10 Reasons To Hire People Who Run

When you compare people’s CVs, what stands out?

They have similar qualifications and experience. They’re all team players, they’re all enterprise-focused, results-driven professionals with excellent communication skills.

But do they run?

Here are 10 reasons to hire someone who runs:

1               They have higher pain thresholds

Running is hard. It requires months of dedication to make serious progress. If someone is prepared to undergo this amount of pain, they will make an excellent employee. They’ll run through walls for you, literally.

2               They are cleverer

Running increases blood flow to the brain, it stimulates neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons in the brain), neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections) and production of the protein GPLD-1, which improves cognitive function.

3               They are metabolically younger

Instead of a steady decline in resting metabolic rate, runners suffer far less impact from ageing. Their muscles retain more strength, they put on less weight, they have more energy and their immune systems are more robust.

4               They are healthier

Staying healthy has a lot of ramifications. A healthy employee takes less sick leave. They are less vulnerable to infections such as Covid-19 which can disable them for weeks or months, or to conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.

5               They are happier

Running alleviates stress and produces endorphins, which makes people happier and more able to deal with unexpected events or challenges. For example, runners have thrived during the pandemic, despite no gyms and pools.

6               They have more energy

It is a paradox of running that, within limits, the more you run, the more energy you have. Runners can more easily regulate their eating habits, so they don’t binge, they maintain a sensible weight and they can tackle tough work tasks better than others.

7               They are more resilient

Almost every time someone sets off on a run, a thought flashes through their mind: why am I doing this? Why don’t I just go home and put my feet up and watch TV? The fact that they persist, complete the run and then put their feet up shows resilience. After a marathon, work challenges can appear trivial by comparison.

8               They relish deadline pressure

Taking part in a race is like attending an important presentation. There is a deadline, you have to turn up, you have to perform. Runners face these pressures in every race. So work dramas hold less fear for them. They know they can succeed.

9               They prepare more carefully

Every runner knows that an injury, or over-training, can derail their whole season. So they take care to pace themselves, to exercise wisely, eat well, avoid alcohol, sugar and fast food. Their approach to work is likely to follow suit: better preparation, better results.

10            They inspire their colleagues

When people see how running affects their colleagues, how much energy they have, how they are more purposeful, clear-sighted, unstressed and mellow, it often inspires them to take up exercise themselves, or even form a company sports group. At best, the entire culture of the business can benefit.

Running quotes from the rich and famous:

“The moment you feel most tired is the moment you must accelerate, because that’s when everybody else is feeling tired as well.” – Sir James Dyson, school cross country champion. Wealth: £16.2 billion.

“[Obesity] leads to ill health and people who are not productive and probably not very happy.” – Sir Jim Ratcliffe, marathon runner and Ironman triathlete. Wealth £12.15 billion.

David Nicholson manages www.freelancejournalist.co.uk – a group of writers contributing to publications and websites – and wrote Think Like an Athlete: 54 Ways to Achieve Your Life Goals. He runs 100km a week. Contact dn@freelancejournalist.co.uk tel: 07802 834477.