Seven Reasons Why You Should Take Up Running
Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise. No matter what your shape, size or level of physical fitness, it is one of the easiest and most accessible exercises to start enjoying, as well as being one of the toughest to master.
1: All Around Benefits
After just a few runs, beginners will start to notice the health benefits that the exercise brings. Running is a great way to boost your mood, and if you can manage to drag yourself out of bed for an early morning run, you'll feel much more alert and awake for the rest of the day. It kick starts the bodies metabolism, strengthens joints and bones, burns calories and increases stamina and endurance.
2: Cardiovascular Health
As well as enjoying day to day changes in your mood and general health, running is also one of the best exercises for a healthy heart. Running can greatly improve the body's flow of blood and oxygen, strengthening the heart and lungs. Some of its many medical benefits include lowering blood pressure and decreasing the risk of heart disease.
3: It's Cheap and Easy
Running is not only one of the easiest and most effective ways to lose weight and get some exercise, it's also the cheapest. Although running shoes are recommended, all a running enthusiast needs is a pair of trainers and they're ready to go. No fancy membership fees or equipment are needed as the outdoor streets are ready to become your own personal treadmill.
4: Stress Relief
Running is beneficial psychologically, as well as physiologically. Running is a great form of stress relief and it can provide ample time to clear your thoughts and forget about work or other daily stresses. However, it can work both ways, as many runners use the exercise as a distraction-free opportunity to concentrate and think.
5: Personal Achievements
Even if you're not planning to run competitively, there are few activities as rewarding as beating personal running bests. Whether it be setting a new fast pace or running a new distance, the sense of accomplishment you receive for pushing yourself just that little bit further is a great feeling.
6: App Enhanced Exercise
Smartphone apps have been created for just about everything, and some of the running apps can add even more enjoyment to the activity. Performance measuring apps use GPS to track your run, and they can calculate your speed, pace and distance. They log your activities; so that you can browse past runs, see where you ran, on what date, and how well the run went. Other running apps are a little less traditional and they let runners turn their exercise into a fully-immersive game. The popular ‘Zombies, Run!' app sets missions and guides player's through a story via their headphones.
7: Socialize
Although it's a great way to get some space and solitude, running is also a perfect opportunity to socialize. If you and a friend are looking to start a weight loss regimen, there's no better way to motivate each other than by going for a jog together. Even if you just feel like you need someone to push you that little bit further, many local communities have active running clubs and fun runs.
Running is a fantastically cheap and easy way to get fit. Sealskinz.com offer a range of hats and gloves for running; including waterproof and windproof running socks.
