Free Essay

Running

In: Other Topics

Submitted By cristykuban
Words 1576
Pages 7
Running, Mind, Body, and Sole Health Benefits

Running may be painful and tiring, but it has also become a very popular past-time all over the world. Running can benefit your entire body while keeping you fit and in shape. Studies show that running five miles a day can burn up to two thousand calories at a time. Running is a cost effective easy activity that anyone can do anywhere.

Running cannot only be beneficial to your body but also to your mind therefore it helps your health in many ways. Knowing how beneficial running is has made it very popular in the last few years. By increases your health overall why wouldn't you consider it? In addition to losing weight, relieving stress, improving lung function, also running will help boost your immune system. A free, besides a good pair or running shoes, the activity that can benefit your way of life seems like a smart thing to start. There are so many more benefits to running that should get people motivated.

Running is an easy, free, excellent way to lose weight and maintain the weight loss. Once achieve your targeted weight running will help you stay consistent. Running is an effective exercise that burns the most calories per minute. "Syracuse University researchers measured the actual calorie burn of 12 men and 12 women while running and walking a mile each. The men burned an average of 124 calories while running, and just 88 while walking; the women burned 105 and 74." (www.RunnersWrold.com, How Many Calories Are You Really Burning? By Amby Burfoot: 2005) Seems like an easy choice.

Running has also been known to boost up confidence in many individuals. Running becomes beneficial to your mental health as well. It can provide a lift in self- esteem and make you feel better about yourself in the long term. Usually when you run you set a goal, which is a sense of empowerment. When you reach that goal, it will leave you feeling proud and accomplished and then you may set an even bigger goal. That seems to be the trend lately. Starting off with a small race like a 5k, then maybe move on to a 10k, a half marathon, and if you are that ambitious, you may even one day run a full marathon. After completing a marathon, the feeling you get has got to be the ultimate confidence booster. The empowerment that comes along with running can have so many mental benefits.

Stress is a huge problem in America and running has been shown to alleviate stress. Stress causes so many mood and health issues as well as affects sleep and your appetite. Running causes your body to rid the excess hormones and energy, which will help in all of these areas. Running also alleviates and reduces the risk of tension headaches. According to Matthew Stults-Kolehmainen, Ph.D., a kinesiologist at the Yale Stress Center raising one's heart rate can reverse damage to the brain caused by stress. "Stress atrophies the brain -- especially the hippocampus, which handles a lot, but the memory in particular. When you're stressed, you forget things." (Www.HuffingtonPost.com/ HuffPost Stress-Less Challenge, Day 11: Exercise Tricks To Help You De-Stress: 2013)

Depression can be alleviated by running as well. You may not feel like running when you are feeling down and out, but you will find after a short time hitting the pavement you will start to secrete the hormones that improve your mood naturally. Running is a very fast effective way to alleviate depression. Running improves your health and is beneficial to you spirit as well as mind and body. Even going out for a very short run will have you feeling energized, and you can focus more. Starting off your day this way can help you enjoy a better quality of life both short-term and long-term. Having a better body image from running will also contribute to feeling depressed or anxiety for many people as well. It seems to be a circle if you look better you feel better like a cycle of positive. Research shows that running helps your brain feel good, which also helps with feelings of being isolated and that can fuel mental illnesses. The mind and body work together as one: a team. That relationship is crucial for an overall good quality of life.

Running is also a disease preventative and can even lower the risk of breast cancer in women. The likelihood of heart attacks become lower, and strokes can be prevented by using this free tool. Running has also been suggested to people who are in earlier stages of diabetes; people diagnosed with high blood pressure, and people with osteoporosis. Running helps your arteries retain their elasticity and contributes to strengthening your heart. When your heart is healthy, you significantly reduce the risk of heart attack.

Running can also be used as a form of therapy. Everyone needs down time to explain his or her minds. It gives you time to think quietly, which lowers anxiety levels and gives you a better outlook. You can also use running as a tool to being more social if you struggle with social issues. Whatever the reason is that you may start running you meet people with similar situations, and it's a bonding tool. Hearing their stories and comparing yours, reaching your goals, and feeling better about yourself makes for great results all around. Simply finishing a route you set for yourself without stopping is an achievement in itself. Joining a run group is very motivating and can be a form of therapy as well.

