PEDESTRIAN.TV have teamed up with World Vision for their epic Run India challenge. Melbourne endurance athlete Samantha Gash will be sprinting across India (clocking up a whopping 3800kms along the way, mind you) to raise $$$ that will help tackle the barriers to education a lot of young children face. Along the way, Sam will be visiting communities and sharing their stories. You can get involved too – by signing up HERE to run solo or with a team of mates simultaneously to Sam.
We’ve all got that one mate that we secretly want to peg a dodgeball at.
You know who I’m talking about. They’ve got a great job, a lovely partner and an inoffensive haircut. They’re fit as a fiddle, too.
damn u alison with that good hair
…Are you an incy wincy, wee bit jealous of them?!
If you are; good! You can use this to your advantage. As they say, a little friendly competition never hurt nobody, and it can actually help you reach your fitness goals faster.
“I don’t think I would be able to make it through training without friends around me. The social aspect of running is something that makes it possible to run for many hours for a long period of time,” says Sam Gash. “I will train in the gym with other people, who push to be the best version of myself and I am known for being someone who loves to banter throughout training.”
So chuck Alison a text and tell her you’ll meet her at the park at 7:15 tomorrow morning. Here’s why.
COMPETITION IS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO INCREASE PERFORMANCE
Not only does working out with a mate or in a group boost morale and a sense of community, it can up your strength and endurance, too.
Research outta Kansas State University in the US found that those who exercised with a teammate whom they perceived to be better increased their workout time and intensity by as much as a whopping 200 percent.
Keep it friendly, though, if you can. Pushing yourself to your absolute city limits can lead to injury and being a buzzkill.
YOU CAN KEEP TABS ON YOUR FORM EASIER
Unless you’re my mum, you don’t have eyes on the back of your head.
This unfortunate evolutionary oversight can be made up for, however. Let’s say you’re doing a bodyweight circuit with your friend. Three sets of ten reps in, and your legs – they’re starting to falter. You’re only human.
Instead of blindly pushing through and putting some mega strain on your lower back, your mate can keep their peepers on your form to make sure your feet aren’t tracking over your toes and your knees are parallel.
YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO TRY OUT NEW THINGS
Trying out a fancy new exercise class for the first time is a lot like starting high school.
If you have a mate from primary coming with you, you’re set. You’ve got a pack mentality – meaning you’ll probably make friends faster, and if you don’t, you’ve still got them.
The 10 minute period of waiting before a class starts is often filled with awkward silences and sideway glances. Bring a mate, avoid the awkies and concentrate on getting it done.
TWO IS CHEAPER THAN ONE
Personal trainers: they’re great, but they’re expensive as all get out.
Luckily, if you have a willing bud, more personal trainers will offer 2-for-1 deals where you can train for a mate and split the cost.
THE HEALTHIER YOUR MATES ARE, THE HEALTHIER YOU ARE
In 2013, Harvard University made a “remarkable” finding when their study showed that obesity appears to be contagious among friends.
Yep, if one of your friends becomes obese, your chances of becoming obese will increase as a result.
There are three reasons why this happens: shared environment, homophily and contagion. As the paper explains, your mates probably came from similar neighbourhood as you, meaning they were most likely exposed to the same risk factors (like living precariously close to a 24/7 McDonalds). Homophily refers to the idea that people usually find friends who are like themselves – so if you’re obese, your friend’s more likely to be as well.
The last and most interesting point is contagion. The study highlighted that one persons obesity can have a psychological effect on another person that makes them more likely to become obese themselves.
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
These findings work in the reverse, too. So find some mates who froth running on the regular and half the battle is won.
we are all in this together
Photo: Fight Night Round 4.
