reasons why you should start running ttoday

Reasons Why You Should Start Running Today

Do you want to lose weight, improve your mood and increase your lifespan? Whether you gently jog a few kilometers a week or you are a race regular, pounding the pavement is a wise move. Running can be daunting at first, but you will start to feel the mental and physical benefits within a matter of weeks.

Running is a great way to increase your overall level of health. It will boost your immune system and lower your risk of developing blood clots. For women, running can actually help to lower your risk of breast cancer and stroke. If you are concerned about losing a few pounds, running is one of the best forms of exercise for losing and maintaining a consistent weight.

Here are some of the great reasons to lace up your running shoes and hit the open road.

1. The health boost

One of the biggest benefits of running - if not the biggest overall - is that it's great for your physical condition. Running helps strengthen the heart and develop a more efficient flow of blood and oxygen through the body. To put it bluntly, this will reduce your risk of heart attack, but most people see running simply as a way of lowering their blood pressure if it's above a safe level.

2. Physique crafter

Being one of the most energy intensive exercises around, running is a sure fire way of burning calories when the diet takes a turn for the worse. Aim for ten miles a week and the results will come soon enough, but do remember that running will only strip away the fat. You'll need to focus on lifting weights and other exercises if you're looking to build strength in your upper body.

3. A stress buster

You'll soon find that nothing removes stress like a lengthy run. Running has been proven to boost the brain's serotonin levels, a known contributor to feelings of wellbeing and happiness, while all that regular exercise should help to remodel the brain to make it calmer and more stress free.

So even if you're not looking for a physical boost, do consider what running can do for your mental health.

4. A chance to explore

Running is a great way to get to know a new area or pick up a few interesting things about an existing one. It means you're actually going outside and travelling for a purpose, rather than taking a walk or a drive for the sake of passing through a new area.

5. A great way of improving stamina

Running regularly will help you come to terms with more strenuous forms of exercise. Try going 30 minutes without a break three to four times a week.

You'll soon find you've got the physical capacity to take on a few more squats, curls and lifts at the gym.

7. You sleep better after a run

Ever come home after a long workout and slumped straight on the couch? Well that's how you should feel after a run if you've done it properly. Getting your session in after a long day at work is preferable as you'll be able to relax for the evening, just before your body starts demanding a good night's sleep.

8. Stronger bones

One of the most basic impact exercises around, running can help you build muscle groups that go untouched by lower-impact workouts. Pounding against the ground a few times a week also helps you develop stronger bones, but do go easy on hard surfaces.

9. You can train for a goal

Plenty of people hate exercising just for the sake of exercising. After a while activities like running can become monotonous unless you're actually looking to achieve something. Whether you're looking to lose a certain amount of weight or get fit for an event, choose what you want to aim for and stick to it. Keeping this in mind will help you dig deep when the going gets tough.

10. A new hobby

Running is a constructive way of filling the time when all of your friends are away for the weekend. You never know, you might even meet new people through your hobby by joining up with a local running group.

Perhaps the best thing about running is that everyone knows how to do it. Sure, you might have to dig deep for a while as you build up enough fitness to tackle some of the longer distances, but rest assured you'll get there in the end. All it takes is a little perseverance and an eye for your goal, whether that's to lose weight or rid yourself of stress.