RUNNING FOR THE LOVE OF IT
Published: 19/08/2025, Written by: Ally Head
Whether it’s for the endorphins, the community, the routine, the structure, or the joy, one thing unites us all: a love for the sport and everything it brings to our lives. In this piece, Ally Head – a marathoner, influencer, and senior Health Editor at Marie Claire – explores why we run and what motivates us to keep pushing forward.
When you think about how running makes you feel, what word springs to mind? Euphoria? Freedom? Contentment? Or perseverance? Progress? Even pain?
I know I’m not the only one who will find it hard to put into words. Because for millions globally, it’s all of those things and more - a lifeline that’s taught us resilience, patience, and discipline, not to mention the importance of a progress, not perfection, approach to life.
Personally, running has changed my life for the better in countless ways. It’s shaped who I am today and helped me prove to myself that I can overcome the hard challenges life will inevitably throw my way. But if you’d told 14-year-old Ally - the same teenager who struggled with body image issues and dropped all of the sports she loved for fear of judgment – that one day she’d be a nine-time marathoner and Health Editor who runs most days, she’d probably have laughed at you.
My journey with running hasn’t always been linear, you see. I didn’t run as a kid, and only clocked the workout as something that could positively impact my life around the age of 14.
I’d begrudgingly agreed to a charity 5km and, despite barely doing any training, I’ll never forget reaching the finish line. It was hot, hilly, and beyond exhausting, but I’d also never felt more inspired. The fire had been lit. I booked another race the same day, downloading a Runner’s World plan and adding the training sessions to my iPhone calendar so I’d stick to them.
Seven years later, I started my first job at Women’s Health magazine. That same year, I ran my first-ever marathon with the brand, the iconic London Marathon, and despite the 30-degree heat, it sparked a decade-long love affair with the distance.
I hope my story resonates with you, readers at home, because ultimately, we runners have one key thing in common. A burning desire to keep moving forward, keep progressing, and keep finding the positives. That’s what gets us up before sunrise and out the door when we least feel like it, fitting in the miles around busy life and work schedules - because we really, truly love how running enriches our lives.
Below, I share more about my personal running journey and dive deeper into why we run – our reasons for getting up and out, the many mental health benefits of running, and some of the science behind the infamous runner's high, catching up with some of Sport Direct’s inspiring ambassadors to get their take, too. Keen to read more? Keep scrolling.
RUNNING FOR THE LOVE OF IT: A DEEP DIVE INTO WHY WE RUN AND THE MOTIVATION THAT KEEPS US PUSHING FORWARD
Running for the love of it, for me, means numerous things. Running for the love of my body and all it does for me to keep me alive. Running to feel that infamous runner’s high, and how invincible, powerful and strong working out makes me feel. And running to enrich all the other areas of my life, too, because I know when I’m moving regularly, I can show up each day as a better colleague, friend, partner and person.
That’s what running for the love of it – “it” being the endorphins, community, routine, structure, joy, possibility, and so much more - means to me. And while your reason to run will undoubtedly be unique to you, it’s something that unites all runners - this unified resilience, motivation, and desire to better ourselves.
I’m not talking about chasing medals or finish lines, either - I’m talking about the millions of us globally who get up and out most days, not because we have to, but because we want to, knowing it makes life that bit better.
RUNNING FOR A PURPOSE AND STAYING MOTIVATED
When I think about why I run, one of the main reasons that springs to mind is purpose. Running gives me a purpose each and every day, inspiring me to get up and out, and undoubtedly keeps me focused and motivated in other areas of my life, too. And the science backs this up, with numerous studies proving that running can help to combat brain fog, improve focus and boost mood, largely as a result of boosted blood flow and oxygen to the brain.
