. Okay, 760 00:46:00,200 --> 00:46:01,920 Speaker 1: I think that's the end of this episode. Oh my gosh, 761 00:46:01,960 --> 00:46:04,040 Speaker 1: I feel like I have just gone on for so long. 762 00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:07,040 Speaker 1: I don't know when I got like, literally, the fact 763 00:46:07,040 --> 00:46:09,160 Speaker 1: that I made almost in one hour long episode I'm 764 00:46:09,200 --> 00:46:12,399 Speaker 1: running is Wild'smaine. If you told me that twelve months ago, 765 00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:15,520 Speaker 1: I would have been shocked. So thank you for joining 766 00:46:15,520 --> 00:46:17,000 Speaker 1: me for this episode. If you've made it this far, 767 00:46:17,120 --> 00:46:19,440 Speaker 1: leave a little running emoji in the comments below so 768 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:22,000 Speaker 1: I know you're a loyal listener. I want to thank 769 00:46:22,040 --> 00:46:25,600 Speaker 1: our research assistant Elizabeth Colbert for her incredible contributions to 770 00:46:25,640 --> 00:46:29,279 Speaker 1: this episode, with help and inspiration from Angela Chen. Both 771 00:46:29,280 --> 00:46:32,279 Speaker 1: of them are amazing. Thank you for their contributions. Make 772 00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:33,680 Speaker 1: sure to share it with a friend, share it with 773 00:46:33,719 --> 00:46:36,160 Speaker 1: your running club if you feel called to do so, 774 00:46:36,640 --> 00:46:38,880 Speaker 1: or share a post on Instagram so we can repost 775 00:46:38,920 --> 00:46:42,800 Speaker 1: on our stories at that psychology podcast. That is the 776 00:46:42,840 --> 00:46:46,160 Speaker 1: best place to connect with us. If you want to 777 00:46:46,200 --> 00:46:48,080 Speaker 1: see what's coming up, if you want to come to 778 00:46:48,200 --> 00:46:51,400 Speaker 1: a meetup, if you want to suggest episodes, if you 779 00:46:51,400 --> 00:46:53,680 Speaker 1: want to give feedback, any of those things. I'd love 780 00:46:53,719 --> 00:46:56,640 Speaker 1: to hear from you. But until next time, stay safe, 781 00:46:56,960 --> 00:47:00,640 Speaker 1: be kind, be gentle with yourself, Go and join the 782 00:47:00,719 --> 00:47:03,359 Speaker 1: Round Club and we will talk very very soon.