In fact, more than 42% admit to making at least one ‘running red flag’ mistake, with many making the same early missteps: pushing through injury (32%), running too fast too soon (29%), or simply getting swept up in social media fuelled comparison (23%).

Red flags on the rise

These missteps aren’t just harmless habits however, they can lead to burnout, lost motivation or injury. Crucially, they get in the way of what more and more people are seeking from running as a hobby: mental clarity, community and a consistent wellbeing routine.

The most common mistakes include skipping warm-ups and cool-downs (42%), running solely to burn calories or lose weight (41%), and running through pain or ignoring injury signs (32%). Others admitted to buying expensive gear before building a habit (15%), or following rigid training plans that don’t fit real lives (18%).

Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch8 is designed to support a more balanced approach to fitness and wellness with features such as Running Coach[1]. Offering a tailored training program, real-time feedback and recovery insights, it helps runners stay consistent, motivated and injury-aware without overdoing it.

Running smarter not harder

According to Clinical Psychologist Dr Julie Smith, red flags are part of the process, but the key is knowing when to spot them and when to reset.

“Many people take up running to feel better mentally as well as physically — but it’s easy to fall into ‘all or nothing’ thinking,” says Clinical Psychologist Dr Julie Smith.

“They push themselves too hard, compare their progress to others, and when it doesn’t go perfectly, they give up. That mindset can take a real toll on both motivation and mental wellbeing. The Galaxy Watch8’s Running Coach helps people stay grounded with real-time support and structure, while also tracking key wellness indicators like sleep and heart rate variability, tools that empower runners to build sustainable habits that support both body and mind.”

A running revolution in the making

When it comes to what gets people lacing up their trainers, personal connections lead the way, with 37% saying they were inspired by a friend or family member’s transformation. Local running clubs and park runs (26%) are also powerful motivators, while social media continues to play a role, with 23% crediting running influencers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok for sparking their interest.

The research also found that mental wellbeing is now one of the top reasons that people start running. Over 52% of runners surveyed said they lace up primarily to improve their mood and 48% to reduce stress, rather than to hit traditional fitness goals, whilst 43% said they were looking for a sense of accomplishment or routine.

When running becomes a habit, the benefits are wide-reaching. Respondents said that running helped them to sleep better (51%), improve cardiovascular fitness (49%) and boost energy and focus during the day (42%).

Hands-on with the Galaxy Z Series and the Watch8 Series at Galaxy Experience Space

Samsung has opened its Galaxy Experience Space at Outernet London, offering consumers a hands-on experience of the newest Galaxy devices. Open to the public until 10^th August, visitors can expect to find interactive zones, exclusive talks, a deep dive into Korean culture, and a chance to win unmissable prizes.

For more information, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/uk/store/samsung-kx/discover/Galaxy-experience-space-london.

[1] Service only available with Galaxy Watch Ultra or later released Galaxy Watch Series. To use running coach program, user needs to take a running level test and get a level before starting the coach program. Compatible with smartphones running Android 11 or above with Google Mobile Services.

LONDON, United Kingdom – March 28, 2024 –The latest Samsung study on sleep^[1] revealed that the UK has the least productive sleep patterns in Europe.

When the clocks go forward in early spring, people tend to discuss the effects of losing one hour of sleep on the following day. However, it can take much longer than a day to adjust.

To help the nation adjust as the clocks go forward to British Summer Time, Samsung Wellness Council shares advice from renowned clinical psychologist Dr Julie Smith.

Here are five tips to minimise sleep disruption during clock change and improve wellness in the weeks ahead.

Introduce small changes in your routine early.

Your biological clock cannot shift a whole hour in just one 24-hour period, so start in advance. In the week leading up to the clocks changing, start your bedtime routine 15 minutes earlier and set your morning alarm 15 minutes earlier. This way you won’t feel the sudden shock to the system of losing that hour of sleep and will feel much more ready for the new schedule.

Get moving!

We can’t just force ourselves to fall asleep earlier when the clocks go forward. Research suggests that exercising during the day can help us fall asleep quicker in the evening. So, if you’re struggling to fall asleep after the clocks change make sure you get in a good workout.

Spend as much time outside as you can.

To help induce sleepiness earlier, step outside as soon after waking as you can. Getting this dose of early morning light helps to set your circadian rhythm so that you can fall asleep at an earlier time and not build up days or weeks of inadequate sleep.

Move your bedtime routine.

While everyone talks about the struggle to get up in the morning, something that extends this period of adjustment is the difficulty with falling asleep earlier. We can’t simply go to bed one hour earlier and expect to fall asleep on demand. So, make a conscious decision to start preparing for sleep much earlier. Switch to low lighting, say no to the late-night snacks and do something that cues your brain for sleep, such as a bath or reading in a cool, low-lit room. Once you are falling asleep earlier, getting up the next day will feel easier and you’ll be ready to spring into action.

Understand and manage your sleep better

Sleep has a foundational role in serving our health and wellbeing, so it’s important to understand our body and mind more deeply. This is where smart devices can be helpful. I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 to support sleep management. It collects health data consistently and accurately, which plays a critical role in achieving better sleep.

The Galaxy Watch6 helps with understanding personal sleep patterns, building better habits, and establishing a sleep-friendly environment.

• Understanding personal sleep patterns: Everyone’s sleep patterns are different, it’s important to learn what’s unique about yours. Samsung has made understanding this easy, by enabling the Galaxy Watch6 to determine your ‘sleep animal’. Each animal represents unique characteristics based on measuring the Galaxy Watch user’s sleep duration, consistency, and awake time – all of which influence sleep quality.

• Building better habits: But tracking sleep isn’t enough by itself – establishing good habits is equally important, and Samsung makes it easy with Sleep Coaching, a personally tailored, month-long program that sets you on a path to set healthy habits and routines to help you achieve good night’s sleep consistently.

• Establishing a sleep-friendly environment: Finally, it’s super important to establish a sleep-friendly environment with connected devices at home and Samsung offers a seamless connected experience with their SmartThings app. Small things like screen light or room temperature can impact our sleep. Galaxy Watch6 recognises when you fall asleep and can automatically change the settings of connected devices for a more prime sleep environment.

For more information about Galaxy Watch6, please visit:

https://news.samsung.com/uk/samsung-galaxy-watch6-and-galaxy-watch6-classic-inspiring-your-best-self-day-and-night

[1] https://news.samsung.com/uk/sleeping-lions-from-the-office-to-the-club-study-reveals-the-surprising-places-that-brits-fall-asleep