“The lockdown has been my worst nightmare, and without running, I don’t think I would have got through it.”

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Richard Coombs started running as a way of coping with his mental health struggles, and now cannot imagine his life without it.

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As Mental Health Awareness Week comes to an end, and at a time when the world of sport has come to a standstill, the benefits of exercise on our mental wellbeing have become increasingly significant in the public conscience.

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Elite athletes in Wales have been granted permission to return to training this week, ensuring that they adhere to social distancing, but it is the sight of more runners, cyclists and walkers on our roads and paths that have been particularly striking during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Louise Jones is the Lead Sport Psychologist for Sport Wales, and says that with so many more people being at home, they are able to find more time for themselves and enjoying exercise in a way that may not have been possible previously.

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“All of a sudden, we’ve had to have permission to exercise and it’s been one of the few things we have been allowed outside for,” Louise says. “It depends on people’s situation, but a lot of people aren’t doing their daily commute or the school run, which allows more time to focus on what they want to do for themselves. My usual running route is more like the M4 now!”

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Many have raised concerns, particularly on social media, regarding the crowded paths and busy parks across the country.

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For some, though, perhaps without a large garden, getting outside to exercise has been crucial to their mental wellbeing in such an unusual situation. This has been the case for Richard, who says that living alone can be extremely challenging.

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“Sometimes, when I can’t sleep or the anxiety starts to kick in, getting outside and going for a run is my escape. I can zone out and focus on something else,” Richard says.

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Jones explains that there are so many positive effects of exercise on our physical and mental health and that they are becoming more apparent during the coronavirus lockdown.

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“By increasing the blood flow to the brain, exercise reduces stress and anxiety, allowing people to feel like they have more purpose and control, and it boosts self-esteem,” Jones says. “At this time as well, people are spending so much time at a screen working from home and being in the same place, so having a change of scenery and a different viewpoint is so important.”

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With coronavirus taking a significant toll on the older generation, Louise also says that exercise can also reduce the onset of dementia, and that activities like walking and gardening can really boost their mental wellbeing during this time.

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Similarly, the health and wellbeing of children has been a talking point of the pandemic, with thousands of children being kept home from school, missing out on crucial cognitive development as well as physical activity.

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“All the benefits of exercise definitely apply to kids too, because it helps control their frustration levels and their concentration span for their home schooling, as well as getting them away from screens and the same surroundings just like adults.”

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It will be interesting to see whether the appreciation for exercise that has gripped so many new people during the pandemic will continue when ‘normality’ – whatever that will look like – resumes in the UK.

Louise hopes that it will continue, but amongst other equally important factors that will boost mental health over a long period of time.

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“I hope that this allows people to pause and reflect more, and that we can think more about what our priorities are. I hope that the community spirit we’ve seen continues, exercise continues, and that as a society, we focus on more than just material things.”

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For Richard, whilst the running is a huge benefit, the social connection with others is what he is most looking forward to resuming.

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“I love running but I particularly enjoy being in a club where I can run with others and talk to other people, getting that bit more positivity in my life,” he says. “I was aiming to run the Athens marathon this year, so having that taken away was a big hit to my motivation. Connecting with other people again will help with that.”

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With so much discussion around the eventual return of football in particular, the role of sport and exercise in society with regards to boosting morale, bringing people together and aiding mental wellbeing is clearer than ever.