IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i23p16280-d994970.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Runners Experience Lower Heart Rate, Increased Speed, and Joy/Calm on Routes with Trees, by the Sea and through Parks: Implications for Climate Change Design

Author

Listed:
  • Angeliki T. Paraskevopoulou

    (Laboratory of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Crop Science, School of Plant Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece)

  • Marina Chletsou

    (Laboratory of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Crop Science, School of Plant Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece)

  • Chrysovalantis Malesios

    (Laboratory of Political Economy and European Integration, Department of Agricultural Economics and Development, School of Applied Economics and Social Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

The beneficial effects of green and blue areas on human wellbeing are significant. Physical activity is a crucial factor for the promotion of good human health and wellbeing, and running constitutes one of the most popular forms of outdoor physical activity. This study examines the effect of six urban “route landscapes” with different landscape characters used for outdoor running on the heart rates and speeds of 30 people wearing a smartwatch while running. These routes included: (1) a running track in a stadium; (2) a road without street trees; (3) a road with street trees; (4) an urban park without sea view; (5) an urban park with sea view; and (6) a road by the sea. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted to determine participants’ perceptions and preferred “route landscape” for running. In the study, higher heart rates were recorded on routes without trees, including the stadium. The lowest heart rate was recorded in the park by the sea, followed by the road by the sea, which were at the lowest altitudes amongst the routes studied. Additionally, the highest mean speed of participants was recorded during the run on the road by the sea. The results also showed that irrespectively of the routes, increases in altitude and gradient caused an increase in the heart rates. In the survey, the majority of respondents stated that they would have felt calm and joy during a run either in a park or in a park by the sea. With rising sea levels dictating not to build, carbon capture being necessary in parks, and trees by roads reducing the heat island effect, this study reveals the best “route landscapes” for runners’ health and global warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Angeliki T. Paraskevopoulou & Marina Chletsou & Chrysovalantis Malesios, 2022. "Runners Experience Lower Heart Rate, Increased Speed, and Joy/Calm on Routes with Trees, by the Sea and through Parks: Implications for Climate Change Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:16280-:d:994970
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/16280/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/16280/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lili Zhang & Dong Wei & Yuyao Hou & Junfei Du & Zu’an Liu & Guomin Zhang & Long Shi, 2020. "Outdoor Thermal Comfort of Urban Park—A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Junia N. de Brito & Zachary C. Pope & Nathan R. Mitchell & Ingrid E. Schneider & Jean M. Larson & Teresa H. Horton & Mark A. Pereira, 2019. "Changes in Psychological and Cognitive Outcomes after Green versus Suburban Walking: A Pilot Crossover Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Lin Zhang & Suhong Zhou & Mei-Po Kwan & Fei Chen & Rongping Lin, 2018. "Impacts of Individual Daily Greenspace Exposure on Health Based on Individual Activity Space and Structural Equation Modeling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Marco Laurino & Tommaso Lomonaco & Francesca Giuseppa Bellagambi & Silvia Ghimenti & Alessandro Messeri & Marco Morabito & Elena Marrucci & Lorenza Pratali & Maria Giovanna Trivella, 2021. "Sport in Town: The Smart Healthy ENV Project, a Pilot Study of Physical Activity with Multiparametric Monitoring," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-13, March.
    5. J. Pretty & J. Peacock & R. Hine & M. Sellens & N. South & M. Griffin, 2007. "Green exercise in the UK countryside: Effects on health and psychological well-being, and implications for policy and planning," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(2), pages 211-231.
    6. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Bum-Jin Park & Juyoung Lee & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Psychological Benefits of Walking through Forest Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Nadine Schuurman & Leah Rosenkrantz & Scott A. Lear, 2021. "Environmental Preferences and Concerns of Recreational Road Runners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-19, June.
    8. Dempsey, Seraphim & Devine, Mel T. & Gillespie, Tom & Lyons, Seán & Nolan, Anne, 2018. "Coastal blue space and depression in older adults," Papers RB201826, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    9. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2019. "Effects of Walking in a Forest on Young Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-12, January.
    10. Elizabeth P.D. Koselka & Lucy C. Weidner & Arseniy Minasov & Marc G. Berman & William R. Leonard & Marianne V. Santoso & Junia N. de Brito & Zachary C. Pope & Mark A. Pereira & Teresa H. Horton, 2019. "Walking Green: Developing an Evidence Base for Nature Prescriptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-18, November.
    11. Aateka Shashank & Nadine Schuurman & Russell Copley & Scott Lear, 2022. "Creation of a rough runnability index using an affordance-based framework," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 49(1), pages 321-334, January.
