HAVE SOME COMMON SCENTS
A PB is not built on practice alone. Slice your time by 15% with aromatherapy. Really
W hen attempting to sort the scientifically sound from the spurious wellness wa le, ‘essential oils’ smell a lot like the latter. In most men’s minds, aromatherapy occupies the same mental shelf-space as healing crystals, astrology and organic aloe vera juice.
Well, recent science suggests you might want to reserve some of that healthy scepticism. In a study from An-najah National University in Palestine, male runners were timed over a 1500m dash. Those who inhaled from a solution spiked with spearmint or orange blossom oil five minutes before their runs were able to slice their times by a juicy 12-15% – more than enough to make fresh improvements on your parkrun PB.
After further study, scientists were able to attribute this boost to a measurable lift in participants’ lung function, in particular their force of exhalation. No change, it would seem, was observed in their chakras or auras.
Pop a few drops (£3 pipingrock. com) in your water bottle, then breathe it in ahead of your next big race. A little oil is all it takes to keep your progress in motion.