9 Reasons To Go For a Run That Have Nothing To Do With Fitness

This doesn't have to be annoying

Many people look at running as an evil thing. This is also the reason why most people who list running or fitness as a New Years Resolution fail. If you look at running or exercise as a job, then you are already setting yourself up for failure. Lets face it: if you didn’t have to go to work to make money you wouldn’t, so if you classify fitness in this same model, you simply won’t succeed. The trick with running is to recognize and embrace all the benefits. Here are nine reasons that have nothing to do with fitness, that make it enjoyable to run.

1. Running can be relaxing

Usually, after a hectic day, the last thing you want to do is go home and exercise. This is because you are thinking about it incorrectly. For a majority of people, there are more stressful things going on at home (chores/kids/significant other/etc) than at work.  For me, exercising after work is almost zen-like. It allows me to focus on one thing, push away all the drama and stress of the days work, and do something for me. If you think of it in this mindset, running and exercise is actually an escape. No one can bother you, and it’s the only time I’ve found in a day to shut out the world and do some thinking.  Take the time to do something for you, and it will positively effect every other aspect of your life.

2. Running makes you feel better

Exercise scientifically makes you feel better. It has been proven to reduce stress, and to fix hormonal imbalances that can be the result of bad moods, as well as unnecessary fat storage. Mark, from Mark’s Daily Apple, has a great article on how stress can make you fat, that covers the issues and research behind why this is.  Below is the important piece from his article on this:

The bottom line is this: research has demonstrated that stress can contribute to the build-up of body fat as a result of stress’s effect on hormonal secretion and its physiological consequences. Let us explain. Cortisol sets off an increased rush of glucose from your tissues (including breaking down muscle tissue to make glucose). Yikes! Remember, the body thinks something major is going down. In response to the rise in glucose comes the rise in insulin. Source

What he is basically saying here is that when you are stressed out, your bodies hormone designed for stress responses (Cortisol) tells your body to prepare for bad things.  This is a dial-back to when being stressed could potentially save our lives (e.g. hunting during prehistoric times, etc).  Your body essentially will begin eating away at your muscle, and along with all this extra glucose your body now has, your insulin levels now spike.  This spike in insulin is your bodies trigger that stores fat.  For people who are always highly stressed, this results in fat storage over a long period of time, mainly into the abdominal area.  This is also a factor important in cardiovascular disease.

For this reason, running can help reduce stress by teaching your body more about itself.  The endorphins released during exercise are similar to those of highly addictive drugs and will lower stress levels by blocking the signals in the brain that send these signals that say “stress out!”.  It has also been shown that people who exercise regularly recover from mild forms of depression quicker, as well as helping to maintain strong mental health as you age.

3. A chance to catch up on your favorite music interruption free

Music is probably the only language that everyone in the world speaks.  Music has been proven to have effects on overall mood, metabolic rates, and much more.  More importantly, though, I have discovered that music provides a great nostalgia effect.  That is, music taps into the part of the mind that reminds you of good or bad places.  Everyone has music and songs that instantly take them back to a location or event.

Running gives you a chance to listen to what YOU want.  No random radio station at the office, or in your car.  It gives you interruption free time to listen to your favorite songs, or, if you’d rather learn, you can listen to an audio book.  I have found though that it can be quite difficult to concentrate enough to follow an audio book while running.

4. Discover new places

The one amazing thing I discovered when I began running more often is that I barely knew the city I had grown up in.  Now I don’t mean the layout of the streets, the buildings, etc, but rather the smells, the beauty and solace of local lakes and waterfronts.  My only experience with these places had been while going to or from somewhere.  I made it a point to begin running at places during times I hadn’t been there.  My favorite route now is through my downtown area, which is entirely different during daytime hours than when I’m normally out at night with friends.

If you think about it, in any given day you really only visit 2-3 places.  You wake up, go to work, go get something to eat or get coffee, and then go home.  We do this 5-6 days a week for a majority of our lives.  Taking the time to go outside and out of your comfort zone and learning about your city is a truly humbling and wonderful thing, and is guaranteed to make you more knowledgeable and happy overall.

5. Discover new people

Another great reason to go running, especially in races/fun runs in your city is to meet new people.  These people statistically live happier and more healthy lifestyles, and you’ve already found someone who enjoys running.  Be sure to check out if there is a local RoadRunners club or a local affiliate of Hash House Harriers.  These always are full of great people who want to help you succeed and have fun doing so.

6. Your dog will appreciate it

For most people, you work 8-9 hours a day, and come home to a pet who has done nothing but sat around the house.  Why not take your four legged friend along with you? Not only will it keep him healthy, but it will make him tired so that you can get whatever you need to get done quicker, without worrying about the dog constantly being a nuisance and wanting attention.

7. It’s great for a date

There simply isn’t a cheaper date than going for an afternoon run through a park or city.  Also, it is biologically to your advantage.  Now for most people, the thought of doing something where you’ll be super sweaty is not a high priority when you’re with the opposite sex, but actually there is scientific evidence to substantiate the claim that it release pheromones to help aid attraction between humans.

8. You’re more likely to live a healthy lifestyle

Think of running as a “gateway drug” into health.  The more you do something simple like run, the more you begin to enjoy it, and find new and exciting ways to live more healthily.  Beginning is always the toughest part, and once you love to run, you will find new hobbies or ways to enjoy yourself in a healthy way.

9. The Sun (or that thing you miss out on all day trapped in a cube)

I know, you are constantly reminded to wear SPF1000 and to stay covered up for fear of skin cancer, but the fact is that Humans evolved getting lots of sunlight, and our bodies need it.  And actually, 50-75% of Americans get too little sunlight.  Vitamin D is an important vitamin our bodies produce when exposed to the Sun.  It actually helps increase you immune system, which keeps you less sick, and also works to improve your mood.  It also helps promote calcium absorption, which keeps your bones stronger.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you understand that running does not have to be a chore.  Millions of people around the world find running both enjoyable and beneficial.  The secret to this is to truly find ways to make it fun, challenging and worthwhile.

Did I miss anything? Do you think I’m way off? Let me know what you think in the comment section below; do you find running enjoyable or annoying?

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