10 Benefits of Running

6: Increased energy:

When training consistently and in a balanced fashion, runners tend to enjoy increased energy in their daily lives. This is a result of a combination of other benefits including – lower blood pressure, a stronger heart, regular and restful sleep, increased lung capacity and a balanced diet. It really is amazing how much energy you will have when you have been training for even a short while.

7: Better Sleep

When a runner enjoys a balanced training regime along with a good diet, they tend to also enjoy a better and more natural nights sleep. Running helps to sweat out impurities and provides people with a state of natural tiredness as a result of their efforts. One point which runners should bare in mind is that overtraining can lead to disturbed sleep – so it is very important to get the balance right!

8: Better Diet

When training for a Marathon, runners tend to begin to better understand the relationship between their diet and their training. It is vital that athletes fuel their bodies properly for training and racing. (see “eating for endurance” in our nutrition section). It is also vital that athletes understand the role of proper nutrition in their recovery from training and racing. Getting this right helps you to get the most out of your efforts and to come back stronger and faster. For this reason, marathon runners are more likely to enjoy a healthy and balanced diet in their daily life.

9: Living the good life

Due to the hours of training required to participate in a Marathon, runners tend to cut out or reduce the bad things in their life. This is so that they can focus on their training. The bad stuff includes – Drinking too much, cigarettes, junk food etc…

10: Running makes you stronger

Both mentally and physically, running will take you to places you have never been. Your bones and muscles will be stronger - your lungs and heart will be more efficient – your diet will be better and your mind will be tougher then it was when you began your journey.

  Running can change your life.

Finishing your first Marathon brings with it a sense of achievement which nobody on earth can ever give you. You have earned it yourself and pushed all the way to the finish line. When you look back at everything you have learned, how you have a changed as a person and what you have achieved - you begin to understand how a Marathon can translate into almost anything in life. By using the same mind set and approach which you did to tackle the marathon, you can achieve almost anything. It is for that and all of the above reasons that running can change your life – if you let it.