Running has also benefited so many different communities as well. You may not be able to find a cancer cure by running, but you can create a sense of community and giving. There have been several runs that have helped get large groups of people healthier, raise money for various causes like devastating storms, diseases like the cancer runs and walks, and other charitable events. Running is one activity that will bring people together for great causes and makes you feel better both emotionally and physically while also benefiting others. It is a domino effect when family and friends see you running they feel the need to join in. Happiness is contagious and usually shared within groups. It may be a three-mile run or a marathon, but people seem to be inspired to make lifestyle changes.

Now just because running is beneficial to your health doesn't mean that will come easy and will not have you fit and trim in one day. Sometimes one may question why they are even running at all. Why risk injury or endure the pain it may cause at the beginning? Is it so you can have that extra cookie or is it to have more energy? Running is not something you have suffered through alone. Even if the pain is sometimes a bit overwhelming, there is always someone who can relate. The long-term effects of running will outweigh the pain you may feel. Even if you feel running is an individual activity there will always be people who admire and respect you for taking on the challenge of this sport and health benefit. Running has an enormous influence on so many and leads to more active healthier lifestyles. Not many sports can do that, and it is free!

Most individuals think of burning calories when they hear the word running or losing weight and forget about all of the physical benefits until recently when it seems to have become an epidemic. Running frees your mind, alleviates the stress of reality, and the mental benefits surpass any other daily sport or activity you will find. Along with all the pluses of running come to the social benefits. The challenges that come along with running also bring unlikely matches of friends together. Striving for similar goals and enduring this task can create relationships that last a lifetime. Again, very beneficial to a better quality of life. You don't have time to make physical or social comparisons to others. Instead, they can related to these new friends. They feel the same stresses and know what the other person is going through. People who exercise on a regular basis are proved to be genuinely happier and healthier with more energetic and more creative.

Overall running can help the mind, body, spirit connection, which allows for a better quality of life in the long run. Studies show the health benefits of running are an enormous factor in reducing your changes of basically everything we can think of, from a cold to cancers. It is one of the best aerobic activities for the physical conditioning of your lungs and heart. Running is like no other type of exercise because it relieves stress, helps cure depression, clears your mind, and makes that overall healthy connection of mind, body, and spirit. All benefits of living a happy, healthy, longer life.

Work Cited

www.RunnersWrold.com, How Many Calories Are You Burning?/ By: Amby Burfoot http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine www.abouthealth.com Benefits of Running/By: Christine Luff www.active.com Running Safety Tips/ By: Elizabeth Narins www.Time.com Is Running Bad for Your Knees? Maybe Not! /By: Adi Narayan www.HuffingtonPost.com/ HuffPost Stress-Less Challenge, Day 11: Exercise Tricks To Help You De-Stress: 2013

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Running

...Running Outside or Treadmill Running Running Outside or Treadmill Running Humans are born to run, at least some are. Some run because they love to run and others run to stay in shape. No matter what the reason is as to why a person runs, running can be beneficial for their health. It is well known that regular exercise, such as running, is a total body workout. When a subject begins a running program the biggest benefit they will see is they will lose weight. Running is an aerobic exercise that involves the whole body and little equipment is needed to enjoy this activity. Runners have different choices from where they decide to run to which type of surfaces they prefer to run on. After a subject decides to begin a running program, they are now faced with the dilemma of where to go. Do they head down to the beach and run on the path or do they go to the local fitness club and run on a treadmill? The question is do they choose outdoor running or treadmill running? There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Everyone has a preference as to what kind of running they do, so it will be up to the individual as to what they will choose. Outdoor running gives the subject the pleasure of being in nature where they can enjoy the sights and sounds of the environment. They can choose their path to be challenging or easy. It can be on the city streets or on rigorous trails in the mountains. The possibilities are limitless. Some enjoy...

