ADVERTISEMENT
Adding a 15-minute run to your daily routine is the secret to becoming a Supermum, new research by Bupa has revealed. A survey of 1,000 mums across the UK found that those who regularly run have more quality time with their children. What’s more, 79 per cent of running mums feel running for just 15 minutes a day improves their parenting.
The research found…
- 79 per cent of mums who run believe that running for 15 minutes a day improves their parenting.
- 65 per cent of running mums find it easier to juggle everyday tasks versus 43 per cent of non-running mums, who said they struggle.
- 40 per cent of mums who run feel full of energy during an average day, compared with just 13 per cent of mums who don’t run.
- 30 per cent of mums who don’t run feel routinely stressed, but 40 per cent of running mums said they can manage their stress levels.
- Running mums spend more quality time with their kids, averaging two to three hours, compared with non-running mums who only have one hour.
‘15 minutes may not sound like much, but fitting in a regular short run has a number of benefits,’ says expert Bupa musculoskeletal physiotherapist, Simon Fairthorne. ‘Within a few weeks of running for just 15 minutes a day, you may start to notice an improvement in muscle tone, increased energy levels and may even be sleeping better. The research shows taking time out for exercise is giving mums a boost, so they can take on daily chores more efficiently. Over a third of mums who don’t run said they would like to exercise more but they can’t find the time – the good news is they only need to find 15 minutes a day to make a difference. Absolutely every mum has the ability to unleash their inner Supermum!’
The study also found that being a Supermum can help your family in the long term. 88% of mums said they believe their activity levels will influence how active their children will be in the future. Of those surveyed 71% said that their own activity levels had been affected by their parents activity levels.
The research was commissioned by Bupa as part of its Your First Step campaign, which aims to encourage people to take on a new fitness goal. Through the research Bupa is aiming to inspire mums across the UK to take their first step to becoming a regular runner. To encourage mums to set out on their first run, Bupa has curated the top five 15-minute runs across the UK. The routes are available for free from Bupa’s running community on Facebook.
Mums who want to start running again or get back into a regular running routine can find advice on training, race day preparation and recovery on the Bupa Running website.
