Running for Awesome Health

“Running is a mental sport, more than anything else. You’re only as good as your training, and your training is only as good as your thinking.” – Lauren Oliver

If you are naturally into running then it’s a breeze. If, however it comes as a struggle yet deep inside your bones there is determination to smash some pavements, here is a little motivation to get you across the line.

Running benefits to excite you:

  • Helps to build strong bones (running is a weight bearing exercise)
  • Strengthen muscles
  • Improves cardiovascular fitness
  • Mood enhancer (perhaps not at the time, but later)
  • May assist the creative juices
  • Helps maintain a healthy weight

Once excited about the benefits of running gain clarity of your personal why. Think about what you want to achieve from running or jogging.

Goals, ideas and points to consider may include:

  • Getting fit – if you’re just starting out, begin with brisk walking, progress to jogging and work up to running. This progressive evolution may take months but slow and steady wins the race, go gently on yourself.
  • General fitness – variety is the spice of life, right? Blend your running with other forms of exercise (such as swimming, team sports or gym sessions) this will maximise your overall fitness, plus prevent you from getting bored. If mixing up your routine is daunting or if you have no idea what to do at the gym, invest in well regarded personal trainer.
  • Weight loss – adjust your diet where required, seek professional help if you need nutritional direction.
  • Companionship – you could run with a friend or join a local running club.
  • Competition – running clubs may offer competitive events. Most clubs have sessions designed for beginners through to advanced runners. Many community-based running events cater for people of all ages and abilities.
  • Lastly yet perhaps most importantly create a playlist of all your favourite tunes. Good music makes everything good – even running!

Choosing running and jogging shoes

  • Avoid wearing your old sneakers. Poorly fitted shoes are a common cause of injuries.
  • The running shoe should bend easily and feel comfortable.
  • The fit should not be too snug. Your foot will splay as it impacts with the ground.
  • When buying the shoes, wear the socks you intend to wear while running.
  • Have your shoes professionally fitted.

Running can be a form of active meditation, here is how and why:

  1. Concentration. Believe or not, you can focus and meditate when in motion. In fact, the natural rhythm of running offers an ideal opportunity for your mind to concentrate on the present moment. Focus on your breath and stay attuned to your surroundings.
  2. Contemplation. Running is the catalyst for self-exploration. It allows you to connect to the space between your thoughts to discover your inner voice. If you notice your self-talk isn’t serving you, make a conscious effort to turn it around and flip what you are expressing to yourself. Begin with no self-criticism. Positive self-talk is one of the most effective tools out there to boost our mental health and manifest life success.
  3. Relaxation. A content mind usually follows after each run: when our mind is calm, our body is relaxed and our nerves are cooled down. If you find yourself stressed out during the day, it can be very liberating and therapeutic to let go of all your daily chaos and just run.

Both running and reading can be tedious sports so if you have made it this far here is a terrible dad joke to congratulate your committed efforts.

If you were to guess Forrest Gump’s password what do you think the password may be?

We think 1forrest1

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