Blackmore’s wrap-up

Monocle Data has enjoyed the process and conversations throughout our Team Monocle project over the last couple of months. Collecting data on our Blackmore’s run participants has given us some insights into the relationship between exercise and mental health, as well as helped us to refine processes for the next steps of our #MoodMove initiative, being to gather data from a large cross-section of the population. Each of our participants showed a significant average daily gain in mood over the 5 weeks that we tracked them; read on to see their results!

The team at Monocle Data had the opportunity for a fantastic wrap up with Adelaine, Damian and Lesley, who had days previously completed their Blackmore’s run. We had an interesting discussion about how exercise has impacted their lives over the years and its particular value in maintaining their mental health.

It was important that each of our team members viewed exercise as an intrinsic lifestyle choice rather than a one-off competition or a means to lose weight or look a certain way as this is an inherent factor for exercise becoming a tool for resilience. Our participants shared how their relationship to exercise changed as it became more integrated into their lives and the social dynamic of participating in a run which is a way of introducing fun, variance and meeting new people.

Over a carb infused feast, each shared how they came to find exercise in their lives.

Adelaine's Story

Adelaine only really began to exercise in a structured way after she finished university. She had come to realise that it was an essential tool in helping her to cope with the pressures of adulthood and over time it also provided a cognitive space for which she could challenge herself.

Setting tasks for yourself and then overcoming them in a short period of time while I’m at the gym became a way to help me focus on other life goals, so in effect, exercise became a motivator for achievement in of itself.

Run time: 2:04:03 - half marathon (21.0975kms)

Average daily gains in mood following exercise over 5 week lead up to Blackmore’s run: 36.29%

Damian’s story

Damian works as a Fitness Instructor, so even though his professional life involves advising, guiding and motivating his clients towards better physical fitness, he still finds it crucially important to make personal time for his own exercise regimen. This consists of a range of fun activities including boxing, basketball and personalised cardio sessions.

Taking part in the MoodMove pilot has made him more aware of checking his own clients’ mood temperature and adjusting expectations for a session, and guidance towards the next . Damian will most likely include the mental health benefits of exercise to clients.

Run time: 2:04:02 - half marathon (21.0975kms)

Average daily gains in mood following exercise over 5 week lead up to Blackmore’s run: 36%

Lesley’s story

Lesley initially started going to the gym a few years back during what she describes as a ‘tough time’, and soon started to notice how her mindset, motivation and even perceptions began to change for the better. Although she made up her mind to become physically fitter and take the initial step to start exercising, it was the mental health benefits that made her continue.

There have been moments over the last several years where Lesley has gone without regular exercise, but always comes back to it as she finds it an effective coping mechanism for her daily stresses.

Exercise is a complex behaviour with many factors influencing whether you do it or not. However, it really comes down to whether you see it as part of your identity, and that’s half the battle already won.

Run time: 1:04:40 - Bridge run (10kms)

Average daily gains in mood following exercise over 5 week lead up to Blackmore’s run: 55.25%

Adelaine, Damian and Lesley have agreed to continue tracking their mood for Monocle Data and we are now looking for volunteers to take up the challenge, as we start to shape our #MoodMove app.

To be one of our exercise volunteers please email info@monocledata.com.au.