Walking and Running

Do you really need to drive all the way?

Could you get off the bus a stop earlier? Remember it only takes 20 minutes to walk a mile (steady pace) and walking for one hour a day can cut your risk of obesity by half.

Try the Lunch Exclusion Zone challenge

The lunch exclusion zone is anywhere less than a 15 minute walk away from your workplace. So why not venture further this lunchtime to see what other delights you can find outside of the 15 minute exclusion zone whilst fitting in some refreshing exercise before returning back to your desk.

Take some tips from Living Streets on how to take on the Lunch Exclusion Zone challenge.
Only 75 minutes of walking per week can add almost 2 years to your life, that’s an extra two years of chatting!
Visit Walkitrideit.com for ideas on walking and routes in and around Leeds.

Running

Running is a particularly great form of activity that will not only get your heart pumping, but will boost your feel good hormones, and leave you feeling happy and relaxed. If you are lucky enough to have a runnable commute here are some of the potential benefits.

1. Manage stress

   Running, especially when outside, can help your body deal with mental tension by increasing the release of natural chemicals in the body that moderate the bodies response to stress. 

2. Boost brain power

   Getting the heart pumping and blood flowing around the body can improve brain performance. The positive effects on the brain are even greater when the run is tough.

3. Increase creativity

   For up to 2 hours after a run, creative juices are increased. So next time you are staring at a blank page, or find yourself stuck on a problem, get outside and run!

4. Sharpen memory

   Even running a few minutes each day can have huge benefits on memory and cognitive decline. If you struggle to remember key things, why not consider giving running a go?

5. Sleep better
   Running isn’t just great for helping you to feel better during the day, it can also help you sleep better at night. Research suggests that running can make it easier to get to sleep and sleep deeper when you are in dreamland