97% Of Us To Get Running With Longer Evenings

Ahead of our inaugural IMAGE.ie Run Club with fitness extraordinaire Liz Costigan (the brains behind Positive Fitness), we’re super buzzed up about getting fit in a way that’s fun, social and practical. Liz has been sharing her unmissable tips for getting yourself from the couch to the running track so if you’ve been keeping up, you’ll be feeling all kinds of inspired by now. But it’s not just us feeling the urge to get moving; a new survey from Lifestyle Sports claims that the arrival of longer evenings this week (thanks to the hour springing forward) has inspired 97% of us to get out and move our legs.

As for Ireland’s relationship and habits when it comes to running? Here’s the interesting key findings:

• Half of Irish people go running 2-3 times a week, but almost a fifth (18%) never do
• 97% admit the brighter mornings and evenings motivate them to run
• Over two-thirds (67%) use an app to map their runs
• Evenings are the most popular time to hit the streets (51%)
• 9 out of 10 prefer running outdoors to running on a treadmill
• Technical features (41%), cost (29%), and style (23%) are the top three considerations when buying sportswear.
• Over half (53%) will only buy sportswear from name brands such as Nike and Adidas

What’s your foot type? There are three types of foot strike that a person can have; 58% of Irish people didn’t have a clue of these differences.?Gait Analysis (get yours done free at Lifestyle Sports) can determine what you’re best off wearing on your feet.

1. Neutral / Ideal foot – This is where your foot comes into complete and well-balanced contact with the ground at all times. This foot strike is best suited to a cushioning shoe for extra comfort.
2. Under-pronation / High arch – This is where runners land on the outside of their foot, inhibiting the ability to absorb ground forces. Quite rare, only an average of 5% – 7% of the population have this foot strike and require an extra cushioned running shoe.
3. Over-pronation / Flat foot – About 70% of the Irish people have this foot strike, where they land on the inside of the foot. Runners with this foot strike require a stability shoe to help prevent shin splints and damage to the knees and ankles.

#DidYouKnow – 44% of women who exercise regularly do not wear a sports bra?
Breast sagging is real and not many people know that it is dramatically accelerated by exercise if you’re not wearing the right support. Breasts are made of soft tissue, not muscle, so regular unsupported exercise can affect their ability to rebound from impact. Once the ligaments supporting the breast are stretched, NOTHING can naturally restore them to their former position. Breasts can bounce up to 14cm when unsupported during exercise so getting fitted for a proper sports bra will ensure your run is comfortable and that gravity won’t take its toll too early. The Life Style Sports Fit Force can provide all the expert advice you need to find the right sports bra for your run.

#DidYouKnow – There’s a big difference between sportswear and sports fashion?
41% of Irish people named ?technical ability? as the main influence when buying sportswear. It’s essential to choose supportive, breathable fabrics to wick away sweat and lightweight materials to keep you feeling cool when you’re bringing the heat. Sports fashion and sportswear are not the same and Life Style Sports has a huge range of technical clothing from top brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Asics and Millie & Gym that is designed to up your game while looking on-trend.

Photo Credit: Getty’s Lean In Collection