Liz Newcomer, Sports Direct ambassador and running influencer, agrees, sharing: “My running purpose is centred around showing the previous version of me that I'm capable of more than I used to think I was. I'm motivated by wanting to continually better myself daily.” SD ambassador, personal trainer, and run coach Tommy Trees agrees, adding: “My main motivation is to prove to myself that I’m capable of doing hard things. There’s nothing I love more than setting a really tough goal, working towards it for months, then hitting it.”
Now, when runs feel tough or I really don’t feel like I can face the 6.30 am alarm, I remind myself that I don’t have to run - I get to. Nobody is forcing me to exercise, but I know that if I do, I’ll be more present, energised, and just generally be a better person.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Running is a really easy way to give your week a structure and your training a clear purpose. It’s a sure-fire way to boost motivation, too.
RUNNING FOR SELF-CARE AND THE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF RUNNING
Running has become a huge part of who I am - although, interestingly, I had no idea how much running could transform my life when I first started lacing up regularly. I definitely couldn’t have imagined how much it would boost both my physical and mental health. Which is why my next reason to run is simple: self-care. I believe running is the ultimate form of self-care - it grounds me, helps me be more mindful, and makes me more aware of my surroundings, helping me to contextualise when my brain is running unnecessarily amok. SD ambassador and running coach Finlay Hampton values running for the same reason, sharing that the workout has taught him not to look too far in the future or try to predict it. “Taking every mile or km at a time is paramount so as not to get overwhelmed. This has made me far more comfortable and able to - pardon the pun take things in my stride more.”
Running’s taught me some pretty invaluable life lessons - another being that it’s possible to shape your own future and become the person you want to be. The mental health benefits of running are endless, really - not only have studies proven that it can reduce anxiety and stress and improve sleep quality, but research shows that it boosts mood, cognitive function, and self-esteem, too. And that’s before I even get started on how pivotal running can be in boosting social connection, self-confidence, and sense of community.
Someone who also sees running as a form of self-care? SD ambassador and run coach Barry Mullin, who highlights how pivotal running has been for his own mental health. “One of the most overlooked benefits of running is that it can be the only “me time” you get during the day - an hour or so without your phone to switch off. For me, running provides clarity and can help clear any lingering thoughts. It’s almost a form of therapy - I use the time alone to process my emotions, coming back post-run with a clearer head than before.”
For me personally, running has taught me that I’m stronger than I ever imagined. When things get tough - at work, home, or just generally - I think back to mile 22 of a marathon and know I can push through. Stressful day at the office? Honestly, nothing will ever be as bad as the wall I hit during the Berlin Marathon 2023 (and I still beat my personal best by five minutes!).
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That said, it’s always important to balance your mileage - forgive the analogy, but you can’t keep using your body's batteries if you haven’t charged them. Charging them, for me, looks like stretching, foam rolling, and booking sports massages when I can, regular rest days and plenty of nutrient-dense, nourishing meals to fuel my mileage, too. It’s all a balancing act – I normally train five or six days a week, leaving one or two days as active recovery days where I aim to hit between 10k and 12k steps. I also make sure all of my meals are a balance of protein, healthy fats, and all-important carbohydrates.
Another thing that I’ve really leant into in the last year? Breathing techniques, which have, in turn, boosted not only my recovery and rest but also enabled me to run more efficiently. There are loads of great free resources on YouTube, ready to stream and help you unwind.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Running can benefit your mental health as much as your physical. Running, to me, is self-care - getting my mileage in, but balancing it with rest and recovery, too.
RUNNING FOR ROUTINE AND PRE-RUN RITUALS
Reason three why running brings me so much joy, day in, day out? It gives my week a routine and structure that I know I thrive from. I’ve trained with a run coach for around five years now, and he keeps my weekly mileage varied and exciting. An average week, for me, sits at between four and five runs, with one non-negotiable strength training session and a yoga session to stretch out, too, if I can squeeze it in.
I’ve always been fascinated with fuelling and how I can feed my body in a way that will optimise performance. As a woman, I’ll never train fasted (I’ve been there, done that in my early twenties and was fatigued all of the time). Most mornings, I’ll have some crackers topped with peanut butter or a handful of nuts before heading out the door, then refuel with a balanced meal of proteins, carbohydrates and fats when I get home.
