If You Get Tired Quickly While Running... The Reason May Be Right in Front of You

Many amateur athletes complain of tiring quickly while running, often assuming the cause lies entirely in their fitness level. But a study conducted by Loughborough University in the UK suggests that the running environment itself may be part of the problem.

According to the study's findings, participants who ran in a natural environment covered a greater distance than those who ran in an urban setting, despite reporting similar perceived levels of exertion in both cases. In other words, the body performed better without the person feeling like they were working any harder.

This finding partly explains the performance differences many runners notice between running in parks or along natural trails and running on pavements or busy city streets. Environmental factors such as noise, the density of buildings, and constant interaction with traffic may heighten a sense of mental fatigue, which in turn impacts physical performance.

The researchers suggest that choosing natural routes — such as public parks or green spaces — could help runners improve their performance without necessarily changing their training regimen or boosting their fitness level.

This study adds to a growing body of research linking the surrounding environment with athletic performance, at a time when researchers are increasingly interested in the relationship between mental well-being and natural surroundings.