Words: 852 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Because It Is Running by

...Essay: Because It Is Running By Time marches on and never stops. Although things may die, it still continues. You can plan you life down to the smallest detail, but suddenly is can be changed by large or small things in life. When life stands still, should we run away from it or let it pass? This dilemma besides our main character, Wil, in Jo Lloyd’s short story “Because It Is Running By” from 2009. After his father lost his battle against cancer, his life has stood still for a while, until he realize that he has the options to change his life. In this essay I will characterize the main character, Will, focus on Jo Lloyd’s style of writing and the significance of the title. Wil is a young boy who lives with his mother. Together they run the “B&B”, which is a bed and breakfast place. He los his father to cancer and after that is their business gone downhill. Wil has given up trying to complete and education – instead he would help the family-business. After his father’s death to cancer, the business has stood still in a long time. It means a lot to Wil that the B&B only should be run on by family members: “He remembered that there has been a conversation. We can’t afford it, he has said. The B&B’s the only thing making money, his mother said. We just need weather, he has said, the veg’ll pick up” (p. 1, ll. 7-9) This shows, that Wil things a lot about the business and he thinks that only the weather, him and his mother could run the B&B back on track...

Words: 1058 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Effects of Running

...Informative Title: Effects of Running PROS Today I am here to share with you the effects of not taking care of your health. What running and working out daily with the right diet and sleep will do for you. Many people are looking for motivation in a bottle or depend on a buddy. What happens when you buddy cancels out on you repeatly. You need to depend on yourself. You can do this you don’t need someone to motivate you it’s all in your head. The spirit of this journey lies in you. You are in control of your own journey. I say all of things due to the mental toughness that running takes. There will be times when your body says stop and your mind says go. You will find out inside yourself what you are capable of. Everyone has limits and goals. You will find out what you can do. There is not drink or gym that will make you motivate yourself to workout unless you do it. Running is hard but it’s mind over body once you train and prepare your body. I do realize the mind and body doesn’t work hand and at times. That’s why you are going to condition yourself to achieve that goal. The input will be hard at first to get into the mode of a healthy lifestyle. On the other side the rewards of a health body are worth more than the struggles to get there. Starting today is the time NOW! Don’t wait for tomorrow and yesterday has come and gone – START RIGHT NOW. In my view running is the best cardio you can do. Running with the proper diet will get...

Words: 1709 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Interval Running

...other words, a high intensity activity is followed by a low intensity one, or by rest, allowing the body to recover its energy systems faster for the next high intensity activity. This also allows the body to…. TOPIC 2: Benefits of Interval Training Interval training is awesome for fat burning and aerobic conditioning but let’s have a look at 3 more benefits and reasons to use interval training for your cardio workouts. (1) IT Has a wide variety of programs and methods. Because of its versatility, IT offers 1000s of different program variations. This is especially great for those looking for variety and change. Almost all aerobic exercises can be used just by adjusting training intensity. This allows a wide selection of choices from running to swimming, from sprinting to aerobic gym equipments like treadmills or bicycles. (2) Interval training stimulates the respiratory system, cardiovascular system and nervous system to a greater degree. Therefore, more fat, carbohydrates and calories are burned to support the expanding energy...

Words: 765 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

The Art of Running

...* Declaration * Address / Alamat (Please make sure address is complete in order to receive your certificate) Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon 18 November 2012 I, (Name) Organised by Penang State Tourism Development & Culture www.penangmarathon.gov.my (NRIC / Passport No.) Entry Form / Borang Pendaftaran read the Rules & Regulations and I agree to participate on the understanding that, I will adhere to ALL Rules & Regulations stipulated at www.penangmarathon.gov.my Please complete this Entry Form in Block Letters * Name / Nama (as in NRIC / Passport) City / Bandar : Postcode / : Poskod State / Negeri Country / : Negara WAIVER CLAUSE : In consideration of the acceptance of my entry, I, my heirs, successors and assigns, do hereby unconditionally waive and release the organisers, this marathon event sponsors and all persons and agencies connected with it from all claims and damages whatsoever, that may arise from my participation in this event, including without limitation, personal injury. : Home / Office Tel. No. : Tel. Rumah / Pejabat * Email Address / Alamat Emel (For race confirmation and future event communication) Mobile No. / Tel. Bimbit : ............................................... Participant's Signature Nationality / : Warganegara T-Shirt / : S Vest Size * Female / Perempuan: D M M XXXL (Participant's name) Age / Umur * Date of Birth / Tarikh Lahir D ...

