Looking For Motivation to Become a Runner?

Mind is All

Have you considered taking up running, but thought it would be too hard? Every runner began as a walker, but then took that step to learning to love to run. The following five reasons will help you find the determination to start running.

Running is an incredible way to get in your cardio exercise. New runners should start out walking and running, alternating until you are strong enough to run without having to slow down and walk. When you run at a hard enough pace, you work out your heart and lungs as your heart rate increases.

Running is great defense against osteoporosis. Unlike low impact forms of exercise (like swimming or biking), running is a weight bearing exercise that will improve bone density.

Running is a surefire way to burn excess calories. For example, you'll burn 330 calories in a half hour if you weigh 150 pounds and run at a ten-minute per mile pace. That's more than double the same person would burn if she walked at a fifteen-minute-mile pace instead.

Running will destress you. While running, you'll feel like an invincible machine; after running, you'll feel relaxed and rejuvenated. If you run good and hard, your body will produce an extra dose of endorphins, that feel-good hormone we all want more of. Plus that hot shower afterwards feels like heaven.

Running can be done just about anywhere and costs very little. All you need are running shoes (and these are important—invest in good ones that give you the kind of support your specific foot shape needs every six months) and a street, track, trail, or path around the mall. You’ll do your joints a favor if you try to run on a track, treadmill, or soft dirt path more often than you pound the pavement (and even asphalt is better than cement sidewalks), but really, if you joints don’t complain, you can run anywhere, anytime.