Got Running?? Part 1-The Great Benefits of Running

With the weather starting to get warmer, nothing is better than taking your workout outdoors. The most common exercise that people do outdoors is running. So, I thought I would tell you the benefits that come with running. There are so many benefits to running, that it may take me forever to write about it. Therefore, I will talk about what I feel is the most important.

1. One of the best benefits of running is weight loss. You want to lose weight?? Start running! Running allows the body to exert a lot of energy in order to propel the body forward. Now calorie burns vary according to weight, intensity, running efficiency, and outside temperature. Of course, the bigger the person, the more calories are burned.

2. Another great benefit to running is cardiovascular fitness. The stronger your heart is, the healthier you become. Your risk of high blood pressure decreases, due to increased elasticity of your arteries and your risk of heart disease and stroke is virtually diminished. Not to mention your physical look. You would look fit and chiseled, like a greek statue.

3. One important benefit to running is that it can slow down the aging process. As you get older, muscles naturally get smaller and weaker and bones lose their density. With running, muscles and bones get stronger due to the physical demand of running. Therefore, you would have no risk of osteoporosis in the future.

4. Running also has it's psychological benefits too. You ever heard of the term "runners high"? Well, its actually true. Studies show that people who run on a regular basis are more happy and feel less stressed than people living the sedentary life. The body releases a hormone called endorphins and that gives you that "runners high" feel. So, if you're feeling down or stressed out from work, go for a run. I guarantee you'll feel better.

5. Are you someone that has coordination issues? Studies show that running can improve your coordination, by running on different grounds. For example, if you run on trails, the ground is usually uneven, which makes your body forced to balance better. Therefore, your coordination gets better. I do suggest for beginners to get used to running on flat surfaces first (ex. track or shoulder of a street). Also, don't get used to treadmills all the time because it can negatively affect your balance, due to the fact that the bio-mechanics movement is not natural, since you're following the movement of the belt.


These are some of the benefits that I feel is most important. In Part 2 of my blog (coming Friday), I will talk about proper form, common injuries from running that can be prevented, how to pic the right sneakers, and proper ways to fuel yourself before and after your runs. Hope you enjoy this blog and stay tuned for the next one.