Happy Global Running Day! I’m always happy to share this day devoted to our favorite sport with my fellow (and future) runners! It’s a perfect day for a run, of course, and it’s also a good day to take a moment to remember how running can change your life.
Running is basically a miracle drug. Seriously. Running has so many benefits, both physical and mental, that if it were marketed in pill form it would be a best seller. Of course, runners already know how running can change your life, which is why they love to talk about running and encourage their non-running friends to hit the road.
How Running Can Change Your Life
New runners (and those non-running friends) may not yet be convinced, which is why I’m sharing this post about the many ways running can change your life. Admittedly, many of these are subjective, but I find that runners will almost universally agree. Other benefits, such as improvements in physical and mental health, actually have scientific evidence to back them.
Can running make you a better person? Well there is certainly evidence (and runners already know this) that it can change your life for the better. #running #globalrunningdayClick To Tweet
Running Can…Improve Your Health
The health benefits of running are well-substantiated. In addition to helping you maintain a healthy weight, running improves your cardiovascular health, strengthens your bones and joints (yes, even knees), and helps control Diabetes. Running can also help reduce your risk of cancer, maintain healthy blood pressure, prevent age-related mental decline, and add years to your life.
Running Can…Help You Make New Friends
Ask any runner. Running friends are the best friends. They will get you out the door when you’re tired, they will wait for you when you’re having a bad run, they will help you celebrate your victories and console you when you don’t reach your goals.
Running Can…Build Your Confidence
Running tests your fitness, strength, agility, and endurance. Yes, it can be hard. If you can run, whether it’s a few miles or a marathon, you can achieve most anything else.
Running Can…Help You Eat Better
As you improve as a runner, you will find that you will need to make sure that your diet includes nutrient-rich foods, that will fuel your running. Burgers and fries just won’t cut it (except as an occasional post-run treat). No food is off limits, but you’ll find you feel and perform better by eating healthier.
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Running Can…Help You Expand Your Horizons
Running will help you reach your non-running goals too! As you increase your confidence and accountability, you will realize that you really can do almost anything you put your mind to.
Running Can…Make You Happier
Everyone has heard of the “runner’s high,” that burst of endorphins that some runners feel at a certain point of their run. Beyond that, though, running just makes you feel better during and after your run.
Running Can…Help You Do Hard Things
If you can train for and run a marathon, asking your boss for a raise should be a piece of cake. Take a trail run in 90+ temperatures? That speech you must present in front of a few hundred people will just roll out of your mouth. In a nutshell, running is hard. If you can run, you can do just about anything.
Running Can…Help You Be More Accountable
Whether it’s meeting your new running friends for a workout or sticking to your training plan in order to set that PR, running will keep you accountable, which will translate to keeping your commitments in your non-running life too.
Running Can…Improve Your Mental Health
Most runners say that running helps them think and feel better. Had a rough day? Go for a run to clear your mind and de-stress. Studies have shown that running (and other exercise) is useful in the treatment of depression. Other studies have shown that a regular running program elevates mood and improves sleep. I personally find that running is a great way to work through problems and find solutions.
Running Can…Help with Addiction Recovery
While running can become a mostly healthy addiction, there is evidence that it can also help with substance abuse addiction recovery. I personally know many runners who are recovering addicts and they all say that running is a key factor in helping them stay sober.
Running Can…Make You a Better You
Add it all up. Yes, you will still be you, just a healthier, happier, more confident and stronger version of you.
How has running changed you? What did you do to celebrate Global Running Day? There are many virtual runs scheduled for today and the coming weeks. This would be a great time to sign up!
And Now It’s Time for the Runners’ Roundup!
Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Inspire Me Monday with Janet
Tuesday Topics with Kim and Zenaida
The Runners’ Roundup with Rachel , Deborah, Lisa, Smitha, Jenn, and Me!
The Weekly Run Down with Deborah and Kim
A great summary, Debbie!
I especially agree with your point on mental health. I’m doing a Mental Health First Aid course at the moment and the benefit of exercise – especially running – is always emphasized. Running can really change peoples’ lives for the better!
I totally agree. There is a lot of research that points to exercise as a great benefit to depression and other mood disorders.
There are so many benefits to running! I definitely think running has helped me in so many ways. I feel lucky to enjoy something that has so many positive side effects:)
Running is such a special thing. It has so many great benefits but it also makes us part of a huge community!
Yes I think you hit them all.
I am so glad though it was very late in life that I started running.
I feel healthier both physically and mentally and have added confidence and friends.
I agree! I was in my mid-30s when I started running and it has made a huge difference in my life.
Yes, a big Alleluia to all of this 😉 Growing up, I was the typical “picked last in gym” gal…horribly awkward and pathetically uncoordinated. I never thought of running as a sport for me because I was conditioned to think only “athletic” people could do it…and all of them did it with speed and finesse. I’m glad I finally had my awakening 😉
I’m glad you did too! Mine was a bit different because I was a good runner in school but never really participated because girls didn’t do that as much in the 60s/70s. It was another 20 years before I returned to the sport.
Running definitely gives me the confidence to do hard things, to get healthier and best of all make new friends. Happy to call you one of them! Happy Global running day
Yes! Running has made me so many IRL and virtual friends! And many that are both!
You aren’t kidding when you say runnning is a miracle drug. Running saved me from myself. All the other benefits were unexpected. I just love running!
It has made such a difference in my life! I hope to run forever!
I agree with everything you said. I know that training for (and running) a marathon can make you feel like you can do anything.
It really does. Especially the first one!
You know, I did run this morning, and I totally forgot it was Global Running Day, LOL!
I think like any type of exercise, it just spills over into all areas of your life — but running is special, too. Especially the sense of community — even if you run alone!
I do believe the community of running sets it apart from most other sports.
I love running for almost all those reasons! I love the friendships I’ve made from running, and I do like it for the mental health aspect. Happy global running day to you!
Thank you! I love my running friends too, both IRL and virtual ones.
Yes, yes and yes to all of these!
Running can be the gateway to so many amazing things. I can’t believe I used to dread running in school. Now I don’t know where I’d be without it.
It’s funny how we can come to love something that we hated so much when we were young! 😂
I love that running has brought me so many great friends. I also love that it keeps me in shape and helps me to eat better!