On World Mental Health Day, Many Reasons to Get Moving

In 2020, World Mental Health Day is more urgent and relevant than ever. The COVID-19 crisis has killed more than 210,000 people in America and more than one million people worldwide. Fear and anxiety around the virus, combined with the stress of social distancing and, for many, unemployment, have created a perfect storm.

Worse still, the pandemic closed off many points of access to an important avenue to mental health: physical exercise. The closure of gyms, schools, and community centers drove people into a more sedentary lifestyle — and people of all ages around the world had their eyes opened to what an important role physical activity plays in their daily routines and in their mental health.

The result? By early April countless new runners had laced up and finally had a reason to head back out the door for an activity conducive to social distancing. What they found along their running route was an oasis beyond the confines of their home, that came with immeasurable physical and mental benefits.

While the obvious motivations of running and exercise are typically tied to the physical health, many runners consider the sport their version of therapy as a means to support the social, emotional, and mental health. The positive role physical activity plays in our lives begins at an early age.

According to the Aspen Institute, regular physical activity has proven to develop character skills, including goal-setting, leadership, and confidence that benefit performance on the field and in the classroom. As uncertainty and anxiety still surround the new school settings for students across the country this academic year, these crucial benefits are now more important than ever.

This fall, students, teachers, and families all face even more challenges navigating a back-to-school season unlike any other, including rebuilding a positive and safe school experience for students of all grades and abilities. As a part of this new school day struggle, it’s so important to not forget about PE and its associated benefits.

With many schools resorting to remote learning, or in-person instruction with limited space, kids are at risk of losing their outlets of regular physical activity. PE may seem like an easy trade-off against core subjects, especially due to safety concerns; however, it has proven to reduce stress, prevent depression, avoid weight gain, and boost the immune system. A 2019 study found that children who reported no daily activity were twice as likely to report mental health problems, specifically related to anxiety and depression.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, PE is at the cornerstone of students' social-emotional learning (SEL), where students learn self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, building positive relationships, and making healthy decisions.

The development of these competencies in students, by educators, during the pandemic has been focused on relationship and community building, especially among those disproportionally impacted.

The importance of PE, and access to greater physical activity and SEL opportunities, is at the core of NYRR’s commitment to encouraging children to run and be active for life. We are determined to help raise a generation of happy, healthy, and active adults through our flagship youth program, Rising New York Road Runners.

Rising New York Road Runners, a free and accessible nationwide fitness program for grade PreK-12, has quickly worked to adapt offerings this fall to fit the needs of teachers who are instructing remotely, in-person, or somewhere in-between. We’ve broken down new content into three new Content Packs for easy and safe implementation:

• Rising at Home: For educators seeking to include physical activity during the school day for their students learning remotely. Provides activities they can assign directly to their students or provide instructions for parents who are serving as the at-home educator.
• Rising in Class: For schools/sites introducing PE into the classroom environment. Provides guidance on how PE or classroom teachers can optimize with limited space and equipment while safely providing the crucial benefits of physical activity during the school day.
• Rising with Space: For schools/sites able to use their indoor/outdoor recreational spaces, including gyms, cafeterias, and athletic fields and tracks. Provides activities safe to practice as a group while following social distancing guidelines.

Are you a teacher looking to help keep your students active? You can learn more about the Rising New York Road Runners program or, if you want to get moving right now, you can sign up here.