10 Things You Don’t Know About Running

Running has caught up with people from all wakes of life. The popularity has gained momentum especially with the trend of exercising naturally out in the open. Whether you are a skeptic roped in by a friend or a diehard believer in running, it does not take long to get amazed at the benefits of running when you lace up and start pounding the pavements. However, as a novice in the world of running or an expert, chances are that there are a few things about running that will manage to catch you by surprise. Here is a list of 10 things you probably did not know about your favorite, soon to be favorite or even not so favorite form of exercise. Honestly, by the time you reach the end of this article odds are you will be psyching up to lace on a pair and get started.

Running Facts for Health and Life

1. It will put you in a good mood and a state of euphoria

It sounds a little hard to believe, isn’t it? How all that sweating and heaving can possibly put you in a good mood? Well, research shows that running releases endorphins and endocannabinoids into your system. These endorphins are the feel-good and happy hormones. Apart from a happy mood, running also helps relieve stress and anxiety courtesy to these endorphins. The endocannabinoids are very similar to the mood-altering chemical “THC” present in marijuana. This induces a state of mind popularly known as the “Runner’s High”.

2. Running oomph’s up your attraction meter

Running not only puts you in a good mood it also makes you feel and appear more attractive to others. Running is also known to increase the testosterone levels in men and boost the sex drive of both men and women.

3. Helps you stay alive longer

Research by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has established that even low intensity running for just 5 to 10 minutes a day can help you extend your life by several years when compared with those who do not run at all. A 2013 study in Denmark established the precise numbers. It stated that running for 2.5 hours a week is ideal for maximizing your longevity.

4. Running is good for burning calories

Running is an excellent form of cardio. Every one mile of this sweat session helps you burn about 100 calories. As per the American Council on Exercise, a 120-pound person burns about 11.4 calories per minute. That is a good calorie burn count.

5. Sports Bra is a requirement

This one is for all the women out there. Apart from investing in good running shoes, enthusiastic women will also need to invest in a good sports bra. This is because running makes your breasts move around in a complicated 8 figure, up-down, sideways and rotating. This will cause premature sagging if you do not provide adequate support to them.

6. Improved Bone Density

Apart from helping you decrease weight running also helps you improve your bone density. Bone density is your bone health. It prevents you from easy fractures and disabilities. Research shows that running reduces the loss to bone density due to age and other factors. It especially helps prevent osteoporosis.

7. Helps your core strengthen

Running works out your core muscles. It challenges your oblique, spinal muscles and abdomen. This helps straighten your spine, sucking in your gut and improves body balance.

8. Improves memory

Running also helps improve your memory. A 2014 Study by the University of British Columbia shows that aerobic exercises like running potentially increase the size of the hippocampus in the brain. This is the area of your brain is responsible for verbal learning and memory.

9. Helps you hit the snooze button

Running can put you in the snooze zone. Experts have found that exercising daily helps you not only get to sleep quicker but also assist you in staying asleep longer thereby improving your sleep quality tremendously.

10. Boosts Immunity

There is a direct link between sleep and immunity. Better sleep results in better immunity. Apart from assisting in sleep, running is also responsible for enhanced gut microbiota, lower inflammation, and improved responses and cognitive functions. All of these contribute to boosting immunity.

Query Section

Some common queries and doubts are answered below:

How to start jogging/running?

A beginner or a novice often wonders how to start with jogging.

• When you begin jogging you should first warm up with a brisk walk. This will warm up for legs and accelerate your heart rate, hence preparing your body for the jogging ahead.
• Then start jogging. Maintain an easy relaxed pace for the initial 2 to 3 minutes.
• After the initial jogging for 2 to 3 minutes try walking for the next 1 to 2 minutes to get your body accustomed.
• Thereafter you can pick up the pace and the time involved in jogging.

What is the correct breathing technique while running?

The correct way of breathing is involving both your nose and mouth to breathe. By inhaling and exhaling through both your nose and mouth you optimally engage your diaphragm to maximize your oxygen intake.

Should you run on an empty stomach?

The basic science behind advocating empty stomach running is that it will force your body to obtain the required energy by burning the fatty deposits thereby leading to weight loss. However, running on an empty stomach can have adverse effects on your health. It can lead to severe fatigue, giddiness, and extreme nausea. Hence it is not a recommended practice, especially for beginners.

Should you be drinking water while running?

It is very important to keep your body hydrated while running. Experts recommend drinking 3 to 6 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes for a 1 hour or less run. If you are running over an hour then drink up on a 15-minute schedule.

It is always nice to know about the things that interest you. Even something as simple and natural as running has a lot to it than meets the eye. Given the health benefits and the low almost negligible cost attached to running, it is no wonder that it ranks high on the popular exercise list.