During the Tokyo Olympics last year, Simone Biles made a decision that seemed unorthodox. She decided to forgo a chance to win an Olympic gold medal to prioritize her mental health instead. After her withdrawal, Bills’ sponsors, including Athleta, showered support.
Biles isn’t the only athlete who has spoken out about the priority of her mental health. Naomi Osaka, Abby Wambach, and many other track and field stars have been open about their struggles with anxiety, depression, addiction and more.
While research shows that running itself can boost mood and improve mental health — and according to Asics’ recently released “State of Mind” Index, a global survey of more than 37,000 people, all you need is just over 15 minutes of exercise to experience THAT MENTAL ENHANCEMENT – It is very important and beneficial to have other resources ready to support your well-being. Fortunately, more fitness brands and runner-focused organizations are offering materials and services to help support the mental health of athletes every day.
So, in honor of May for Mental Health Awareness, here are a few initiatives that help ensure runners stay physically and mentally fit.
AthletaWell: Trainings and Workshops
AthletaWell, a free fitness community run by Athleta, provides women with a platform to interact with others and improve their mental health through movement.
After creating a free login to AthletaWell, members can access resources, workshops, and exercises, including voice-guided walking mediation. The website also offers free 10-minute on-demand training classes focusing on topics such as strength, empowerment, and self-love, all hosted by obé Fitness instructors.
Through chat boards, women can also support each other on their fitness and mental health journeys and get advice from AthletaWell Guides – experts in areas such as sleep, strength training, body positivity, nutrition and physical therapy.
The online community also includes the Mental Health Matters group, a collection of videos and resources created through a partnership with Frame Therapy.
Asics: Blue Gene Mile
In May of this year, Asics partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to sponsor the third annual Blue Jean Mile, which is being hosted for the organization. The action is exactly what it sounds like: Runners put on blue jeans and see how fast they can run a mile. You can sign up for free to run virtually, with the option to donate to NAMI.
Johnny Gregorick, an elite athlete from Asics, came up with the idea for the unique event. After Gregorick’s brother Patrick lost his battle with mental illness at the age of 21 in March 2019, Gregorick was inspired to raise money for NAMI NYC.
“I still feel his spirit with me every day and try to honor that spirit that thought, ‘Well why not try to run a really fast mile in blue jeans. “It’s a joyful and fun thing that sounded a lot like my brother,” Gregorick said in a video interview.
During this first honor of 2020, Gregorick set the world record for fastest mile in blue jeans in 4:06, raising $31,000.
Lululemon: Peace on purpose
In partnership with the United Nations Foundation, Lululemon focuses on consumers’ mental health through meditation tools. Peace on Purpose is a library of online audio guides covering topics such as finding calm, working with anxiety, managing loss and grief, and responding to challenges.
Each course begins with a roughly two-minute introduction explaining why practices are important and what to expect in the series. Listeners are then guided through short audio meditations filled with the soothing music and calming voices of experts from around the world, such as Clinical Consultant Hiro Demichelis, and Kimiko Bokura, founder of the Institute for Mindful Leadership. The lessons are so soothing that settling into a sleep meditation encourages listeners to fall asleep while listening to the 30-minute session.
New Balance and Seeing the Zone: Mental Health Courses
New Balance and District Vision, a Los Angeles-based indoor peace group, promotes mental health through fashion and education. The duo recently launched a line of shoes and apparel, as well as a five-part mini-cycle series ($10 per video online) to boost mental health through running.
One course is led by New Balance and Olympians athletes Emily Sisson and Brenda Martinez. Sisson, the new US half-marathon record holder, and Martinez use their personal experiences to offer tips and advice about mindfulness and self-love for dealing with mental hurdles and depression.
GaTa, a New Balance ambassador, rapper, and actor, who also lives with bipolar disorder, is hosting a series of meditation sessions with District Vision co-founder, Max Vallot. Vallot asks GaTa candid questions about his mental health and then trains GaTa through meditation exercises, which viewers can participate in virtually. Other courses cover topics like breathing with professional skater Alex Olson, as well as techniques from the “Beyond Jogging” method, which brings mindfulness to running with author Mike Spino.
Road Runners Club of America: A Mental Health Guide
The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) fulfills its mission of “Empowering Everyone to Run” by offering free resources for all stages of the running journey. Research suggests that athletes are more likely to develop mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, than the general public. The RRCA understands this which is why it provides runners with a free guide to mental health.
In this comprehensive resource, you’ll find ways to deal with common challenges like stress, anxiety, and depression. It identifies signs and symptoms and then details skills and strategies for improving mental health, outlining when and how to seek professional help. Find a therapist, not to mention right The wizard can be cumbersome and expensive, so the guide offers tools to make searching less difficult.
Ways to run in support of mental health awareness
Are you looking for a way to move your body in an effort to increase mental health awareness, research, and access to care? You can also sign up for one of these:
- American Mental Health Counselors Association Virtual 5K: The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is hosting a 5K virtual competition from May 8 to 21 to promote mental health awareness. All funds raised will benefit AMHCA, one of the only national organizations to advocate for clinical mental health counselors.
- Virtual running run for walking/walking/bike purpose: Runs for a Purpose is sponsoring a virtual event throughout May in an effort to support several mental health charities, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Mental Health, the Jed Foundation, and Project Sanctuary. Sign up for the virtual race, then run, walk or bike in a 5K, 10K or Half Marathon any time this month.
- Hope Network One in Five Strings: In honor of one in five people who will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, Hope Network One in Five Series is offering a virtual movement challenge throughout the month of May. They also offer an in-person 5K and team marathon in Grand Rapids, Michigan on August 12, and a virtual 5K and 10K on October 10 this year.
- I still run a virtual community: This community of runners across the country goes miles to support mental health awareness and to combat the stigma around mental illness. To get involved, you can join the Still I Run team and start your own fundraising page, become an ambassador, join a class near you, or meet up for a personal tour.
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