Image Credit: RUN 4 FFWPU via Pexels
Running is having a moment. A record 1.3 million people entered the ballot for the 2027 London Marathon, so many that organisers are now staging the event over two days. Strava run clubs are springing up left, right and centre, and parkrun has hundreds of thousands of weekly runners.
Social media deserves a lot of credit. Run clubs are sold as spaces of inclusion and fun, and the growth of women-only clubs is helping to address safety concerns about running alone. Then there are casual or everyday running influencers: creators such as Martha Walsh are promoting the idea that people can ‘do it both’ – train well and still go out. This idea has shaped my own experience, transforming running from a chore to a hobby.
Yet running still has an image problem and social media is behind that too. The obsession over rapid times, carbon-plated shoes and trending brands can present the sport as a boring gloat-off. It can make starting a daunting experience and turns every run into a competition. Having fallen into that trap myself and watched friends do the same, I know how easy it is to treat every run like a race, particularly among young men. That often results in injury or burnout, and leads to many leaving the sport altogether. Research shows that men are far more likely to set off too fast and crash due to overconfidence and competitiveness.
The male ego has never been easy to fix, but running has a simple answer: slow down. Running at a pace where you can enjoy your surroundings or chat with a friend isn’t stupid but extremely rewarding and satisfying. Ironically, running slower is how you end up running faster. Martha, along with Joe Tinsley, helped change my own perspective. Both are excellent runners, but they’re also down to earth and funny, and their content is all about enjoying the ups and downs rather than chasing times.
How do I get started at UCL?
It’s easier than you think. You don’t need experience, just a pair of trainers, and there are plenty of ways to get involved.
The Running, Athletics and Cross Country Club (RAX) holds a social run that leaves from outside Bloomsbury Theatre, with 5k, 8k and 10–12k groups. There’s also a Couch to 5k session for beginners. Whatever your level, there’s room for you. Project Active offers beginner-friendly sessions too, including women-only and postgraduate runs. Other societies even have their own clubs, such as Geography’s UCL Geoggers.
Running is an easy way to stay active at university without the commitment and the pressure attached to team sports. So get on the WhatsApp chats and read through the Project Active pages on the Students’ Union website. If all else fails, chuck on some trainers, drag a friend out for a trundle around Regent’s and see what happens…