There are many reasons to run. I’ve gone ahead and compiled this little list to name just a few of those reasons and if I come across any other good reasons I’ll make sure to add them here. Hopefully after reading this list you will come to the conclusion that the evidence is overwhelming for running and regular running needs to become apart of your daily routine, if it is not already. Here is the list:
- Running is a great way to maintain and reduce body weight. – Running is the best activity for burning calories. A 150 lb. person burns roughly 100 calories per mile at about a 10 minute mile pace. Increased intensity through hill work, sprints, increased paced, a greater weight individual, etc., will burn more calories as well.
- Running provides some excellent personal fitness challenges. – I love improving endurance, speed, and just my general fitness through running
- Running increases life span. – For example, a study at Rotterdam came to the conclusion that by just running for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, you would live an additional 3.5 to 3.7 years on average.
- Running makes you healthier. – Running has been shown to prevent the development of diabetes and help manage the condition. Running can help prevent cancers, such as colon and breast cancer, and it also has been shown to reduce cancer related deaths and reoccurences related to such cancers. Running also builds up your bones.
- I love connecting with nature. – By running on bike paths, trails, and uncharted territories.
- Urban and Rural Adventure at your fingertips. – I love going on urban and rural adventures down city roads and back country roads. You can just absorb the beautiful scenery and know that at every turn lies something new.
- There’s always another challenge around the corner to keep you motivated – Whether it be a 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, ultramarathon, or just your training stats you always have goals you can strive for. Personally, I love the training, planning, anticipation, and motivation involved in looking forward to a race.
- Running brings people together – Young and old, I love all the people I have met and conversations started because of running, from the curious non-runners to the veterans. Runners are some of the most easy going, accepting, down to earth people you will every meet. The shared activity of running is an instant ice breaker and creates an instant camaraderie between two runners.
- Running is therapy – Running will make you happier. You can sort out almost any problem on a run and get that feel good neurotransmitter release that comes from regular daily exercise.
- Running is inexpensive – All you need are shoes and some don’t even need them for all you barefooters out there. You also might need some decent clothing like running shorts and a wicking top, but even those aren’t necessary. I ran for a long time in a cotton tee, regular athletic shorts with boxers underneath, cotton socks, and junky shoes. In the winter time all I did was layer my clothing and wear some wind breaker pants. Where there is a will there is a way.
- Running is can be a form of meditation – You have no choice but to become comfortable in your own head when it is just you and the road for a couple hours, with no running partner or music. Use that time to concentrate, think of new ideas, improve your focus, let your mind take you where it wants to take, and most of all have fun in your own skin.
- Running can be a group activity – You can go out and run with friends or family. Sometimes having running partners can make a long run, short or a long run more fun whichever you prefer.
- Running is accessible anywhere - If you are a world traveler or just out of town for the weekend you can run and explore new locations wherever you might go. The beauty of running is it does not require and specialized tracks or building to be performed in. Even in the cold locations all you need is a hat, gloves, and to layer your clothing (and take it easy if there is ice or snow on the ground.)
- Running is good for your knees and leg joints. – Contrary to popular belief running is actually good for your joints and knees. Being overweight is the number one cause of knee and leg joint problems and running greatly assists in reducing body weight. Running also helps to strengthen the ligaments and cartilage around your joints.
- Running has no age limit. - I just read the other day about. The first 100 year old completing a marathon and making it into the Guiness Book Of World Records. Another notable example is of Ron Hill who has not missed a day of running since 1964 and raced in 100 countries before his 70th birthday. Also, in the movie The Spirit Of The Marathon, there is a man that is documented to have decided to run his first marathon to celebrate turning 65 years old.
- Running has no set time limit. - You can run as long and whenever you like whether it is for 2 hours at 1 am in the morning or 1 hour at 12 pm in the afternoon.
- Running can help you sleep more and better overall. - For example there was a study at Stanford University that had participants with insomnia and who had a sedentary lifestyle jog for 20 to 30 minutes a day. The findings were that people needed less time to get to sleep and that the overall duration of their sleep increased on average by 1 hour.
- You can run in any type of weather. – Rain, snow, sleet, icy condition, hot conditions, perfect conditions, etc., it doesn’t matter, you can run in them. You might have to make a few small adjustments to your running gear, but ultimately running can be done in any type of weather (not lightning of course though.)
- Prepared to run in case of an emergency. - Sometimes you need to run to save your life or the the life of someone else or just in some other sort of emergency situation. By running regularly you will be prepared for whatever situation may arise.