The ASICS London 10K today helped to uplift London by 24% as thousands of runners took to the streets of Westminster for the largest closed road celebration of running since March 2020.
Using Mind Uplifter – a scientifically backed tool that enables people to chart the positive impact of movement on their mind across 10 emotional and cognitive metrics – runners were able to use the tool before and after the race to measure the collective mental uplift and show that movement has the ability to ‘uplift’ London.
The study follows research from ASICS which showed the mood of London as a mediocre 59 out of 100, with three-quarters (76%) of Londoners admitting to wanting an ‘uplift’. Participants data from the London 10K will also feed into a live global study and an interactive World Uplift Map that quantifies the positive impact that sport is having on the collective mood of cities and the world as a whole.
The 2021 ASICS London 10K route was brought to life by the sounds of live bands and DJs at every 1km, which kept runners moving as they raced past the Capital’s most iconic and historical landmarks such as Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye and River Thames.
Katie Piper, who ran on the day, said: “I’ve had such an amazing day taking part in the London 10K and helping to uplift London. I’m a real believer in the power of exercise to help boost my mental wellbeing so to be able to see the uplift today’s race has had on my mind and for others using the Mind Uplifter has been really powerful.”
ASICS, an acronym for the Latin, Anima Sana in Corpore Sano or a Sound Mind in a Sound Body, was founded more than 70 years ago to lift people’s spirits through sport. Today, ASICS is inviting people across the nation to move and see the impact on their own mental wellbeing with the Mind Uplifter™ tool. Every Mind Uplift shared with #UpliftingMinds will raise funds for mental health charity Mind to help provide services for people experiencing mental health problems.
ASICS will host a series of Uplifting Minds events across the year to encourage wider participation and prove the power of all sports to uplift the mind, starting with the ASICS London 10K.
Find out more at ASICS.com and its mission to move one million minds at MindUplifter.ASICS.com.
