Running has gradually transformed from a dull physical education subject into a fashionable activity, with marathon events popping up everywhere; pictured is the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon.
Dec. 16 – According to Hong Kong’s Economic Times, regular exercise is beneficial to health, but a survey shows that only half of Hong Kong people manage to do so. There are many excuses for being inactive, such as difficulty reserving sports venues or not having a partner to play ball with. What about running, which you can do alone? In recent years, a running craze has emerged. Why have people suddenly fallen in love with running?
Only half of Hong Kong people exercise regularly
The Hong Kong government has long promoted sports for all, but how many people actually enjoy exercising? The Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong yesterday (15th) released a survey showing that among about 2,700 respondents, only half had the habit of exercising regularly – that is, at least twice a week for more than 30 minutes each time. 6.4% never or rarely exercised. The survey also indicated that those who did not exercise regularly had a higher risk of emotional disorders compared to regular exercisers.
Exercise is good for both physical and mental health – we all know that, but unfortunately our bodies just don’t want to move, for many reasons: long working hours on weekdays, exhaustion after work, too busy and too many activities on weekends, not to mention the difficulty in reserving venues or finding playing partners. All of these sound quite reasonable. But wait – have you noticed that more and more people around you are taking up running in recent years?
The media often features celebrities sharing their experiences of running and participating in marathons. Each year, events like the marathon and the Oxfam Trailwalker see increasing numbers of participants, including figures from various fields and even familiar faces among friends. Or just take a look at the number of online posts sharing running achievements and routes – that’s surely a sign of popularity.
In fact, the running craze has also become huge in Taiwan in recent years. A survey there last year showed that 51% of young people loved running, and 71% of them would gather friends to run together.
As for Japan, reports say that jogging has become increasingly popular there, with the number of participants growing year by year. Last year, the number of adults who ran at least once a year rose for the first time to 10 million, and over half of them ran at least once a week.
The craze sweeps the globe – Tokyo streets packed
The area around Tokyo’s Imperial Palace is a popular spot for citizens to jog. The large number of runners led to congestion and even jostling for space, so in 2011, the police had to step in and restrict running to only counterclockwise direction. Running schools in Tokyo, Kobe, and other places designed for beginners have also become very popular.
The running trend has sparked even more discussion on the mainland. China News Weekly featured “The Middle-Class Running Craze” as its cover story this month, noting that the sport has gradually moved away from being seen as a dull physical education subject and has spread across cities at an incredible pace. It is especially embraced by the middle class and the wealthy. The magazine also pointed out that more and more marathons are being held on the mainland, and websites, media, and magazines dedicated to running have emerged.
There’s no doubt that running is good for health – it strengthens the heart, improves lung capacity, and requires minimal equipment. These are clear benefits, but many still find it lonely and boring. So why have people suddenly fallen in love with running?
The primary reason for exercising is health, but there are also other driving forces. Japanese author Haruki Murakami’s 2007 book on running certainly gave many people a new perspective and inspired them to take their first step. However, other factors have also contributed to the trend in recent years.
Some analyses suggest that the rise of the running craze is partly due to technology transforming what was once seen as a solitary sport into a trendy (in, fashionable) activity. Trendy products like the iPod have merged with running – the image of jogging while listening to music is widely appreciated. In addition, there are more and more gadgets that track running speed, heart rate, calorie consumption, and global positioning route records. Runners are no longer talking only to themselves; sharing with others online has also become easy. No wonder running has become a hot topic in social networks.
Boosting social function, becoming a trendy activity
Furthermore, through the internet, running enthusiasts can easily organize themselves. Abroad, there are running clubs that meet up for jogs and socializing, and even travel agencies now package running tours – arranging for groups to run at famous sites abroad for half a day, or participate in half or full marathons.
Interestingly, the running trend has also received a push from corporations. In several U.S. cities, corporate running races have emerged. Shanghai started seeing similar events two years ago, where employees form teams to represent their companies. The mainland media describes it as “executives leading others to start running.” This not only helps with employee interaction and team spirit, but also boosts the company’s image. Running, aside from its fitness benefits, also adds a social function – naturally adding value to the sport.
In recent years, many corporate bosses and executives have taken up running – how could their employees lack the motivation to “join the run”? There are trends in sports, and the fact that running has become a fashionable activity is not a bad thing.
Whether for health, or to be trendy, giving urbanites one more reason to put on running shoes and hit the streets is better than staying on the sofa all day watching TV and snacking – at least it’s good for the body and mind.