Many people don’t like to run. They think it’s boring and monotonous rather than exciting or fun. No matter how you personally feel about running, though, one thing that’s undeniable is that it’s good for your health. In fact, running might just be one of the best forms of exercise around.
If you’re considering running as a form of exercise or even if you’re already a runner, learning more about your fitness regimen can only be beneficial. Every time you lace up your sneakers, here’s just a few of the things you have to gain.
Strong Bones
In general, our bones steadily get weaker as we get older, but certain forms of exercise, including running, can help you build stronger bones, specifically in your legs and pelvis, which can be particularly vulnerable in older people. This happens because the repeated impact of running encourages more bone formation. Essentially, just as tiny tears in your muscles can lead to repairs that make them stronger and larger, the same happens when you put stress on your bones by running.
Cognitive Benefits
There are a lot of things you can do to improve your cognitive function, such as getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet, but exercise also plays an important role. Running is a particularly good option from a cognitive perspective, though, because of the unique sort of concentration it requires. Running can help you become more mindful as you work to stay present and, in turn, it can also improve your mood and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Cardiovascular Boosts
Most people know that running is good for their cardiovascular health; in fact, this is a leading reason that people start running in the first place. That being said, swimming, bicycling, and many other forms of exercise are also great for your cardiovascular health, so why run?
One reason to focus on running is that the cardiovascular and pulmonary benefits are complemented by other gains like weight loss, strengthening, speed, and endurance. That will serve you well in a variety of athletic activities.
Sleep Deeper
So many people today struggle to sleep well. It’s a side effect of our lifestyles; a combination of stress and technology use can impact your circadian rhythms, leaving you lying awake at night. One of the benefits of running, though, is that, by taking up this habit, you may finally start sleeping better.
Reduced Disease Risk
It’s no surprise that an activity that improves your cardiovascular health and helps keep your weight down would also reduce the risks of many chronic conditions; there are several health issues in particular that running can help address. In particular, running helps to reduce the risk of breast cancer, stroke, and diabetes and, by improving arterial health, reduce the likelihood of heart attacks.
Final Thoughts:
Many people consider running to be one of the least appealing forms of exercise, but once you get started, it can begin to feel like the best part of your day. The key is to start slow, find places you love to run, or running buddies whose company you enjoy. Before you know it, you’ll be lacing up your sneakers no matter the weather because nothing beats a good run.
