Running is essentially a wonder medication. Seriously! Running has so many physical and emotional benefits that it would be a top seller if it were sold as a medication. Runners, of course, are well aware of how running can transform one’s life. But how can running change your life?
Running can significantly boost your mental and physical health. Running has positively changed my life. In other words, running made me disciplined, stronger, happier, and mentally and physically fit. In addition, running can improve heart health, reduce stress, and even help alleviate symptoms of depression, found Harvard Health Publishing.
The following reasons may be exactly the motivation you need to go out the door if you aren’t familiar with all the methods running may impact your life.
You might also enjoy reading: 10 Health and Physical Benefits of Running – Here’s What Does Running Do to Your Body – Science Backed.
Table of Contents
How Quickly Does Running Change Your Body?
On average, it can take about 4 to 6 weeks to see changes in your aerobic ability and the actual training effect. Additionally, the more experienced you are, the less you will “feel” the benefits from your runs since your aerobic system is already quite developed.
To see results faster, combine a clean diet and strength training and develop and gain muscle, especially in the lower body area of the legs.
See also: Here’s How To Successfully Motivate Yourself to Run Regularly
8 Ways Running Can Change Your Life
Running can change your life in many different ways. Along with running, practice core strengthening exercises to help you keep your body fit and increase your stamina and endurance.
1- You Will Become Healthier
Most of the time, runners who experienced “runner’s high” share how a good run can instantly improve their mood.
Runner’s high is a euphoric sensation you get during or after runs when your body starts producing endorphins as soon as you start running.
To increase your fitness, you don’t have to commit to running a marathon. All you have to do now is maintain your consistency.
- If you’re a beginner runner, this means running three to four times a week while also focusing on strength and recovery.
- If you’re an intermediate runner, it means mixing up your training with long runs and quicker sessions to keep your fitness levels up while preventing plateaus.
2- Running Will Make You Happier
Almost usually, you’ll feel better after a run than you did before. You’ll feel good about yourself the more you run and the more healthy you get. It all comes down to endorphins and serotonin, which are chemical molecules and neurotransmitters that make us feel more energized, alert, and happy.
The brain releases these chemicals during and after light to moderate running. Running won’t make your dreams come true or solve all of your problems, but it will help you in the long run because of your dedication, consistency, and hard effort.
The good news is that spending about 30 minutes on a treadmill is enough to boost the mood of someone suffering from a significant depressive disorder, according to a study by the Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.
The same study observed that even people who moved at a slow walking pace received the same mood-lifting benefits.
3- Running Will Help You Develop Self Discipline
Running may be a very free-form recreational activity, but the more you do it, the more discipline and a sense of awareness you develop. Discipline comes from logging appropriate mileage, hitting training timings, showing up on time for a group run, and pushing yourself to get out of bed an hour earlier.
By starting your day with a morning run, you will jump-start your success and push yourself to do something uncomfortable and challenging first thing in the morning.
See also: 10 Pros and Cons of Running for Weight Loss (Science-Backed Studies)
4- Running Will Make You More Ambitious About Life
You will probably know a rise in self-confidence, identity, and consciousness as you run more, improve your fitness, and complete various goals.
Suddenly, you will want to do even more with your running: go faster to better your best times, attend more races, undertake longer weekend runs, run an international event, and even prepare for an ultra-distance marathon.
5- Running Will Make You Optimistic
Running can create enthusiasm, positivity, and success if you allow it. Running creates an inexorable optimism that not only makes you look forward to your next run or race but also makes you look forward to and encourages you to better other parts of your life. It’s infectious, believe me.
Running in punishingly windy circumstances, rain, or sub-freezing temperatures will toughen you up and make you understand that life isn’t all terrible.
6- Running Will Help You Clean Your Diet
The sheer act of running regularly and all of its benefits will motivate you to make better dietary decisions. Part of it will be a conscious effort—as your physical fitness improves, so will your mental acuity—to assist you in avoiding overeating or eating unhealthy meals regularly. But there’s also a subconscious component to it.
People who engage in physical activity, such as running, show improved self-control, revealed a study issued by the University of Kansas. Self-control also promotes a clean diet and helps you avoid unhealthy food.
See also: Pros and Cons Of Running Without Your Socks On
7- Running Will Positively Affect Your Personality
If you’re just starting, you’ll see the benefits of running quickly, even if you don’t realize it. Running will keep helping you become the best self of yourself if you’ve been running for a long time.
No, runners aren’t flawless, but the more you surrender to the truth of running, the more you understand it has a power greater than you.
8- Running Will Get You In Shape
Just being inactive accounts for about 9% of deaths worldwide (the fourth leading cause of death after smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure).
Running is an excellent way to help improve cardiovascular health, burn calories, and build strength. It will not only help you stay healthy, but it will also get you stronger, muscular, and toned.
See also: Here’s How to Finally Become a Morning Runner (Proven tips to create a habit that sticks)
Does Running Shorten Your Life?
A study of 55,000 people followed for over 15 years and observed that running was associated with a 30% reduced risk of death from anything and a 45% reduced risk of death from heart attacks and strokes.
The study found that even running as little as five to 10 minutes a day of running, even at paces as slow as six miles per hour, people can still reap the benefits of running.
The same study concluded that running increased people’s lives by about three years; mainly, running for an hour provided seven hours of life benefit.
The lower your fitness level, the higher your risk of death, and the higher your fitness level, the lower your risk of death, according to Harvard experts.
So, now running does not shorten your life. Rather, it adds years to your life. Incredible, isn’t it? See also: 17 Health And Physical Benefits of Running In The Morning – Science-Based
Does Running Change Your Body?
Each mile you run burns around d 100 calories. And you don’t need an expensive gym membership; you run right from your door, and all you need is a decent pair of running shoes.
Developing regular running habits will help you lose weight. Running is a great way to work out your legs. Thigh fat will be a thing of the past if you run frequently.
Running will tone your legs by strengthening your calf muscles. If you run frequently, the muscles you aren’t working will lose mass.
That implies you won’t be able to use your arm muscles anymore. When it’s time to sleep, run early in the day and get the rewards. Sleep well and wake up feeling revitalized. Running releases endorphins and endocannabinoids, which improve mood. The fabled runner’s high is genuine.
See also: How Long Should You Really Wait to Shower After Running?
What Happens If You Run Every Day?
Running every day might be beneficial to your health. According to studies, running 5 to 10 minutes at a moderate pace every day can help lower your chance of dying from heart attacks, strokes, and other common ailments.
However, running is a high-impact activity that may lead to ailments like stress fractures and shin splints if you overdo it. So, even if you want to, just run for 10-15 minutes daily.
See also: Benefits of Treadmill Vs. Exercise Bike – Which One Is Best for You?
Wrapping Up
Running is a cheap and very accessible sport; all you need are running shoes and a little bit of motivation to start reaping all the excellent health and mental benefits of running.
Even running 5 minutes a day is beneficial, concluded the researchers. So, lace up and get out there for your run!
