How Running Can Change Your Life

Photo by Jenny Hill on Unsplash

So, you’ve decided to start running but where do you even begin? This high-impact exercise is more than just lacing up the right pair of shoes and finding your favorite route or outdoor trail.

Running is an aerobic exercise that can have lasting benefits for your body. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced runner who seeks out marathons and gold medals, it’s important to know how running affects your body.

These improvements and benefits can be give both physical and mental improvements to your life. Keep reading to learn more about running as an exercise, its many benefits, and how to get started.

The Benefits of Running

Since running is an exercise that truly gets your blood pumping, it has many lasting physical and mental benefits that will carry throughout your life – and even help extend your lifespan a bit, too.

Physical benefits of running

Did you know that just 75 minutes of high intensity exercise every week can improve your quality of life? Does focusing on time periods distract you? If you run seven miles every week (one mile a day, more or less depending on your mood), you can improve your metabolic system.

Reduces risks of disease

It’s not breaking news to hear that running will decrease your chances of heart disease. Running increases the amount of “good cholesterol” brought into your body by high-density lipoprotein (HDL) that is created from running.

Mental health benefits of running

The benefits of running aren’t only limited to the surface level – it can also help improve your mental health as well. Running can increase your memory by increasing the volume of your hippocampus.

Running may also sharpen your mind while improving your productivity and creativity. Also, it can help you manage stress and keep negative thoughts away.

How To Start Running

There’s no set rule for running but there are a few tips that we can share to make your experience easier.

• Hydrate and Fuel Yourself – This shouldn’t be surprising but it’s important to hydrate yourself before you set out for the day. You should also fuel yourself with complex carbohydrates like oatmeal and whole grains.
• Warm up and cool down – It’s important that you don’t open the door and run into an immediate full sprint. Warm up and cool down by doing light stretches and exercises before high-impact activities.
• Take it easy on yourself – Your body isn’t going to change overnight. It’s important to stay realistic and set small goals so you don’t overwork yourself.

The benefits of running are nearly endless, especially when it comes to changing important aspects of your physical and mental mindset. Take your first step into running by buying some new running shoes or purchasing exercise trackers to keep you in check.