The Benefits of Running

the benefits of running

Running…This word used to put dread into my mind every time I heard it, and to be honest it kinda still does! All that came into my mind was ‘I can’t run’ and ‘I’m not a runner’ and so on. Now it's more like 'what if I can't run further than x?'. Running makes me think back to when I was at school and doing the 100m and 400m and remembering how bad I was at them! I was never really the athletic type, I always seemed to come last or nearly last at all these things and quite honestly I never actually enjoyed them.

But, fast forward 10+ years and ask me to go running now and my response will be 'ok, let's give it a go'.
In 2017 I ran the Yorkshire Marathon and weirdly enough, I actually enjoyed it. Well, I enjoyed doing it; I didn't enjoy barely being able to move sky body the next day! I have discovered that running isn’t about how fast you are or how far you can run, it’s about actually enjoying it and having that positive mind set. Yes of course it’s a great feeling when you get a PB and you are super proud that you’ve ran 3 miles in 20 minutes, a PB is always going to be an amazing feeling and I don’t take that away from anyone- it’s great to set goals! But for me, running is more about the experience and just enjoying it.

When I used to run I also found so many benefits to it and that's why in 2019, I want to be able to pick it back up and get that 'running bug' bag in my life.

Mental Health/Mood

Running is great for lifting your mood when you are feeling a little low or annoyed. When running your brain automatically secretes a hormone that improves your mood.

stress

Stress can actually cause a number of mood and health problems. It can affect your appetite and sleep. Running forces your body to exert excess energy and hormones .

Heart Health

We all go on so much about building muscles and working them but what about our heart muscle? Running is one of the best ways to give your heart a workout. You can improve circulation and reduce the risk of high blood pressure and heart attack.

Raises energy levels

Like any exercise, running can actually boost your energy levels. Had a tough day? A short run could be just what you need to give you a boost!

Weight Loss and maintenance

Running is one of the best forms of exercise for losing or maintaining a consistent weight. It is a leading way to burn off extra calories and that it is the second most effective exercise in terms of calories burned per minute.

Amie xx

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ABOUT ME

THE GIRL BEHIND FITNESS FORSTER

My name is Amie and I am the face behind Fitness Forster.
I am a freelance recipe developer, content creator and qualified personal trainer. I developed this website to share my passion for healthy recipes, fitness and travel.