Born to run

We all have an “Inner runner” in fact we were all born to run!

We have all evolved to become upright bipeds with muscle development to help propel us forward at speed.

It is no coincidence that our ears have developed in such a way as to hold sunglasses and headphones in place. We developed opposing thumbs specifically to be able to lace up trainers and tear the tops off gel sachets.

Our ancient ancestors ran to hunt, often following a single animal over long distances, endurance running.

 

Indeed they also learned to run faster when larger animals decided to hunt them, this became known as sprinting. The original form of sprinting however, screaming with arms waving in the air, has been largely lost and can now only be found in a few MO -ments of wild abandon.

 

If we examine pictures of early man we notice the fur loin cloth style clothing. This style was not actually driven by the fact that it was particularly warm, no! these were the precursor to running shorts. Fur has been replaced by Lycra and other technical materials but the principle remains the same, to keep your nether regions and dignity in place whilst freeing your legs to run.

 

It is well reported how newly born babies can swim instinctively, but the lesser reported instinct to run also exists. From the first moment a child can walk they run. Watch any toddler do they ever walk slowly anywhere? Not at all, they run, regardless of any head height hazards in the vicinity. It is only as we grow older that we lose or believe we have lost this natural ability.

Look carefully and there are many more indicators of this natural and inherent need to run.

Why do we

Run a bath (can you imagine walking a bath? it would take ages)

Run to the shops

Run a business

Run for office

Run out of things

Run into each other

Run a temperature

Why do thoughts run around in our heads?

Indeed even your nose runs! (Favourite joke, Doctor I think I’m built upside down, my feet smell and my nose runs)

All of these phrases have become embedded in our language over centuries as subliminal messages telling us what we should really be doing, running!

As sure as eggs make omelettes running is in our genes, I would not however advise running in jeans due to chaffing risk.

Everything reported above is evolutionary, scientific and historical fact!

Perhaps the next time you think of going out to buy yourselves a little runabout, you should indeed just “Run about” for a bit.

So look inside and find your "Inner runner" and connect to one of your most basic instincts. The speed, distance and terrain are all irrelevant, but you must satisfy this deep inner need, even if you don’t realise that you have it.     

Right well off I run!