Words: 779 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Running Speech Outline

...inform Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the Importance of Running Thesis Statement: Running gives you strength and happiness is so many ways and put you in the best shape in your life. Introduction Running is a great form of cardio exercise helps you improve your health, controls your weight, prevent health issues and it help you improve performance such as mentally and physically disorders. “Running should be a lifelong activity. Approach it patiently and intelligently, and it will reward you for a long, long time."-Michael Sargent Body I. Running can give you a wide variety of benefits like good health, losing weight, and having a long life....

Words: 495 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Running Research Paper

...Running Running, we were always running. Running for our lives, running from our lives, but no matter what the reason, we were always running. The only time we ever stopped was about every few hours so we could rest and eat. “Who are we running from,” I would always ask my parents. They would just look at me for a while like I wouldn’t understand till I was older. Nothing else. Nothing more. During the day, there was much silence. Most noises came from the wind rustling through leave or the occasional bird. The only time anyone ever spoke was to hurry someone else up or to give directions. All this silence meant that there was a lot of time to think. I would mostly think about my life before we started running. I would think about playing in the park with other boys from...

Words: 649 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Running In High School

...Ever since I was a kid, running was not my forté. Whether it be speed or distance, I would fall short compared to others. My physical inadequacy troubled and embarrassed me often, though never motivated me enough to take action. Not until the ten minute mile standard was introduced to me in my high school gym class. That fateful day I was nothing but surprised and fearful. Surprised that such a standard existed and fearful for the shame and embarrassment that was sure to come. As I began to run with my classmates, I remained optimistic I would fall only slightly short of the standard. However, soon enough, years of lacking any physical activity begin to catch up with me and I came in dead last. Words could not describe the shame I felt that day. The humiliation was enough for me to...

Words: 499 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Title and Essay Is About Running

...RUN RUNNING MAKES ONE TIRED AND OUT OF BREATH BUT KEEPS ONE FIT AND NOT FAT. SO THE MORALE IS TO RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN AND NEVER STOP RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING . NEVER WALK SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW. CAUSE ONEDAY YOU COULD GET FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT. SO ALWAYS RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN...

Words: 259 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Book Review: The Running Dream

...“I am a runner. That's what I do. That's who I am. Running is all I know, or want, or care about.” What would happen if one morning you woke up and couldn’t do what you loved most in the world? The book the Running Dream is about when track star Jessica loses her leg in a school bus accident, she is devastated that she will never run again. Jessica was being her normal self, running in the morning being the best on the track when her life was impacted forever. After helpless days in the hospital and at home she decides to take a risk of going upstairs when no one else is home to take a shower and succeeds. She realizes she can do everything the same way she did before the accident but with more difficulties. Jessica takes herself off painkillers, learns to walk with crutches and goes back to school with her supportive best friend. When she gets to school all she wants is people not to “...sum up a person based on what you see, or what you don't understand...”. Her teammates are there to support her. Her coach is a real inspiration to her....

Words: 549 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Trail Running as a Hobby

...Trail Running as a Hobby Abstract This is a short essay about trail running as a hobby. A number of health benefits are associated with running and a related discussion is seen. It also provides encouragement for the reader to try trail running personally. As a boy I ran everywhere. On the ball court, on the field, to the barn and the pond, I ran and ran and ran. But as an adult, like most others, with the daily the activities of raising a family and making a living, running seemed to fade away. About ten years ago, after gaining twenty pounds since high school, I started running again. Running has multiple health benefits and it’s very inexpensive. It’s my favorite hobby and I’m a big advocate for running. First and foremost, running is good for your health. It’s well documented that aerobic exercise helps maintain a healthy heart, and running is an excellent source of aerobic exercise. Many people have eliminated problems with high blood pressure by incorporating running several times per week. Additionally, by running one can gain muscle strength and improve lung capacity. These are two of the top ten indicators of longevity, which represents both length of life and level of health. Running is also an excellent stress reliever. I find that when I have the most on my plate, running allows me to clear the cobwebs from my mind and think more clearly. As I begin to run, I think, breath in, breath out, left foot, right foot and the stress in my body begins to lift. Many...

