The Health Benefits of Running

by Toluwani Oyesola July 30, 2024

Running is a very popular exercise that people engage in to improve their cardiovascular health and stay healthy throughout their lifetime.

It is an high intensity exercise that requires more effort from the heart, lungs and muscles, but can be done by anyone from children to the elderly.

How often should you run

Have you decided you want to start running to improve your physical health? Now you have a question: Should I pick up my trainers and start running?

Well, no, you should not! Running is a high-intensity exercise, which means that you have to build up to it, as starting abruptly would place excessive pressure on your body that it is not used to.

Our advice would be to start walking 30 minutes daily, switch it to jogging after a few weeks and then running after another few weeks. This way, the body would have been able to adjust gradually to the demands of the workout.

How often and how long you run depends on your strength and goals. Averagely 3 times a week for 30 minutes would be sufficient.

Health Benefits of Running

It helps to strengthen the bones as it serves as weight-bearing exercise.
It strengthens the various types of muscles, such as the skeletal and cardiac muscles.
It helps to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system in the body.
It helps to burn calories and is very effective for weight loss.

Tips For Running

To achieve your fitness goals, mix it up with other forms of exercise such as strength training.

Find a running buddy: It is easier and more fun to run when you have someone that you can run with and are accountable to.

Join a running club: Having a community to cheer you on could also boost your morale and keep you motivated.

Overall, running is a great habit that helps to develop the muscles and organs in the body. However, it is important to build on to it and not just rush into it as this can lead to fatigued muscles.