Penny Pilbeam, Counselling Administrator at West Kent Mind, tells us how running benefits her mental health

I always think when someone takes the first step to get out and run they are telling themself that they are capable of doing hard things. Regardless of what life throws our way, we all have the resilience to tackle it head-on and overcome challenges.

Running is hard, it gets tough, traumatic even, and at first it is painful. When the pain passes though we build muscle memory and become unstoppable. Regardless of our backgrounds or origins, we can conquer negative thoughts and emotions by engaging in physical activity, gradually stepping through them until they become more manageable. I see running a bit like a bank account in some ways—you accumulate interest through the miles you cover and the steps you take. It’s an investment in your overall health, both physical and mental, empowering you to take control, one step at a time.

Running serves as a way to measure and gauge your progress against yourself and feel proud of how you can improve and what you can accomplish. It’s important to concentrate on your own personal advancements – no one else’s – and leverage them to boost your confidence further.

Someone once said to me, “You don’t see a flower growing in real time, but film it on time-lapse and it’s amazing to watch. The same is true of you!”

Exercise is the most potent and underutilised antidepressant…. And it’s free! Focus on building a strong foundation and the rest will fall into place. See it as achieving small, short-term goals for long-term benefits.

Running is my Happy place… why not give it a go?