Running is something many of us, don’t do too much of these days or do but not consistently enough. However it’s something which many people fall in love with upon giving it a proper try. The challenge itself can be enough to motivate some, but for the others who think it’s out of their reach. Here are some benefits running can have to not just your health, but your life:
- Running improves all round health, sheds excess fat, improving cardiovascular health, strengthens the respiratory system, increases bones density and improves the immune system.
- Running has been shown to improve coordination.
- Running has a positive impact upon your mood, because your body releases endorphins and Dopamines
- Your energy levels throughout the day are increasesd, giving you a skip in your step.
- Running can improve all bodily functions, from digestion to libido.
- Running assists in concentration and is the perfect cure to the often sedentary lifestyle of the office employee.
Running is a great method of exercise purely because it’s free and can be done anywhere. “But running has always been hard for me”, I hear people say continually. “I could never run 10km, in fact I couldn’t think of anything worse!” The reality is that most people who say they can’t run or don’t enjoy it, simply have never tried running “regularly”. As with most things in life the more you do it, the better you get at it and the easier it becomes.
Remember, it’s never too late to start running, as I currently have a 65 year old client (lady) who couldn’t run 100m 6 months ago and who has just signed up for the Half Marathon and is loving her running and says she has never felt better.
The City 2 Surf is under 4 weeks away and is the perfect way to join in or get inspired whether you’re a beginner who look to start out or a long runner here are some useful tips to keep in mind along the way.
- Set your goals. If you can’t run all the way set yourself marker to reach then walk for 100m and run again
- If you’re starting out try 200 meters splits. Run 200m then walk 200m and continue this until you feel you can increase the running distance.- soon enough you won’t need to stop
- Try interval training or hill sprints to increase your speed.
- Warm up; Cool Down & Rest. Running can take its toll on the body if you haven’t warmed up and cooled down probably. Also give your body time to recover between sessions
- Don’t just run, at DirksHealth all our classes are based around core stability and interval circuit training which are great alternative’s to running and can dramatically improve your speed and endurance.
Contact us now for further information on running, classes or any general health and fitness questions.
About the Author:
Dirk Hansen has been a Health & Wellness Professional, Presenter and Writer for over 35 years, featuring both in Australia and the USA.
You can learn more about DirksHealth and what we do by calling 9365 7033 or by posting a comment above.