There is no end to the number of benefits of running. Running is good for the heart, lower blood pressure, a longer life, and better sleep, just to name a few. I have been running for over 20 years consistently, and here is my list of the top 10 benefits of running.
1-Running is hassle-free
You can run anytime and anywhere. You just got to put on your running gear and get going. You can run in your neighborhood, explore a new park, hit a local track, catch a mountain trail, run along the beach, get lost in the woods, go sight-see-running in a new city, or just sweat it off on the treadmill. The possibilities are infinite.
2-Running cost next to nothing
Gyms are getting pricier and pricier. Compared to some of the luxurious state of the art gyms, cult-like spinning sessions, and expensive workout classes running can help you save some bucks. It is utterly free, all it requires is a few cute outfits and a good pair of running shoes.
3-No need for a Running Tutorial
You already know how to run. You could start running today if you wanted. You already have the skills to run. You learned how to run when you were little. You don’t need to take a running class, go to a running school, take a running tutorial, or read a running manual. To know more about the proper running form, you can click here.
4-It can help you lose weight and keep it off
If you want to shed some pounds, running can easily help you achieve your weight-loss goals. I burn around 550 calories during an 10K run, this however depends on your weight, height, age, gender, pace, to name a few. I run with cousin of mine who is twice my size. We run the same distance, about the same pace, and he burns twice as many calories as me.
To secret to keep shedding the pounds is when you hit a plateau, to increase your workouts’ intensity by going for a longer run, include some intervals, or add some killer hills.
5-Runner’s High
Running can boost your happy hormones. The Bliss feeling experienced during a run because of the release of endorphins is called a runner’s High. This feeling of ecstasy alone is worth the sacrifice, plus it keeps you motivated to go for your next run.
6-Those Sexy Legs
Running has an immensely positive effect on the lower body as well as your core. All your core muscles are engaged when running, which helps you stabilize your hips, and as a result, it enables you to maintain a good posture, have more balance, stability, and energy throughout the day.
7- That nothing-stops-this-bitch-kinda-attitude
What Oprah Winfrey said after she ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 1994 is so true, “Life is a lot like a marathon. If you can finish a marathon, you can do anything you want.”
Although there are not many studies to back this up, because it hasn’t been investigated that much, from my experience, I can assure you that every single time I finish one of those long bitches, that is the kind of feeling I have.
8-Running as a form of Meditation
Running is my zen moment. It is my time to connect with myself, observe my mind, practice mindfulness, and being fully present in the moment.
I combine my runs with a pre-run-seated-meditation. I personally enjoy both forms of meditation and believe they are both equally powerful.
According to a study published in the Translational Psychiatry Journal, the benefits of integrating your workout with a pre-or post-workout meditation session are substantial.
9-To boost your Focus and Memory
Researchers found in a study done at the University of British Columbia that the kind of exercise that gets your heart and sweat glands pumping like running boosts the size of the brain’s area involved in verbal memory and learning.
10-To improve your Mental Health
Way back in the days when I started running, my motivation to run was to improve my physical health. Today if you ask me, “What makes me run almost every day? It is because it makes me feel really good. My mood is way better. I feel lighter and happier, and I am a better person and a whole lot more pleasant to be around.
Conclusion
To recap, my top 10 benefits of running are:
- Running is hassle-free
- Running cost next to nothing
- No need for a Running Tutorial
- It can help you lose weight and keep it off
- Runner’s High
- Those Sexy Legs
- That nothing-stops-this-bitch-kinda-attitude
- Running as a form of Meditation
- To boost your Focus and Memory
- To improve your Mental Health
Helpful Resources:
- How I motivate myself to workout 6 times a week
- Stunning benefits of alternate nostril breathing
- 14 Tips to help you lose weight and keep it off
Which one of the benefits of running excites you the most? Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
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