    12. Arne Arnberger, 2012. "Urban Densification and Recreational Quality of Public Urban Green Spaces—A Viennese Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-18, April.
    13. Bolund, Per & Hunhammar, Sven, 1999. "Ecosystem services in urban areas," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 293-301, May.
    14. Michelle C. Kondo & Jaime M. Fluehr & Thomas McKeon & Charles C. Branas, 2018. "Urban Green Space and Its Impact on Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-28, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sujin Park & Eunsoo Kim & Geonwoo Kim & Soojin Kim & Yeji Choi & Domyung Paek, 2022. "What Activities in Forests Are Beneficial for Human Health? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-29, February.
    2. Arnau Carreño & Mireia Gascon & Cristina Vert & Josep Lloret, 2020. "The Beneficial Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Scuba Diving on Human Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Dahlia Stott & DeAndra Forde & Chetan Sharma & Jonathan M. Deutsch & Michael Bruneau & Jennifer A. Nasser & Mara Z. Vitolins & Brandy-Joe Milliron, 2024. "Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-26, March.
    4. Jin-Gun Kim & Won-Sop Shin, 2021. "Forest Therapy Alone or with a Guide: Is There a Difference between Self-Guided Forest Therapy and Guided Forest Therapy Programs?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Jin Gun Kim & Jinyoung Jeon & Won Sop Shin, 2021. "The Influence of Forest Activities in a University Campus Forest on Student’s Psychological Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, March.
    6. Hui, Ling Chui & Jim, C.Y., 2022. "Urban-greenery demands are affected by perceptions of ecosystem services and disservices, and socio-demographic and environmental-cultural factors," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    7. Somajita Paul & Harini Nagendra, 2017. "Factors Influencing Perceptions and Use of Urban Nature: Surveys of Park Visitors in Delhi," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-23, April.
    8. Elizabeth P.D. Koselka & Lucy C. Weidner & Arseniy Minasov & Marc G. Berman & William R. Leonard & Marianne V. Santoso & Junia N. de Brito & Zachary C. Pope & Mark A. Pereira & Teresa H. Horton, 2019. "Walking Green: Developing an Evidence Base for Nature Prescriptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-18, November.
    9. Piotr Langer & Tomasz Bajwoluk, 2025. "Tendencies in Green Surface Design in Contemporary Remodels of Market Squares: The Example of Lesser Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-19, October.
    10. Argyro Anna Kanelli & Margarita Kokkinaki & Marios-Dimitrios Sinvare & Chrisovalantis Malesios & Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos & Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, 2023. "Keep Calm and Go Out: Urban Nature Exposure, Mental Health, and Perceived Value during the COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    11. Stella R. Harden & Nadine Schuurman & Peter Keller & Scott A. Lear, 2022. "Neighborhood Characteristics Associated with Running in Metro Vancouver: A Preliminary Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, November.
    12. Dawou Joung & Bohwi Lee & Jeongdo Lee & Changjun Lee & Seungmo Koo & Changwon Park & Sebin Kim & Takahide Kagawa & Bum-Jin Park, 2020. "Measures to Promote Rural Healthcare Tourism with a Scientific Evidence-Based Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-13, May.
    13. Dennis, Matthew & James, Philip, 2016. "Considerations in the valuation of urban green space: Accounting for user participation," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(PA), pages 120-129.
    14. Charlotte Wendelboe-Nelson & Sarah Kelly & Marion Kennedy & John W. Cherrie, 2019. "A Scoping Review Mapping Research on Green Space and Associated Mental Health Benefits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-49, June.
    15. Yuhan Liu & Nuo Xu & Chang Liu & Jiayi Zhao & Yongrong Zheng, 2024. "Optimizing Perceived Jogging Supportiveness for Enhanced Sustainable Greenway Design Based on Computer Vision: Implications of the Nonlinear Influence of Perceptual and Physical Characteristics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-31, November.
    16. Kaili Chen & Tianzheng Zhang & Fangyuan Liu & Yingjie Zhang & Yan Song, 2021. "How Does Urban Green Space Impact Residents’ Mental Health: A Literature Review of Mediators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-27, November.
    17. Hansen Li & Haowei Liu & Zongqian Yang & Shilin Bi & Yang Cao & Guodong Zhang, 2020. "The Effects of Green and Urban Walking in Different Time Frames on Physio-Psychological Responses of Middle-Aged and Older People in Chengdu, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-18, December.
    18. Davide Donelli & Francesco Meneguzzo & Michele Antonelli & Diego Ardissino & Giampaolo Niccoli & Giorgio Gronchi & Rita Baraldi & Luisa Neri & Federica Zabini, 2023. "Effects of Plant-Emitted Monoterpenes on Anxiety Symptoms: A Propensity-Matched Observational Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    19. Larondelle, Neele & Lauf, Steffen, 2016. "Balancing demand and supply of multiple urban ecosystem services on different spatial scales," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 22(PA), pages 18-31.
    20. Dennis, Matthew & James, Philip, 2017. "Ecosystem services of collectively managed urban gardens: Exploring factors affecting synergies and trade-offs at the site level," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 26(PA), pages 17-26.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:16280-:d:994970. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.