5 lifestyle reasons to lace up the shoes and get running!
Running is one the easiest, most popular forms of exercise and can be done almost anytime and anywhere. All you need is a pair of running shoes, clothes and you can head out the door and get going.
We’ll look at 5 benefits to running and why you shouldn’t hesitate to get out there and start making your progress.
1. Convenient
Running is one of the most convenient forms of exercise out there. All you have to do is head out the front door and go, it’s as simple as that. With the hectic lifestyles that many of us live in this modern day, it’s not always easy to get to the gym after work, or join a local sports team and commit to specific training days and times. Running is a form of exercise you can fit around your schedule and your lifestyle. There’s no set time to have to do it and you can plan it around a time frame that works best for you.
2. Cheap
It is a relatively cheap form of exercise. All you need is a pair of trainers, some kit and that’s it. Once you make the initial investment you won’t have to pay for anything else until your kit gets worn out. They say the average life span of a high quality running shoe is 500miles. This means, if you run 10miles a week, your shoes will last you almost a year. Unlike other sports where you may have to pay to train, take part, or have expensive equipment costs, running is free! There are even free events such as Park run where you can run a 5k with other people at no cost. These events are all over the country giving you less excuse. Amazing right!
3. It can strengthen your joints and muscles
Running is a weight bearing exercise that stresses the joints and bones enough to build bone density in your body, making you stronger and healthier. Running exercises a range of muscles in your body with specific emphasis on the calves, quads, hamstrings and gluteal muscles. It causes you to engage your core muscles to balance and stay stable whilst being on the move and even though your legs are doing most of the work, it’s a fantastic all body workout.
4. It can make you Happy!
Running releases happy endorphins. This happens during and after your run. After a long, tiring, stressful day, going for a run can help to put a nice spin on your mood and finish it off with a euphoric, happy feeling. The endorphins released during a run interact with receptors in the brain that can trigger a positive feeling. If you haven’t experienced the runners high, give it a try.
5. It can be a great form of weight loss
If you’re trying to lose weight, going for regular runs can be a big contributor to losing the pounds, burning calories and dropping clothes size. Individuals tend to burn more calories per minute when running, compared to exercises such as cycling or swimming. Of course, the base of weight loss is to burn more calories than you consume but there are lots of variations of ways to run that can help you achieve the calorie deficit you so desire. Some running specific training to consider for weight loss include: interval training, hill sprints, long runs and fartlek training. All are useful training methods to help with burning those calories.
If you’re contemplating starting to run, don’t think about it, just go. You won’t regret it. It’s important to have the correct footwear before you run, to build up your distance and intensity gradually and to warm up and cool down properly. All these factors will help to prevent injury and keep you functioning properly. Good luck!