Improved Mental Health & Self-Esteem
This is a big one, most forms of exercise have this effect but it’s especially true of running. It’s because you are outside in the sun enjoying the outdoors, you are exploring your town, and you are working towards a goal. You will be in good spirits afterwards and overall you will be happy that you have a healthy habit in your life that makes you look and feel better. You have something to be enthusiastic about.
Improved Physical Health
I’m not a doctor but it seems to be unanimously agreed upon that running is beneficial to one’s body. Running will also teach you about your body and how to take care of it.
Improved Diet/Weight Loss
If you stick with it you will lose weight. You also get to eat a lot more food because of the calories you’ve burned off. I also think that when someone gets into any form of fitness their diet will most likely improve. Diet affects performance, so there is motivation there.
Improved Work Ethic
This is something that has helped me a lot, especially after running a marathon. My office job just doesn’t seem as hard after that.
It’s Humbling
Your ego is not your friend, it’s good to be humbled. If you finish a race and you’re 700 out of 800 runners, there is nowhere to hide and no excuses to be made. Maybe you’ll realize that you’re not as great as you thought you were in other areas of your life like your job, and then you can work on improving.
You Cut Back on Alcohol
I love beer, and I still drink plenty of it. But no one likes to be hung over. It’s a good way to live a healthier lifestyle in general. Running is also a good way to socialize with friends that are runners.
You have a Simple Hobby
As with any sport or hobby, there is a lot to learn. However, there isn’t as much technique to learn as there would be with other sports such as golf, tennis, or basketball. There also isn’t any equipment to buy or club to join, you just need a pair of shoes.
You Feel Like an Athlete
Races are fun, they give you a goal to train towards and your friends and family come to support you. Most recreational sports don’t have that. Most people who lift weights don’t do bodybuilding competitions and most golfers don’t golf in tournaments.
Ok…so why doesn’t everyone run?
No one introduced them to it.
This is a big one, and hopefully this site can serve as that introduction. I didn’t even think about running until I was 27 and a friend convinced me to do a 5k with her. I realized there was this whole running world that I’d barely noticed. Taking that initial leap can be a big obstacle. This is why I always tell people to run a 5k early on, you’ll gain confidence and understand how exciting the sport can be.
Myths About Running
Only skinny people run, it’s bad for your knees, you have to run fast, etc. All these myths are false, but they’re out there, and a lot of people believe them.
Lack of Motivation
People get set in their ways and end up not trying anything new.
It can feel hard, especially at first.
This can make a lot of people quit early. The beginning is new and exciting, but also mentally and physically challenging.
Some people prefer other forms of exercise.
Other forms of exercise such as cycling or weightlifting, nothing wrong with that.
They did run, but then they got injured.
Some people will let an injury scare them away from running. Everyone gets injured at some point, it’s important to learn from it and take measures to prevent future injuries. It is totally possible to run consistently and stay healthy. Ricardo Abad Martínez ran a marathon everyday for 607 days in a row!
