The top 10 benefits of running
1. Lose weight and get toned
People choose to run for many reasons, one of which is to help manage their weight. Whether you want to lose those last few kg's, or just maintain your current weight. Running is one of the top activities for burning fat and can burn more calories per minute than any other form of cardiovascular exercise.
2. Maintain and improve general health and wellbeing.
Runners generally get sick less often than couch potatoes. It is one of the best activities most people can do to improve their health. It can trigger many health benefits in your body including encouraging the production of lymphocytes - the natural immune system boosters in your blood. Research has also shown that running increases the good cholesterol (HDL) levels.
3. Improve bone density and prevent osteoporosis
As we grow older, our bones become weaker without proper loading and strength training. Sitting at a desk all day may weaken the health of bones, however running regularly provides forces on bones to help stimulate their growth and increase bone density to help them stay healthy.
4. Relieve that tension
There are not too many opportunities in daily life when you can just think about nothing other than putting one foot in front of the other. Switching off from the daily stresses of life and zoning out to music or the rythm of your footsteps and breathing helps put things in perspective. Try smiling whilst you run and you could be amazed at how it makes you feel happier and more relaxed.
5. Win the immunity idol
Like any cardiovascular exercise, running has been proven to improve general health and lower blood pressure. Running will help strengthen the heart, and a strong healthy heart will hopefully mean you get to live longer! Running also helps maintain the elasticity of arteries incredibly well because as you run your arteries expand and contract much more than usual.
6. Build confidence and self esteem
Running can be a life changing experience for many people, it encourages you to push yourself to overcome adversity and conquer tough mental challenges. Progressing from 0 to 10 km or more gives you confidence that can carry over into other areas of your life. Losing weight and body toning are a natural outcome of running regularly and this can also give people a confidence boost.
7. Positive mind, body and soul
Getting up for an early morning run, skipping the drink the night before, or going for that long run when you would rather stay under the doona. All these trademarks of a regular runner aid in strengthening the mind as well as the body, and all together help to strengthen the soul.
8. Get high without drugs
Research shows that exercising generally assists in overcoming anxiety and feelings of depression. Running helps the release of endorphins that can increase feelings of happiness and elation - the "runner’s high". Running regularly provides a new focus for many people, and can become addictive in itself !
9. Assist body balance and coordination
Good running technique vastly improves overall body balance and coordination as numerous muscles including previously dormant ones are recruited to propel your entire body weight forward utilising one side at a time.
10. Overall thumbs up for ease and versatility
As long as you have the will, you can go running anywhere and anytime (might be advisable to have shorts and t-shirt though........and probably a pair of decent supportive running shoes).
ABOVE ALL, REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN !
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