Benefits of Running
What are the mental and physical benefits of running? Can you lose weight by running? Many people are now running to lose weight. It does help and it is better than many other exercises except for cross-country skiing. But the latter requires more expensive equipment and is more difficult to engage in due to seasonal and geographic restrictions.
Running Health Benefits
Longevity
People who run regularly tend to live longer than those who don't. Our body is programmed to build itself up stronger and fitter when it meets with enough physical resistance. The pounding on the legs and feet, the need to hold the arms up, the required running posture, and the stress placed on the heart and lungs through running all trigger the body to become more powerful, and thus to more easily fend off the creeping ailments of aging.
Better sex
Running enhances blood flow, and this staves off the "male bedroom problems". It also helps you handle stress better, and stress is the number one strangler of the female libido.
Stronger lungs
Did you know that the average person who is past the age of 50 only has about 44% of their teenage lung capacity left, even if they don't smoke? That's a prescription for death. But with running, more of the lung's blood vessels get opened up and kept open. These better lungs serve to elevate your moods, make like more pleasurable, enhance your immune system, and let you live longer.
Increased mental capacity
One of the benefits of running is an increased in mental capacity. The mixture of better blood flow, more oxygen absorption, and more relaxation all give runners better mental powers in every area.
Running Tips
- When you buy running shoes, have a professional or an experienced runner help you choose the right ones for your particular footfalls.
- Vary your running exercise or workouts. Some days run for many miles, other days run just a mile or two but throw in some sprints or stair climbing.
- Always stretch after a run. You can stretch before one too, but after is more important.
- Avoid all refined sugars and cow milk for at least four hours before a run.
- Stay hydrated. But just drink water and forget those sugary, caffeinated sports drinks.
- Run every other day when you are first starting off. After a month, run five to six days every week.
- Run with a partner whenever possible.
For those of you who are trying to lose weight by running, do a research on intervallic running, and plan out your running schedule at least one week in advance. A personal trainer or experienced runner can help you with these, too. The benefits of running are just too great to pass up.
Follow these tips to avoid running injuries and burnout. Also, if you are past age 35 and have never seriously run before, get a physical first to see if you have any unusual heart problems that you may not know about.
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