Darren DeMatoff, 57, had an interesting realization a few years ago: Many of his close friends were up to 30 years younger than him. And then the reason dawned on him: They had met in a running group.
“Running is a great equalizer. It’s a place where people find common ground, face similar challenges, overcome similar obstacles and achieve personal milestones,” says DeMatoff, the owner of a Chicago interior design and fabrication company. Assets“When you meet runners and run together, age doesn’t matter.”
It is a valuable lesson that he has learned through his involvement in the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA), a group in which he has been active since his decision to run his first marathon in 1995. Today he is vice president and firmly believes that running, when done with others, is a particularly effective – if surprising – antidote to the lonliness Epidemic that currently affects almost every second person in the USA
Although running is by definition a solitary activity, it can also be done with others, which in turn brings numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
Why it is necessary
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called Loneliness an “epidemic“ in May 2023.
“We are called to build a movement to repair the social fabric of our nation… each of us can start now in our own lives by strengthening our connections and relationships,” he said in his advisory about the healing power of social contact and community. Those who are in running groups believe this is a good place to start.
“I think everyone is looking for new friendships throughout their lives, and as we get older it can become more difficult,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of the non-profit New York Road Runners (NYRR), tells Assets.
In 1997, he trained for and ran his first marathon alone. The experience was “quite great,” he says. “But it was nothing compared to doing it again years later with a team, meeting people in the park every day to train with,” he adds. That gave him both responsibility and time to socialize, which led to a better time in his next marathon. But Simmelkjaer admits that he’s not really interested in running.
New York Road Runners
“It’s about the people you surround yourself with,” he says. “You talk about your career, your life story, your family. But running is a nice common ground to have with other people… You get something completely different out of it when you do it with other people.”
But why run?
First of all, it has long been known that running has many physical benefits – even for five to ten minutes per dayFor example, even at slow speeds, your risk of Heart disease. It also has a positive effect on brain health. According to Johns Hopkins MedicineRegular cardiovascular exercise, such as running, can improve working memory and concentration, as well as boost your mood.
And a review of 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Running is associated with improved mental health, particularly depression and anxiety disorders. The stress hormone Cortisolis released through regular exercise, which means that running can also be a healthy way to regulate your stress response, according to a recent study Article from Runners world. Running also helps trigger the release of endorphins, DopamineAnd Serotonin, all chemicals who are often affected by mental disorders.
Added to this is the advantage of social connectionAccording to the CDC, this can reduce the risk of heart disease by 29%, stroke by 32%, and dementia by a whopping 50%.
Research by AARP Services, UnitedHealthcare and OptumLabs found in 2023 that moderate and vigorous physical activity were associated with up to a 30% reduction in severe loneliness and social isolation. Likewise, a 2023 study showed that physical activity – as long as it is enjoyable and not too strenuous – can reduce feelings of loneliness.
If you are already one of the 50 million For Americans who run for exercise, joining a group or running with friends could be a simple but effective antidote to loneliness.
“If you can take a deep breath and overcome the feeling of loneliness, running is your salvation,” says Shawanda Weems, 48, an English teacher and track and field coach at a middle school in the Bronx. Assets“It can free you. Running is an over-the-counter tool for dealing with loneliness that is available to everyone.”
Shawanda Weems
Simmelkjaer says he knows people who met their spouses, close friends and mentors through NYRR, where it is common for CEOs to work with entry-level employees who have similar qualifications.
Weems would agree with that statement. She says she has seen how athletics has brought her students together, and she has “built long-lasting friendships with those same students as they grew up,” including 28-year-old Kiara Fernandez Chavez. The two ran the New York City Marathon together in 2016 through NYRR, and Weems says she wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for her friend’s encouragement.
“The fact that she suggested we embark on this adventure was not my goal at the time,” Weems says. But completing it together was “one of the highlights of my adult life,” she adds.
This is just a testament to the power of running with other people. “If you join the right group, you’ll find that running is the mechanism that brings people together,” says Simmelkjaer. “And that’s what we all really need in life.”
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