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/MORNING

The Big Morning Run for MHAW

Mark your calendars for the Big Morning Run, Wednesday 25 September – “Whānau Wednesday”, celebrating how feeling connected to others boosts your well-being.
Clubs all over New Zealand will be hitting the pavement, chasing the sunrise and showing the incredible power of running and human connection.
 

This year’s theme, community is… what we create together, couldn’t be more apt for Aotearoa's run clubs, especially when you consider how being active positively impacts mental health. So, let's rise and shine, lace up those running shoes, and let the good vibes flow!

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How it works

Describe some quality or feature of the company. Write a short paragraph about it and choose an appropriate icon.

Short title

PLAN YOUR RUN ROUTE

You can run or walk with friends (no need to register). Alternatively, use the FIND A CLUB function to see if there's a group run near you that you can join. 

GET THE
WORD OUT

Invite your friends! Clubs involved on the day/at the weekend, please register – we'll send you imagery for social media posts and add you to our club map.

RUN AND
SHARE PICS!

Get out there and enjoy! Let's flood social media with positive images of the #BigMorningRun, encouraging people to #BeActive and support #MHAWNZ.

Get out there and enjoy! Let's flood social media with positive images of the #BigMorningRun, encouraging people to #BeActive for #MHAWNZ.

Get running
after work

/evening

More of a night owl? No worries at all! Grab your besties and hit the road after work. Alternatively, some clubs are meeting in the evening so you can join in with them. Don't miss the chance to run off the stresses of the day, chat, bond, and reward yourself with a well-earned drink after all those strides.

It's all about community connection, supporting each other side by side, making us all happier and stronger individuals.

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/WHY

The health benefits of running

/01

Improves sleep

Running in the morning helps to boost melatonin levels in your body, something that's essential for a better quality of sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep has been shown to be vital in helping to maintain good mental health.

/03

Combats depression

Running releases various key endorphins – ‘happy chemicals’ – which create feelings of happiness and euphoria. It also reduces the stress hormone cortisol. This is a key factor in maintaining good mental health and reducing anxiety.

/05

Aids metabolism

Running stimulates your metabolism, helping you burn calories, and can even help suppress your appetite after you run. The effects on metabolism have been shown to be especially beneficial first thing in the morning.

/02

Reduces stress

Running floods your body with hormones like norepinephrine and dopamine, helping reduce the stress hormone cortisol, giving you a more positive mood. It can also create new brain cells and improve overall brain performance.

/04

Boosts immune system

Running is great for so many parts of your body, from the heart to the brain and the immune system. It restores elasticity to arteries, making them behave younger, aids brain function and helps boost the immune system.

/06

Improves self-esteem

Improving fitness has been shown to boost self-esteem and positive self-image. Regardless of who you are, exercise can quickly elevate our perception of self-worth – it helps you feel happy within yourself.

Into the wild

/trail running

We’re not forgetting our trail running brethren! New Zealand has some of the world’s best trails – many within surprisingly easy reach. Catching the sunrise out in nature is hard to beat – and if you’re lucky enough to live close to some of our off-road routes, we hope you’ll join us on the day or that weekend and do just that!
You can head out with mates or check the map to see if there’s a club near you planning an off-road run. Alternatively, check out Wild Things – their awesome virtual club community crosses the entire country, so you may well find an impromptu run near you
.

Into the wild

/trail running

We’re not forgetting our trail running brethren! New Zealand has some of the world’s best trails – many within surprisingly easy reach. Catching the sunrise out in nature is hard to beat – and if you’re lucky enough to live close to some of our off-road routes, we hope you’ll join us on the day or that weekend and do just that!
You can head out with mates or check the map to see if there’s a club near you planning an off-road run. Alternatively, check out Wild Things – their awesome virtual club community crosses the entire country, so you may well find an impromptu run near you
.

Joining a club offers countless benefits that go beyond simply running itself, not least the added motivation of being in a positive environment, great social connection, knowledge sharing and training to help you improve.

The map features a range of clubs all across New Zealand. Use it to help you find the one that best fits your needs. Many will take part on the morning or else have runs the weekend of MHAW.

 

We’ll add to this list over the coming weeks as more clubs sign up. If you’re a club, an informal running group or a coaching service, please use the contact form to get added.

Find a club 


/where
All Locations
LIST MAP
/move for mental health

What is MHAW?

23-29 September 2024 is Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW). The theme for this year is ‘community is... what we create together’.

Whānau Wednesday 25 September focuses on the benefits of feeling connected to others. The Big Morning Run aims to highlight great local clubs across New Zealand and show how running and connection can boost your mental health.

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