Why Run?

It’s Monday.  Welcome back to the school and work week.  Monday again.  And if you’re like the rest of us, you’re dragging your tail just a little.   So maybe you take a day off from running?

Stop right there!  Or maybe start right there!  Let’s talk about why we run.   There are health, emotional, and even intellectual benefits to running.  

The health benefits are the ones we think of first.  Some of these benefits may include weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, improved bone health, improved mood and better coordination. 

Emotionally, we stand to gain, too.  Running teaches a longer view of things.  It helps us feel better when the endorphins kick in and when the blood starts circulating because we’ve gotten up and moved it down the road.  The body starts to shoot out chemicals into the blood stream and the brain that are helpful to keeping emotional equilibrium.

As for the intellectual benefits, I think that’s my own theory.  I think the blood circulating bringing oxygen to the brain helps us think clearer and moves our analytical circuitry to move faster.   We learn more and better.   If you check the studies, they all show that those who exercise regularly are better educated, make more money and achieve greater success.  It seems the competitive edge, whether it’s exhibited in actual races or achieving a personal best, can have benefits further down the road.

So… don’t skip your Monday run.  You’ll want your week off to the best start possible.