The benefits of running are both physical and mental. Read on to find out how going for a jog can benefit you.
It’s good for Your heart
Running is fantastic for cardio. Even five to 10 minutes on a daily basis leads to a dramatically reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Compared with non-runners, runners halve the possibility of dying from heart disease. When you run, your resting heart rate decreases. This means your heart doesn’t have to work as hard.
Runner’s High
One of the major benefits of running is its mood boosting effects. Exercise generates endorphins and endocannabinoids giving you a natural buzz.
Running Strengthens Your Joints
Contrary to popular belief running doesn’t cause osteoarthritis even for regular marathon runners. Studies in fact show that runners were half as likely to suffer from knee osteoarthritis compared to non runners.
Every time you run you strengthen your bones and cartilage. Low impact exercises such as walking, biking, or swimming do not provide the same benefits.
Running burns a lot of calories
Running requires plenty of fuel. The average sized person burns about 12 calories per minute running a 10-minute mile. Also that applies just to running on flat ground. If you run outside against the wind or up hills you can expect to burn a lot more.
Running is a brilliant leg workout
You´ll almost certainly have felt sore the day after running. That´s not surprising considering your legs contain the biggest muscles in your body. Running gives a solid workout for your inner and outer thighs, your gluteus maximus, your quads, hamstrings, and calves.
Running Works Your Core
It’s not just your lower body that is being worked out. It also develops rectus abdominis, and your core muscles. Those muscles there play an important role in stabilizing your spine and transferring power between your arms and legs.
You Can Always find time for a Run
Whether you travel a lot for work or don’t belong to a gym anyone can find a spare 10 minutes. You don´t need any fancy equipment and can fit it into a busy schedule. The most effective workout is always the one you´ll actually end up doing anyway.
Running is a very social activity.
The running community is a very strong one. It´s a good place to meet positive motivated people thereby helping you in other areas of your life. Whether you decide to join a running club or a charity’s running team, you can always count on the fact that you will receive a lot of good vibes and feedback.
Running Counts As Meditation
As mentioned the advantages of running go way beyond just the physical. Many people find that time alone spent running allows them to think and work out problems. Taking a break from a stressful project to go running can help you feel refreshed and insightful upon your return.
Physical activity acts as an efficient alternative to treating depression. Combining a run with a pre- or post-workout meditation session can provide substantial benefits.
Running Can Improve Your Memory
A surprising benefits of running is that it can improve your short and long term memory.
A 2014 study showed that regular aerobic exercise such as running—can increase the size of your hippocampus. This is the area of the brain that deals with verbal memory and learning.
You don’t have to be an expert
Unlike some other exercise activities there´s no steep learning curve. Yoga, Crossfit and other gym based activities will require a course or learning of some kind. It´s a natural emotion that we all already know how to do.
It Doesn’t take long to reap the benefits.
You don’t need be a marathon or competitive runner to reap all the advantages of running. Even just 50 minutes per week can protect the body from strokes, arthritis, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and a few cancers.