Former Huntingdon pupil turned world champion Iwan Thomas - 'running's given me everything'
He's trying to get more people to take up the sport
A former world champion runner who grew up in Cambridgeshire says running has shaped him into who he is today.
"To be honest, it's given me everything," Iwan Thomas said.
"It's not just about the fitness; going for a run is really good for my mind and if I'm ever feeling low or frustrated with the kids, I can say I come back from a run feeling way better than when I set off."
New statistics from Opinion Matters show out of 2,000 runners, 63% of Britons identify themselves as runners with 60% saying that improving physical fitness motivated them to start running.
While 47% of runners said bettering their mental health and reducing stress encouraged them to take up the sport.
The survey also found a fifth of people only started running within the last six to 11 months.
"I think the best thing about running is it doesn't matter what your ability is, nobody's going to judge you, so it doesn't matter if you do a 10-minute or a 10-mile run," Iwan said.
"It's one of those activities where you'll always feel better for doing it."
Cambridge most active area in county
Nearly three quarters of runners now use running as a tool to manage emotional wellbeing, according to the survey.
In its 'State of the Region' report published last year, the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority found a gap in residents who regularly get involved in physical activity between 2023-24.
In Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire saw the highest proportion of residents who were active, with 77.3% and 69.5% respectively, while Fenland had the lowest percentage with 51.8%, below the England rate of 63.7%.
"I think sometimes the battle with doing exercise is getting out and doing it," Iwan added.
"Some days, I'll end up doing 10, 15 miles; other days I don't have much time, but I guarantee I'll always come back feeling better than when I set off.
"I say to anybody who thinks 'no, it's not for me', give it a go; it's one of those things that the more you do, the more you love it."