by Nadia Sinclair

Running is no doubt one of the top forms of cardio, offering a treasure trove of mental and physical health rewards. Let’s dive into nine reasons why running should become your go-to workout activity.

1. Stress and Anxiety Relief Naturally

Did you know that merely 30 minutes of physical activity can trigger the release of endorphins—your body’s natural mood-enhancers? These “feel-good hormones” give you that well-known runner’s high, an experience of euphoria following intense exercise. Additionally, running ignites another hormone, norepinephrine, that can moderate your brain’s stress response. Running is a natural therapy for enhancing mental health, alleviating depression, anxiety, and stress.

2. Keeps the Heart Healthy

Engaging in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week can reduce your risk of ischaemic heart disease by 30 percent, according to global health experts. Regular running can also lower the risk of hypertension and stroke. Thus, forming a running habit can be a significant step towards better short- and long-term health.

3. Strengthen Your Bones

Besides working out your heart, running can also strengthen the bones in your legs, pelvis, and spine. What’s more? The muscles, ligaments, and joints around those bones receive a little boost too. This can help safeguard against conditions such as osteoporosis.

4. Sets the Tone for Healthy Choices

Starting your day with a run can boost your resolve to maintain good nutrition through the day. When you start with a healthy activity, you’re more likely to make healthier food choices.

5. Social Opportunities

Running can open social doors as well. Meeting familiar faces on your route, joining running clubs, participating in park runs, the social opportunities that come with running are abundant. There’s a likelihood of finding in-person events and challenges that help you foster new connections and join a community of fitness enthusiasts.

6. Alone Time

Besides the social aspect, running can act as your ‘me time,’ allowing you to reconnect with nature, unwind, and momentarily escape the daily grind. It offers a rare chance to be alone with your thoughts, free from screens, fostering mental refreshment and well-being.

7. Weight Management

Running triggers an immediate need for energy, which encourages your body to burn the energy source swiftly. This increased energy utilization aids in maintaining a healthy weight. Furthermore, running can create a cycle of energy usage that alternates between stored sugars and oxygen, which burns more calories over time.

8. Enhances Balance and Coordination

Most of your running time is spent on one leg, improving balance and coordination naturally over time. These are beneficial skills as we age, making running a proactive investment in your future health.

9. Builds Endurance

Running constructs leg strength and over time helps build stamina. The practice of regularly moving quicker and further will improve your tolerance and capacity to walk or run long distances. This increase in muscle strength eases physical activities like walking barefoot on sand or hiking steep trails.

Whether you’re seeking stress relief, improved heart health, or simply a morning routine that sets you up for a healthy day, running could be the key. It’s time to change into your workout gear and hit the road!