As we run, we become.
In today’s society, our culture is trying to make a shift towards fitness because of the rising levels of obesity in America. Running is a great form of exercise that helps our bodies stay in shape. Not only does running help us physically, but it also benefits us mentally and emotionally.
Although running can be a bit of a challenge for some people, once you push yourself to get through it, the benefits that come afterward are undeniably rewarding. If you start running regularly this will help the body maintain and lose weight. After you run at a fast pace your body is still burning calories even though you are not physically exercising.
Health Benefits:
For women, running can also lower the risk of breast cancer and reduce the risks of having a stroke. The arteries retain elasticity once you run routinely, and this strengthens your heart which decreases the chances of having a heart attack.
Your overall health greatly increases once you start to run. Levels of good cholesterol get released while you are running, and it also increases lung function and use. Your immune system becomes stronger and can prevent your chances of getting blood clots according to Livestrong.
Oregon State University researchers have discovered that our blood vessels lose their elasticity as we age, but once you start running this will help the arteries gain elasticity back.
There are many physical benefits we obtain from running but, running can also increase a person’s confidence which leads to running benefiting us emotionally.
Building Confidence:
Setting and achieving goals makes a person feel good about themselves and with that rewarding feeling, we will keep making new goals and accomplishing them. When we meet our goals, we feel empowered which eventually leads us feeling happier about ourselves.
Running can also make someone more goal-oriented. When we run we have personal records, and the more we run the more we want to be better than our last time. Trying to beat a personal record takes time and dedication and it is not something that can be achieved overnight. Once we accomplish something that we worked hard for we feel self-pride which makes us happy.
According to Competitor Running, running can help reduce anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that even a small amount of physical exercise lowers the symptoms of depression. Running has been proven to have the same effects on your mind as a therapy session would.
When we run our bodies release a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is responsible for making us feel happy. Studies have shown that over time our levels of dopamine begin to decrease, so a solution to prevent that from happening is running!
Regularly exercising can lower our stress levels in the long run. When we exercise we are inducing a low-level stress on our bodies which leads to hormonal changes. Our bodies learn how to maintain and handle that stress we put on ourselves therefore, when we deal with the daily stresses of life, we learn to manage that better.
Getting Motivated:
Trying to find the ambition to run can be hard for some people. Group exercising clubs can be a good way to get into the habit of running. Not only are you running with other people from different age groups, but you are also on a set schedule of when to run so you are able to fit in running on your own time.
Fleet Feet Sports are locally owned stores with multiple locations throughout the United States since 1976. Not only does this store sell running gear such as apparel, shoes, and accessories for both men and women, you can also sign up to be a part of their running club!
Fleet Feet Sports objective is helping you accomplish your goals of running. Not only are the workers at Fleet Feet trained to help you find the right running shoes, shirts, socks, and insoles, they are also there to help motivate you to advance your running capabilities. They offer health and nutrition clinics for those who are interested. There is also an injury clinics to give advice and tips on how to prevent injuries and how to heal current running injuries.
A New Lifestyle:
Once you join a running club that best suits you, you and your group will be assigned running homework for practice. The group’s mentor will send a daily email for a workout and this also includes an outside location for a practice run. These practice runs can be located on paved roads or on natural trails in the woods.
The Running Club at Fleet Feet is defined not by how fast or how far a person can run, but by the passion and enthusiasm, each of the runners shows when they are together.
Fleet Feet offers programs for all levels of running with a mentor in each program to keep you motivated and cheer you on to help you reach your capabilities. There is no age limit or discrimination of who can join or which running group you belong to. Everyone is welcome to join the running club at any time.
The bonds you form with other people through running not only inform you, but it also motivates you to become a better runner. Running club friendships cultivate team spirit, so if one day you are having a bad run during a race or practice your friends are there to guide you through.
Scientific data has proven that running benefits our bodies physically, emotionally and mentally. Finding the motivation to start regularly exercising can be hard, but with group running clubs such as Fleet Feet, you’re able to find the motivation without feeling like you do not fit in.
Aimee Rossi Report 