In my first blog post I wrote about why I love to run. I decided to build the second blog post around this concept and explore why other people run.
Are there actually real benefits to running?
I made this visual illustration to summarise some of the mental and physical benefits of running. Also, I thought this picture was kind of cute and educational at the same time.
I will elaborate a bit more on some of the benefits that I have experienced or witnessed more personally.
1. Sanity
Of course, I had to start with sanity as this is the benefit that resonates with me the most #sanitystrides. We all know the saying “healthy body, healthy mind” and there are plenty of studies that back this up. Exercise helps to release endorphins which is that feel-good hormone that puts you in a better mood. This explains why the release of endorphins reduces the chance or severity of depression.
And yes, chocolate also has the ability to make us feel good. The difference is that you will most likely regret eating that chocolate the next day, but you will never regret the run.
TIP: The perfect feel-good combination is enjoying running (lots) and chocolate (in moderation).
Secondly, think about the sense of achievement you experience after a hard workout. We all want results NOW, but our bodies will never visibly change after one run or workout (unfortunately). We know this, but we still seek recognition for our hard work, immediately! After a hard run, taking off my sweaty head band (sweaty everything actually) I experience just that – instant recognition for saying yes to running and no to everything else. It sounds so simple, yet we all know that it isn’t. I always try to think of this feeling when I am not motivated to exercise because I know that this contributes significantly to my sanity and healthy self-image.
Running is not easy and it’s challenging. It’s the kind of good discomfort that cleanses us.
Scott Jurek
2. Physical health improvements
Although I think running is “magical”, it is important to understand that exercise is a key component to a healthier lifestyle, but it is not the only component.
Running + healthy eating habits + moderation of guilty pleasures (the aforementioned chocolates), will result in overall physical health improvements. Exercise is probably the most fun component. No great story ever started with eating a salad, but I have lots of awesome running adventures that I can blog about.
The one health benefit that I witnessed first-hand was how long-distance running reduces cholesterol.
My husband had relatively high cholesterol (for a young person). He is an active and healthy individual (expect maybe on his cheat-meal days), but generally he takes really good care of himself. Despite this, he has high cholesterol (it’s called familial hypercholesterolemia – basically meaning it is passed down through family). In the past we tried many ways to reduce his cholesterol levels with combination of dieting and weight training and some running. I say “we” because the healthy eating consisted of me cooking him healthy lunches for work, buying healthy snacks for in-between-meals and baking treats that were healthier than normal store-bought goods.
Although my efforts in the kitchen helped, we noticed the biggest drop in his cholesterol while training for his first marathon. A few days after he completed his first marathon (Eindhoven marathon 2019), he had a cholesterol test done and we were both pleasantly surprised (and a little shocked) at the results. His cholesterol had dropped to the lowest level ever. More running for him and less meal prep for me. This seems like the perfect middle ground for both of us.
3. Social aspect / finding your community
When I lived in South Africa, I shared my time on the road with a great running partner, Nicola. We were work colleagues, running partners and both of us love chai tea. This was a match made in running heaven.
Moving to a new country is amazing and full of adventure, but one of the biggest challenges I faced when we moved was missing my time on the road with Nicola. Making new friends and finding a community in a foreign country is no easy task.
We were very lucky that within the first week of living in the Netherlands my husband’s colleagues invited us to be part of their running group. Once a month on a Saturday morning (in the pre-COVID era) we would meet up for a hard-running session before enjoying a cold beer or warm Chocomel (this is super Dutch and super delicious) together. Being part of this running group has not only motivated us to run in very cold conditions (culture shock for us coming from a town where 16 degrees Celsius would be considered a cold winter’s day), but has also inspired us to run harder, make new friends, learn about the Dutch culture and discover a whole host of other non-running related things. It has helped us to call the Netherlands home.
TIP: If you are looking for a community, join a running group.
I have found that running with somebody keeps me accountable because somebody else is waiting for me to show up and run. This also motivates me to go for my “alone runs” to ensure I keep fit so that I don’t disappoint my partner when we run together again. Maybe I am also a little bit competitive…. Maybe!
Sharing time on the road with a friend is also the perfect platform for sharing valuable running knowledge (1%) and providing free therapy to each other (99%).
My weekly running schedule includes one run with a friend, one or two runs with my husband and a few music-in-my-ears / clear-my-head runs. Find the combination that motivates you to keep running.
Running gives us freedom. It helps us to manage stress while feeling good about ourselves. Running helps to build friendships and serves as a reminder that we can push ourselves harder than what we thought possible. Running gives you that healthy body, healthy mind balance I keep referring to.
What benefits has running given you? I would love to hear from you in the commentary section.