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There are many different types of exercises, sports and workouts available for you to use in order to meet your health and fitness goals. Here we offer five (although there are more!) reasons why you should consider adding running into your workout plan.
- Convenience
Running is something that you can do anywhere and at pretty much any time. In the gym or on a treadmill in your garage, before or after work, as part of a local running group, for half an hour on your lunch break; the possibilities are vast. All you need to run is a decent pair of trainers and motivation, making it a cheap way to work out too!
Stress-Busting
We all carry a certain amount of stress with us and this isn’t all bad. We do need a certain amount of pressure to keep us going, to get things done however in this busy, high-stress age we often find ourselves carrying more than we should and this may have a detrimental effect on our physical and mental wellbeing.
Running has been proven to help boost the serotonin levels in the brain (low or imbalanced serotonin levels have been known to contribute to or cause depression). Asides from the brain chemistry and bodily benefits of running, pounding the pavement while you think through your day, run out your frustrations and work through your worries can be incredibly beneficial.- Explore Your Local Area
When was the last time you had a good look at the world around you? If like most people you tend to see the home to school route, the school to work route and the work to home via the supermarket route there’s a good chance that you are missing out. Running around your local area, choosing different routes for variety enables you to take the time to appreciate green and urban areas that you wouldn’t usually get the chance to visit. This in itself can make running enjoyable and boost motivation.
- Run with a Group (or enjoy some alone time)
Sometimes you just want to be alone, and that’s fine. We should all workout alone from time to time, enjoying the quiet, the time think. There are also benefits to running with a group. Park runs and other local running groups are available for runners of all abilities so whether you are a complete novice or a long-term runner you should be able to find a group that suits.
The motivational benefits of running with others, as well as the enjoyment this offers is another reason why adding running into your workout plan is a good thing.
- Great for Helping You Reach Your Health Goals
Running can be a great core workout, it gets the heart going, is most definitely a leg workout, burns calories and more. Including running in your workout regime offers many benefits and can also be a lot of fun!