A typical run, for me, changes day-to-day, but I’ll normally aim for two easy five-mile runs, a progressive five miles, a speedwork session, and a long run every week. Keeping it simple works best for me, and I avoid any overcomplicated or questionable advice or “hacks” I see on social media.
The key is in the simplicity for Newcomer, too. For her, pre-race and pre-run is all about “keeping meals and routines as simple as possible,” with Mullin saying nearly exactly the same thing: “I keep things as simple and repeatable as possible - think a bagel and a coffee an hour before and a quick toilet break before I head out the door.” Well, if it’s good enough for the experts…
KEY TAKEAWAY: Ironing out your pre-run rituals will help you cement the habit. Small hacks, like laying your kit out the night before, make getting up and out in the morning that bit easier.
RUNNING FOR JOY AND WITHOUT A RACE GOAL
Ultimately, I know that I run because it brings me joy. And while I’m a sucker for racing and achieving shiny new PBs as much as the next runner, the consistency of my weekly training and the structure that it gives my life is more important to me, as well as spending quality time putting the world to rights with my family and friends while banking our morning miles.
All four ambassadors I spoke to agreed with this sentiment, as well. As Mullin explains: “Over time, I’ve learnt to enjoy running for the activity itself. Running, being in nature, and being present has bought me more joy beyond chasing PBs,” while Hampton adds: “For me, joy can’t be attached to racing and PB’s - otherwise my joy will always be held captive to arbitrary things. Learning to love the basics like putting on your shoes and getting out the front door, irrespective of having a goal, is a brilliant thing to explore.”
Interestingly, Trees actually prefers training to racing. “Sure, the racing, winning, and PBs are fun. But I genuinely find the day-to-day runs - the easy runs, long runs, and solo interval sessions - the most therapeutic. It’s my “me” time.”
Newcomer has some words of wisdom on this topic, too. “Typically, people think you can only have time goals, but I also believe in goals you can set mentally in being able to push yourself through tough races. There’s no better feeling than getting to the finish when you might've wanted to give up.”
KEY TAKEAWAY: Running should be about the joy, freedom, and fitness it brings you. Think of it this way: At some stage, we’ll all run our last personal best, so we may as well try our best to enjoy the journey.
RUNNING FOR THAT INFAMOUS RUNNER'S HIGH
For many globally, I know one of their reasons to run will be in pursuit of the elusive runner's high. Do you remember your first time feeling it? It’s an unrivalled sensation, and one that you’ll likely notice more at the beginning of your running journey.
I’d describe it as a feeling of calm, balance, and contentment, and one of the easiest ways to help get out of your mind and into your body. More generally, though, it describes feelings of happiness post-exercise, when you’ve triggered the release of endorphins and endocannabinoids in your brain, which in turn boost mood, alertness, and energy levels.
While it will feel different for everyone, Newcomer describes it as euphoric. “It’s like driving down a highway with the windows down listening to your favourite song, except you're cruising during a run and feel like you're flying,” she shares. Meanwhile, Mullin describes the runner's high as being akin to those glorious miles where the workout feels almost effortless and you’re just floating along, banking your miles.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Rather than constantly trying to chase the high, Hampton encourages you to enjoy every moment of the running process. Remember your reasons for running - your why, and the joy it will ultimately bring you, rather than waiting for one stand-out moment at the end.
“All too often, we keep waiting for a moment that never arrives, and if it does, it doesn’t last long. So instead of the runner's high - enjoy every minute.”
Feeling inspired? Don’t miss my guide to how to start running, here, which extensively explains how to get into the sport, if you’re new, how to deal with running plateaus, as a more advanced runner, and the importance of a pre-run warm-up and post-run cool-down, too.
All images featured are taken from @allyyhead's Instagram.
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