How exercise with friends saves lives
And how you can help
A guest article from Benny A
Originally published here
In 1897, French sociologist Émile Durkheim was studying suicide when he noticed something interesting.
He saw that when people lacked strong relationships, their well-being suffered, and risk of suicide went up.
He was fascinated by how societal structures influenced behaviour and believed that building stronger communities could not only improve lives, but save them.
So he published his research, but sadly 120 years later, loneliness remains a silent killer which raises the question:
How can we make it easier for people to connect?
I believe the answer is a secret that’s been hiding in plain sight: Exercise with others.
This is something parkrun, (and to a lesser extent Running for Resilience - R4R) stumbled upon, because exercise doesn’t just improve physical health.
It creates the perfect environment for making friends.
But why?
Well science shows that moving your body boosts confidence and lowers stress, which makes it easier to connect with those around us.
Even a simple walk with a friend can break rumination and help you feel more open and ready to connect.
As to why, the key lies in biochemistry.
When we work up a sweat, our bodies release endorphins (nature’s painkillers) that make us feel good and relaxed. Group exercise also increases oxytocin (the bonding hormone) which enhances trust, the key ingredient for building connection.
It also boosts serotonin and dopamine, chemicals linked to happiness and motivation, while also reducing the stress hormone cortisol, which lowers anxiety and helps us feel more at ease. Plus increased blood flow to the brain improves focus and mental clarity, creating the perfect mental conditions for a meaningful chat.
And once you understand all this, it’s clear why exercise is the best tool to build connection.
A truth I saw clearly in the six months after retiring.
During the week, I’d feel awful. Anxious, tight-chested, and worried about my future.
But all that went away when I'd go to parkrun with mates.
I’d leave feeling energised, and more positive that my career transition would work out.
Now, I know I’m lucky to have great mates and that exercising with friends isn't everything when it comes to preventing suicide.
But I’ll scream it’s benefits until I’m blue in the face, because I’ve heard countless stories of how its has helped others thru R4R in the exact same way it helped me.
Stories that inspire us to keep growing it.
We think we’ll need to “connect people to the support they need” in order to make Canberra suicide free.
But we’ll also need to create more opportunities for more people to exercise with friends.
Whether it's running, walking, strolling, riding, bootcamp, or doing yoga, we’ll need variety to connect people with different interests, as we know running isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Plus we’ll need more locations because the Foreshore isn’t convenient for everyone.
So as we grow, we’d love your help.
If there’s a location or time of the week you think we should start an R4R run, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you!
Upcoming…
