We all know exercise is good for our health and mental well-being. But do you know why exactly that is?
There are plenty of benefits to regular exercise, and in this article, we’ve listed a few of the things running in particular does to help you stay spry.
Being fit and healthy is both a physical and mental thing. You want your body to function as well as possible for as long as possible, but also for your mind to stay active.
Factors like stress, lack of sleep, muscle atrophy (loss of muscle mass), and chronic diseases contribute to our bodies getting weaker and less healthy over time. Resistance training is especially good at strengthening bones and building muscle, but here’s what you can accomplish with a simple run.
Did you know that running for just 30 minutes:
- Helps Manage Weight: Running can help with weight management and weight loss. Just 30 minutes a day can burn a significant number of calories.
- Improves Cardiovascular Health: Exercise strengthens the heart and improves cardiovascular health. It can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, and improve circulation.
- Creates Stronger Muscles and Bones: Running engages multiple muscle groups and can lead to stronger muscles and bones, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and improving overall strength and endurance.
- Improves Mood and Mental Health: Working out triggers endorphins (“feel-good” hormones), which can improve mood and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. It can also increase energy levels and promote better sleep, improving your mental well-being.
- Enhances Cognitive Function: Regular aerobic exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function (eg. memory, attention, and problem-solving skills). It can also reduce age-related cognitive decline and improve overall brain health.
- Boosts Immune System: Moderate-intensity exercise can boost the immune system, making you more resilient to illness.
- Increases Longevity: Regular exercise can contribute to a longer, healthier life by reducing the risk of chronic diseases and improving overall fitness and well-being.
- Has Social Benefits: Joining a running group and connecting with others who share your passion can provide motivation, support, accountability, and even friends!
This is just a small selection of the benefits of running. We could go on, but if this isn’t reason enough to dust off your sneakers and head outside, we don’t know what is.
Few things are more important than your mental and physical health. The better care you take of your body, the more things you can do with it.
At CrossFit Jorvik we also put a lot of emphasis on community and the accountability it brings. Running with friends will make you much more likely to stick to a routine and have fun while doing it! That’s why we’ve created our Sunday Run Club. It’s completely free for members and non-members alike because we want to encourage as many people as possible to use exercise to improve their daily lives, health, and fitness.
It doesn’t take much to go for a run and you can do it anywhere at any time. It’s like a secret superpower you can always rely on. You don’t need to be “good” at it either. Start small: Run for a minute, then walk for a minute. Do this for 10 minutes and then progress from there every time you go out. You’ll be surprised how quickly you will improve. It doesn’t have to be fast either. Slow runs have just as positive an effect as fast ones. And it’s a misconception that you only get faster by running fast. In fact, you become faster by getting “better” at running slowly. But that’s a topic for another day!
What are you waiting for? Let’s go outside and get running!