Forget the jibber-jabber about flow states and PBs for a moment.
Running can be grim.
Gruelling. Gruesome. Spit and grit.
But that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? You get out. You put one foot in front of the other. You push through the noise until, somewhere along the way, something shifts.
You run. You release. You feel better.
It sounds simple, but that cathartic release is fundamental to the running experience for many.
What does running do for the mind?
The relationship between running and mental health is about more than the famous “runner’s high”.
Running affects several of the systems involved in mood, stress and emotional regulation. Endorphins can help reduce our perception of discomfort, while endocannabinoids - naturally occurring chemicals that act on some of the same biological systems as cannabis - may contribute to feelings of calm and reduced anxiety after exercise.
Running also creates a short-term stress response. That might sound counterproductive, but repeatedly experiencing and recovering from controlled physical stress may help the body become better at handling other pressures.
A Runner’s World article on running and mental health brings together research on several of these effects. It points to evidence that running may support mood, stress regulation, mental resilience, brain function, and mindfulness. It also highlights a small study suggesting that even ten minutes of moderate-intensity running may help the brain regulate stress.
Better sleep matters too. Sleep and mental wellbeing are closely connected, and research suggests that running can improve sleep quality. That can create a useful cycle: movement supports sleep, and better sleep can make the stresses of the following day feel more manageable.
None of this means every run will transform your mood. Nor does it make running a cure-all for anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions. But it does mean that running can be a useful tool. Check out our podcast with the Campaign Against Living Miserably to hear more about this.
Celebrating the mindful miles
The fact is, for every runner chasing segments on Strava, there are countless others moving through mindful miles without posting a thing. Just because it makes them feel better.
Philosopher Mark Rowlands describes running as a fundamentally pointless activity - you set out, you return, and nothing tangible has changed. But that, he argues, is exactly the point. Running doesn’t need to lead to anything else to matter. Its value is in the experience itself. A form of play. Movement for its own sake. Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami comes at it from a different angle: “I run in order to acquire a void.” Not to achieve something per se, but to step away from the churn of thinking and thought.
Different ideas, but with a connective tissue. We run not for what it gives us at the end, but for what it is while we’re doing it. The experience itself. The release it provides.
Running is Release
And so “Running is Release” is more than a tagline. It’s a description of why running matters. It recognises that running isn’t reserved for elite athletes or super-serious club runners. It belongs to anyone who heads out looking for a shift in physical, mental or emotional state.
9 in 10 runners say that they get mental and emotional benefits from running. That’s worth shouting about. It’s why we started Run Riot. To celebrate the mental benefits of running without cliche.
Running is Release. We mean it. That’s why our flagship - The Essential Tee - includes our crest emblazoned with this mantra. More importantly, it's why we have committed to giving £2 for every one of our flagship T-shirts sold to the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
Running is Release is more than a tagline. It’s a statement of fact.