Running, also known as the king of cardio, has been around for years. If you’re new to the running scene or feel like running isn’t the sport for you, we’re here to change your mindset! So, get ready to put one foot in front of the other and sprint your way to a healthier lifestyle.
If you’re ready to feel good, we will give running a fair shot. Runner’s high is real, and it’s easy to get when you run your brain starts pumping out some very powerful feel-good chemicals, endorphins and endocannabinoids. These compounds are guaranteed to leave a smile on your face and a spring in your step.
Spending just five to ten minutes a day can drastically reduce the risk os developing any cardiovascular disease. Every time you start to pick up the pace of your steps, you decrease your resting heart rate, so in the long run, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard! According to a study, regular runners could halve their chance of suffering from heart disease compared to non-runners.
There’s no learning curve involved with running, unlike yoga, or dance; you don’t have to learn any moves. Running is such a natural motion that anyone old or young can do without even thinking about it. Even if you’re not able, there is equipment available to help you start running, such as a running bike.
You may be surprised to know that runners are half as likely to suffer from knee osteoarthritis compared to walkers. Every time your feet pound the pavement, you stress your bones and cartilage, and this, just like your muscles, causes your bones to spring back stronger. Sports which have a lower impact on the body, such as swimming or walking, don’t have the same effects when it comes to building up your bones.
Not only will running make your bones stronger, but it also gives your muscles a killer work out. You can find all of the body’s biggest muscles in your legs, and running exercises all of them. Your calves, hamstrings, inner and outer thighs, quads and gluteus maximus all get a workout in one!
As well as your legs, running is the perfect way to target those deeper core muscles, and this includes your oblique’s, erector spinae and transverse abdominals. These muscles are responsible for sucking in your gut, so good news if you like a cold beer!
So, with all these areas of the body running works out, it comes as no surprise that running torches some serious calories. The average 150-pound person can burn around 12.2 calories per minute of running! This would be on flat terrain too, image if you were running uphill. You can track your runs and the calories you burn with a running app. However, there are so many out there so make sure to find one which is best suited to your needs.
“The best workout is the one you’ll do.” Don’t want to join a gym, busy with work, have no time to work out? However busy your schedule is, you can still run. Running on the spot while brushing your teeth, a few laps around your garden when you first get up, sprinting up and down your stairs, these are all quick running workouts you can do throughout your ordinary day.
Running isn’t only good for your physical health; it can also act as a form of meditation. Having some time alone allows your mind to think and problem solve when taking a run break from a stressful situation can help you feel refreshed, improve your focus and fight depression and anxiety.
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