It’s a stressful time for most university students at the moment as it’s the height of exam and deadline season. It’s super important to take time for yourself and find an activity that can help relieve some of that stress. I know it’s sometimes difficult to take an hour out of work to do something else, however I’m a big believer that having a break makes you more productive in the long run. I personally find doing exercise the biggest stress relief- there’s nothing better than that feeling after going for a run or having a good sesh at the gym. It’s the perfect time to get away from it all, clear your head and release some of those endorphins. So, if you’re looking to give a new way to exercise, I’ve got the perfect thing…
ParkRun! It’s a free, timed, 5k run that occurs every week. The one in Leicester is in Victoria Park, right next to campus. It starts at 9am every Saturday morning and is a great event to get involved in. It’s super easy, all you have to do is register on their website, print out a barcode, and then turn up on the day! There’s normally about 400 people that take part each week, so you won’t miss it! The 5k run involves 3 laps of the park, and once you’ve completed it you will get given a token which you take to a volunteer and they will scan it and your barcode. Then about an hour later, you will receive an email with your time, as well as where you came overall in your age group etc.
It can sound a little daunting doing a timed run, however it’s not like that at all. It’s very relaxed and no one cares how fast or slow you run! There’s people of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels so it’s nothing to feel intimidated about. It’s great to have a little competition with yourself week on week, seeing if you can improve and beat your PB. Everyone is so friendly and there is always such a fun and encouraging atmosphere. ParkRun is a national event, so even when you go home for the holidays there will likely be a Park Run event near you. Also, there is absolutely no commitment. You may do it once and hate it, which is fine, or you can do it every week until you’re 80! And the best thing is… the event is sponsored and run by volunteers, so it is completely FREE! There really is no reason not to get involved!
“But going for a run at 9am on a Saturday morning doesn’t sound very enjoyable!” I hear you cry! It may not sound ideal but let me tell you, there’s no smug feeling quite like completing a 5k run by 9:30am on a Saturday morning… I have no doubt it will have you completely set for the weekend ahead, whether you’re visiting the library or having a relaxing one.
So, whether you’re the next Mo Farah, or have never been for a run in your life, I truly believe that ParkRun is a great event to get involved with, whatever the reason.
Stay tuned for some more stress relief tips! Happy running,
Kess x
Follow the link below to have a look at their website and register:
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