Words: 481 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Running Own Business or Work for Company

...Running Own Business or Work for Company   In today’s uncertain economy it’s not easy to start a business. There are many ups and downs in business, starting a business require a lot of thinking and research.  It requires commitment and dedication towards a business. To run a business, you should have knowledge of market, management skills, and know the importance of relationship between you and your customers. When you start your business, you have to find clients and work for yourself. First of all, you have to invest a lot of money. Either its legal paper documents, or to operate with employees. You have to find good and safe location to run business well. Along with knowledge and skills, to start a business a lot of invest is required, if your financial stable and you can handle the risk and you are ready to face up and downs in business, than you can start your own business. Profits or losses directly affect to the owner. It is unpredictable if your business is going to be successful or a loss. When you own a business you have the responsibilities to train your employees, you to look after the inventory, pay checks for employees, and all the legal paper work and taxation. You have the power to decide anything for your business.   Even finding a job these days is not easy. To have a job in company, you need to have skills and knowledge for the position you are applying for. There is no certainty working in a company, if company is doing badly, you might get fired and company...

Words: 409 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Why Is Running Important To Me

...Running is essential to me. I have played many sports and been on many teams, but the teams I've been on never really felt like a family, until I started running cross-country, indoor and outdoor track. I have never been pushed so mentally and physically hard ever before in my life. The running program at my school does not get much support, compared to other programs such as basketball and football. I still enjoy it though, because it helps me have a strong mindset, at times when I want to walk or quit at practice or during a meet, and keep I continue pushing forward. I started running my freshman year in high school, when I joined the indoor track team. There were only two other boys on the team. Not even enough for a relay team. We still...

Words: 625 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Personal Narrative: Running In High School

...When sports are all you have, giving up is not an option. Since elementary school, I have always participated in sports, and they have always been a big part of my life. Once I was in high school never did I think running would become my main sport; becoming my number one reason for going to school. When a former teammate told me I had the potential to go on and run in college, every day I would show up to practice, putting all my effort to perfect my times. Not once did it ever cross my mind that it was possible to have something wrong with my body, causing me to sit out from running for what felt like two eternal years. From then on, I realized this sport was all I had; it was the only thing that helped me feel better. I learned never to take my sport for granted because I had big things ahead when it came to running. The start of my first year I was new in the state of Oklahoma, and I was to start high school off with no friends. It was a bit nerve wrecking but I had decided I would join a sport to become involved at school. Since I had been on the Track team in elementary school, I decided to try out for the Cross-Country team since it was similar to Track. Soon enough came the day of my first race on the junior varsity team, the feeling of finishing a race was great and I was...

Words: 1428 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

The Crazy Bull Running Festival

...The Crazy Bull Running Festival It seems slightly insane to go anywhere near a charging bull, but every year, thousands of brave festival-goers run with the bulls in Lampoon in Spain . all the participants must be at least 18 years old . Everyone dresses up in white pants, a white shirt, a red scarf around their neck, and a red sash around their waist. . The history of the running in front of bulls is not completely clear. It started when bullfighting became a popular pastime, and many bullrings were built. The only way to get the bulls from the corral to the bullring was by running them through the streets to the ring. Eventually, people started running with the bulls. As every year passed, this became more and more popular, and has grown into this extremely important festival . Early in the morning from 6 July to 14 the runners gather in the street and seek out their position to run with the bulls at 8am a rocket goes off to signal that the six bulls and six steers have been let out of their corral, and then a second goes off to signal that all the bulls are loose and running. The bulls charge down the streets towards the bullring along an 825m stretch, and everyone goes wild. A third rocket is set off once all the bulls have entered the bullring and the fourth and final rocket means that the bulls are now in the bullring and the bull run has finished. Every year people get injured, not just because of the bulls, but also through falling and drink-related...

Words: 273 - Pages: 2