We all know that exercise and keeping fit are good for us, but have you ever wondered what the benefits of running are? Whether you’re brand new to fitness, or simply curious about getting started with running, here are some of the top benefits to running.
1. Strengthen Your Core
Running offers a number of benefits for your body, including helping you develop that coveted six-pack!
Whenever you run, you are engaging your whole body, and this includes your transverse and oblique abdominals and your erector spinae. These help to keep you balanced while moving.
Over time, running regularly can help your abs and stomach feel firmer and more stable. This has the added bonus of adding strength and support to your spine.
2. Boost Your Health
In addition to looking great, getting into a regular running routine can also help you feel better too. According to experts, running reduces your cholesterol, increases your lung capacity and health, and offers significant benefits for your heart. This is the most important muscle you have, so you need to take good care of it!
Running offers a workout for your whole body, and you will start seeing changes very quickly.
3. Stay More Active
You will not only enjoy the benefits of running while on the move. They can also spread into other areas of your life! When you are fitter overall, you will notice that you are able to do more in your daily life, including walking further and faster, and playing with children without getting breathless.
More than the ability to run faster, you will see a huge improvement in your overall life.
4. Fight Depression
The advantages you receive from running will not only help your physical health, but can have a huge number of benefits for your mental wellbeing too. Whenever you exercise, your body releases hormones known as endorphins, and these boost your mood and lift you up.
From your first run, you will start to feel the benefits for your mental health as those all-important endorphins kick in. When you run regularly, these will be heightened, and you will find that you can think more clearly and your mood is more elevated.
5. Improve Your Sleep
Getting into the habit of running will also improve the quality of your sleep, and getting better sleep will improve many areas of your life.
When you get enough sleep, you will find that you can think more sharply, have more energy, and generally enjoy life more.
Try not to run too close to bedtime. The adrenaline and endorphins may have the opposite effect and make it tricky to fall asleep. Always allow time to wind down before you head off to bed.
6. Make New Friends
Whether you join a running group or run with a buddy, you’ll soon discover that runners are a friendly bunch, and that it can be a great way to socialize and meet new people.
Final Thoughts
Getting started with running can sometimes feel overwhelming to the uninitiated, but the benefits far outweigh any worries or anxieties that you may feel. So what are you waiting for? Lace up those running shoes, choose your music, and start changing your life today!
