“Forget running – functional fitness has made me the strongest, fittest and most sociable I’ve ever been”

How functional fitness can make us fitter and more sociable

Credit: Stylist

Strong Women


“Forget running – functional fitness has made me the strongest, fittest and most sociable I’ve ever been”

By Sarah Haselwood

4 years ago

2 min read

There’s more than one way to get strong; sometimes, it takes ditching what we feel comfortable doing to reap the mental and physical benefits of fitness.

Lockdown and running. For me, they were a partnership; the perfect match born out of an incredibly challenging time. I ran at least four times a week at the height of the pandemic, often five. And while that was positive for my fitness and mental health, it took its toll on my body. 

It’s that toll which led me, eventually, to a functional fitness class. Undoubtedly, a lot changed during the pandemic, including how we exercise. As gyms closed, we tried alternative methods of fitness. What I possessed in motivation to run (it meant an escape from the house and often homeschooling), I lacked in physical strength and wellness. 12 months after that initial lockdown, I had tendonitis and arthritis in my left hip, quite possibly from over-exercising

The recovery was painful, and when I was advised to stop running, I entered a despondent slump: what could I do to stay strong and fit? 

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