If you run this amount, it could be disastrous for your personal life

Many workers have been finding ways to cope through the COVID-19 pandemic. Sure, there’s stress eating when times get really rough but we’re trying to stay healthy with how we handle the tough times.

For some, it’s been running. With gyms and boutique fitness centers limited in space (and likely heading for further restrictions with pandemic numbers rising), running has been the outlet — both mentally and physically — for workers around the US. Benefits like battling anxiety and depression have been proven to be a product of exercise — especially running — but is too much running bad for you physically and emotionally?

There’s a trend called “runner’s addiction” which apparently can contribute to not only more running-related injuries, but can also damage personal relationships due to the obsessive nature in which these people participate in running, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of South Australia took a look into the running culture of Australia. The idea was influenced into the popularity of the exercise activity, which birthed “Parkrun,” an annual international activity that started in 2004 in Australia. University of South Australia adjunct professor Jan de Jong, who is based in the Netherlands, surveyed nearly 250 runners between the ages 19 to 77 to gauge how their mental outlook can affect the risk of running-developed injuries.

This is where the “runner’s addiction” mantra comes into play. The results, according to the study, which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

It shows that runners who are very dedicated — for example, people who put running ahead of family, friends, and life events — had more running-related injuries compared to those that just do it for run, or take it less seriously.

The reasoning is pretty straight-forward: people who run less frequently are more in control of their running routine and lifestyle. They aren’t as competitive about it which benefits them because it allows for more recovery time, both mentally and physically. Since these less-frequent runners aren’t competing for times, it also allows them to notice any signs of a potential injury, which allows them to take breaks.

But for runners who really like to run, there is a disregard to understanding the need to recover, as there is when it comes to taking a break mentally. It creates a toxic path that can potentially lead to further (and more damaging) injury.

Researchers said age played in role in the behaviors of runners. Older runners were more prone to allowing more recovery while younger runners ignored warning signs and tried to power through.

“Most running-related injuries are sustained as a result of overtraining and overuse or failing to adequately recover, merely due to an obsessive passion for running,” de Jonge said in a press statement.

“The majority of research focuses on the physical aspects of overtraining and lack of recovery time, but the mental aspects of running-related injuries have been ignored to date. When running becomes obsessive, it leads to problems. It controls the person’s life at the expense of other people and activities and leads to more running-related injuries. This behavior has also been reported in other sports, including professional dancing and cycling.”