Staying fit and healthy should be everyone’s goal. For a lot of us, excuses are made that staying fit and healthy is heavily dependent on a gym or fitness center. Fortunately, this is not true. Achieving a strong fit body can be done in a multitude of ways. One of the best ways is – running.
Running is the ultimate minimalist workout. Running improves both health and fitness. Regardless of your age, gender, or fitness level, running is going to benefit you. Running differs from walking or jogging in that it is a more intense workout, i.e., your burn more calories (kilojoules) for a fixed amount of time. It is true that during a run, your leg muscles are the main working force, however, your core, back, and other muscle groups also develop while you run.
Running is an aerobic exercise as well as anaerobic exercise. Today, research has proven that aerobic and anaerobic exercises at any age have a positive relationship with good health and the decreased risk of several diseases. According to the Mayo Clinic, aerobic exercises, like running, can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attack, myocardial infarction, angina), hypertension (high blood pressure), type 2 diabetes, obesity, hormonal imbalances, and even certain types of cancers. Other benefits include enhanced mind concentration, lightened mood, reduced risk of depression, and much more!
Anaerobic exercises are different from aerobic exercises in that they require instant bouts of energy and are highly intense but for a short period. While both types of exercises condition your heart and body, anaerobic exercises are a great way to stimulate muscle growth in your body. This added benefit of running over simple jogging, cycling, or walking makes it an ideal exercise to get healthier, fitter, and increase your stamina.
One of the best things about running is that you don’t need a fitness center or a subscription to do it. You just need to buy a good pair of running shoes, some running clothes, slip on a pair of headphones, and you are good to run. You don’t need to worry if you have never run before. Running is a natural instinct for humans. Our body is designed for movement. Think of it as it all starts with a single step that builds as you continue moving forward. Whether you want your separate time or you want to workout with your favorite person, running could be the answer for you.
You can incorporate running into your routine by starting to walk for 5-10 minutes every day and slowly increasing it as you get comfortable. Once walking feels easy, switch to jogging, from there add in small bouts of sprints, and eventually you will be running longer distances, all the while improving health and fitness with every step you take.