A good fit

EXERCISE FEELS EVEN BETTER WHEN YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING TO HELP OTHERS AT THE SAME TIME, DISCOVERS LUCY ANNA SCOTT

Standing in my local cemetery on a Tuesday night, spade in hand, and the heavens have just opened. This might sound sinister but I’m not up to any ghoulish mischief – quite the opposite, in fact. I’m taking part in a ‘mission’ for Good Gym that promises to be rewarding for body and soul. Good Gym is a national charity that brings together communities of runners who combine getting fit with good deeds. Activities might involve running 5K to visit an elderly person or deliver prescriptions and food parcels to isolated individuals. Members also work in teams to build and tend gardens, or pick up litter. The ethos is that through fitness, fresh air and community, those giving their time benefit just as much as those they help.

Tonight, we’re clearing weeds from the pathways of Surbiton Cemetery, south-west London, to improve access for wheelchairs.

I’m fascinated to know why this bunch would volunteer to wield spades in the rain after a day at work. As we scrape at moss rooted in cracks in the tarmac, Dave, an accountant, explains: “Staring at spreadsheets, it’s hard to feel a sense of achievement. But here, the good you’ve done is tangible, in front of you. I find so much mental satisfaction in that.” Until tonight I’d never have considered the many tasks involved in the upkeep of public spaces. With scarce funding, small yet important jobs just don’t get done. As I pile weeds into a wheelbarrow, it feels good to know the difference it will make.

When you dig into the science, there’s no real mystery to the appeal of Good Gym or the rise of other like-minded initiatives (see right). A study published in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology that researched people’s moods following physical activity found participants to be calmer, more content and more alert after even relatively low-key exercise – such as walking or housework – than those who had been reading or watching television.

It’s the release of chemicals such as endorphins, serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine (the reward chemical), as well as the protein brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), that bring about the noticeable and long-lasting boost to the mind during and after exercise. “We shouldn’t only see it as something we ‘should’ or ‘ought’ to do, but because we personally value its wellbeing benefits,” says Mark Rowland, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation. I like to spend my spare time in a dance studio because dancing makes me feel at one with my body. Tonight, I have the same feeling as I lunge about the paths, getting into a rhythm with the spade, encouraged by the energy of my fellow volunteers.

The biological impacts of altruism are not as fully understood as those of exercise but ask any of the ‘gymers’ and they’ll confirm that being active alongside others – and for others – adds a powerful extra dimension. Rebecca Paton, a psychotherapist, believes this is down to the sense of purpose it provides. She says, “Aristotle recognised that we are social beings and that our survival depends on it. Connectedness to others within a group makes us feel stronger and helps reduce negative thought patterns.”

Adam, a keen runner, thinks jogging with a purpose other than hitting a specific time is “hugely rewarding”, which is why he takes part. Kate joins in to experience all weathers in the company of others – even on a dark winter evening, where the group works by the light of a head torch. She also delights in seeing the pleasure her work has brought to people. On a recent trip to water a garden the team had planted, she arrived to find a couple having a picnic and enjoying the poppies. Being thanked by a passer-by, which happens often, makes the mission feel more rewarding than pounding on a running machine. “Seeing people appreciate what you’ve done makes it hit home,” says Rob, who does a mission every week. “As we spend more time conversing on email or social media, it’s easy to forget how warm people can be, and engaging in real life helps bring that home.”

“You’ve never done Parkrun before?” asks Lucy, whose adventures in volunteering, ‘plogging’ [a combination of jogging and picking up litter] and other charitable endeavours are documented on her blog Running Scared. I’ve told her I live two minutes’ walk from the gates of London’s Bushy Park, the birthplace of this free 5K event that takes place all over the UK and around the world. Lucy, who developed arthritis two years ago, joined Parkrun because it was “free and easy” but quickly realised that you can run, walk or crawl round and still enjoy it. She says volunteering at the events, which all participants are encouraged to do from time to time, is the “best thing” about it – and she gets the same mental boost whether she is running or standing on the sidelines. Volunteering will be part of her recovery – mentally and physically – from an upcoming operation. Lucy’s 92-year-old mother, Elisabeth, who lives in a care home opposite Bushy Park, supports runners from her wheelchair when her health allows and is such a cherished supporter that Bushy Parkrun has named her marshal spot ‘Elisabeth’s corner’. “Mum loves the sense of being adopted by the community. She gets joy from applauding people and from the acknowledgement she gets in return,” says Lucy.

I promise Lucy I’ll take part the following Saturday – and I keep my promise. The start line is bulging with all types – visually impaired runners, dogs, dads with buggies loaded with toddlers, and friends clearly intending to walk and gossip the whole route. Before the whistle blows, we are urged to thank the volunteers as we pass them. Dressed in bright pink bibs, they are positioned along the route to guide runners and boost morale, cheering “Well done” and “Keep going” as we go. I clap them all, the briefest positive interaction spurring my tired legs onwards. “You’re nearly there,” says one, “the hard part is over.”

I guess the scientists need look no further. Our need for positive human connection is an essential, and very simple, force for our own good and there are so many places to find that – however fast you can run.

“Being thanked makes it all feel more rewarding than pounding a running machine”