TAKE IT SLOW

Slow running is a fitness trend with some hard and fast science behind it

- IAN TAYLOR

Deceleration isn't really in the runner's vocabulary. For many of the people who do it, from Olympic champions to 5K enthusiasts, running is the pursuit of speed itself; a sport defined by personal bests, competition, striving and Strava. Slow? That's a four-letter word.

Or at least it was, until quite recently. In the last year or two, slow running has become 'a thing', backed not just by wellness gurus on Instagram, but also by a growing number of coaches, amateur runners and exercise scientists, too. The thinking is that going slow could be a fast way to enjoy the benefits of exercise.