- ASICS Looks Into the Runner's Mind
The world of running is experiencing a 'second running wave', withapproximately 36% of 15 to 65 year-old Europeans taking to the streets,parks, forests, and gyms. But how did this new boom come about in Europe? Whyis it that we run?
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To honour its 60th anniversary this year, ASICS took its expertise inrunning to another level by conducting an unprecedented research into themind of the runner. Executed by the research institute Synovate, ASICS''Reasons to Run' research asked more than 3,500 runners in seven Europeancountries* to reveal the 'why?' behind their actions, making it the biggeststudy of its kind ever.
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From body to mind
A significant fact that comes up in each country is that the attitudetowards running is one of 'first the body, then the mind'. The physicalbenefits of running far outweigh the mental benefits when it comes to gettingstarted, with health issues such as fitness (for 54% of runners) andweight-loss (for 40%) being the two main reasons why Europeans start running.As time goes by however, the balance shifts from the body to the mind asrunners discover the mental rewards running gives them, with 34% declaringthey do it for fun and 35% as a means of stress-relief.
On average, Europeans wish to lose 6.1kgs by running, but the Dutch goabove and beyond this target with a goal of 9.5kgs. On the topic of runningpartners, the British hold the highest number of runners who run with theirbabies in strollers while the Italians hold the highest percentage ofrunning-club memberships (13%) as they enjoy the company of a running partnerthe most. When asked what goes through their minds whilst running, theSpanish declared they scrutinise other runners they see, while the Frenchfocus on their breath, pace and rhythm, the British worry about theirfinances and the current credit crunch, and Belgians think about nothing atall.
We run as we are
Delving deep into the runner's mind, ASICS' 'Reasons to Run' researchdelivers some intriguing results. The findings range from a general consensusover certain aspects (such as why people start to run) to factors that differhugely between nations (such as motivation to continue, injury prevention,and preferred locations). These differences are down to the fact that therunner's mindset profile greatly resembles their country's disposition. Thehard-working Germans, for example, are diligent runners who don't like togive up, while the joie-de-vivre French run mainly for fun. The down-to-earthqualities of the Dutch mean they are not bothered by anything while runningin contrast to the passionate Spanish who find they are easily irritated.
The marvels of running
Not since the first running boom of the early seventies, when peoplerealised that running was a reliable means of getting healthy, has the worldof running seen such an immense escalation in runners. Progressively morerunners appearing in parks, streets and gyms, a surge in numbers on marathonregistration lists (with a total of 494 marathons taking place in Europealone), and a huge increase in women taking up the sport (33% of Europeanwomen started in the last 12 months) are just some of the signs highlightingwhat is now known as the 'second running wave'. This latest boom isemphasised by the fact that a third of today's runners started in the lastyear and the numbers just keep growing, with the current total of Europeanrunners exceeding 80 million.
* NB: The countries that participated are Great Britain, France, Italy,Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, and the results are arepresentation of the 80 million runners in these European countries.
For more details, facts and figures about the Reason to Run survey,please see http://www.everythingaboutrunning.asics.eu.
Anima Sana In Corpore Sano (sound mind in a sound body)
In 1949, ASICS' founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, established his specialisedsports-shoe company in Kobe, Japan. Central to Onitsuka's drive was hisbelief that exercise leads to the development of a healthier body, and that asound body is the cradle for a sound mind. Nothing epitomises his philosophymore than running, where the body and mind must constantly work together inharmony. Since its launch, ASICS has become an authority in the field ofrunning thanks to its continuous studies into the behaviour of the runner'sbody. In celebration of its 60th birthday (an extremely symbolic event forthe Japanese), ASICS has decided to take its commitment to running innovationto another level and become the authority in yet another field - that of therunner's mind.
http://www.everythingaboutrunning.asics.eu
SOURCE ASICS Europe
