Why is running enjoyable

A good run or good workout can turn my mood around. Being someone who suffered from anxiety and depression through college, I found that running greatly lifts my mood.

It seems backwards but when I run in the morning, I find I have far more energy to go through my day. Even think about things I need to do throughout the day or just be alone. Running is one of the cheaper healthy habits and exercises to do. All you need is a pair of running shoes and the world is yours. You just need yourself.

While yes, running can get expensive, the core of running is not. At the end of the day, running is fun. A review found that studies support a link between running and improved mood. Need another excuse to go green? One earlier study found that runners who ran outside and snagged a good view of nature showed increased self-esteem post-workout than those who had only unpleasant scenes to gaze at.

A more recent study posited running as a therapy tool for self-esteem issues. We looked deeper into the benefits of running outdoors here.

Running is about as wholesome as this story about a family finding a koala bear in a Christmas tree. Even better: Lace up your sneakers on your next vacation to explore a new place. Just make sure, for safety, you let someone know an approximate time you should be back. Check out local running groups or websites like Meetup and hit the road with other health-minded folks. Twenty questions is just as good during a run boozy brunches afterward are optional.

Forget fancy equipment or a pricey gym membership: When it comes to running, all you need is the right footwear. And maybe the right gear for when it gets cold. Forget boring laps around a track. Interval training helps boost metabolism and rev up your cardiovascular fitness. Bonus: Research shows people who do intervals have more fun while running really!

Be sure to mix up your running routine. Grab a leash and give your pet a new kind of treat. You can rack up the miles no matter what the weatherman says just dress appropriately! Temperatures still not just right? Pop in headphones when running to increase speed and get a little energy boost. Want to feel the grass tickle your toes? Try minimalist sneakers or nothing at all. Just be sure to ease into this type of running to avoid injuries.

A morning or evening stroll is a great way to kick off or conclude your day by taking in your surroundings, clearing your head, and breathing some fresh air. Instead of a leisurely strolling pace, however, a jog around the neighborhood will burn more calories in the same amount of time, plus confer all the above benefits. Getting into any hobby, passion, or lifestyle gives you a whole new set of ideas and words to play with. Joining Facebook groups can connect you with like-minded people who can immerse you in everything running.

Get ahead of the conversation with our list of running lingo. Running can boost your heart, bone, and muscle strength, as well as improving your stamina and even possibly boost your sex life. It also helps you love yourself and your body, brings down your levels of stress-induced compounds, and helps you create and stick to goals.

Going for your first run may seem tough. Learn how to avoid the mistakes of running here. Elite ultramarathoners share their tips on pushing past running roadblocks during training. Running became a game — what can this fat, out of shape body accomplish? Each run may have been a struggle, but watching my fitness go up and my body weight go down was fun. Running that first race was an even bigger turning point for me. I now had a formal time attached to a race distance. And I wanted to beat it the following year.

I was hooked on races, and hooked on beating myself. I was hooked on leaving that fat, sedentary guy that I had been when I started running in the dust. I was running away from my old self. And it was fun. First a half-marathon, then a full marathon, then a BQ, then Boston itself.

I faced and met each of those challenges. It was exhilarating — running became fun for me when I realized what my body was capable of if I kept pushing it. This is what drives me — pushing myself and testing my limits are what make running fun.

Now, my competitive nature plays a big role in why running is fun for me. Not everyone shares that competitive fire — for example, my wife loves to run, but she hates to compete. The Community. The running community is incredibly supportive and full of great people. One of the things I love about coaching beginner 5K groups is that after a few weeks the group becomes a community. Pace groups develop organically and new friends are made. Yesterday morning I ran 14 miles along a route that I had not done before.

It was a beautiful day, and the time passed quickly. I love exploring new places on foot, and running is a great way to do that. The Reward. Running can be hard, especially for beginners. You may ache, your lungs may burn. But you will almost always feel better after a run. The Release.

My wife would tell you that this is what makes running fun for her — the release from the stresses of the daily grind. Fresh air, bright sun, and a bit of sweat can go a long way to reducing your stress-load. It can be hard for a new runner to recognize this since those early runs can each be a monumental struggle, but once your body is adapted, an easy run is one of the best ways to clear your head after a long day.

This post was authored by Peter Larson. If you'd like to learn a little bit more about who I am and what I do, click here , or visit petermlarson. That matches really closely to my journey to become a runner. I am super competitive but when it comes to running just with my self. I have fun doing it but it still hurts n a good way as I am always striving to reach new goals. Running becomes fun when the runner can find that balance of fitness and efficient form that allows one to have a feeling of flow and ease during a run.

It takes a while to get over that hump after the initial enthusiasm wears off and before the fun begins. I run to get away from people and to let my mind go. Though, sometimes I find I do my best thinking running. Hands down: solitude. When I was younger and hated running I was single and free. I had all the hours to myself that I wanted. Also, the weight loss is a super side effect. Running is the most fun in races, especially when you see so many other people working hard and so many supporters.

It becomes fun once you start entering some races. Signing up for races gives you a goal to look forward to instead of just putting in the miles for this somewhat vague goal of staying in shape. Running became fun for me after doing it consistently days a week for about a year. I think the only reason I kept with it through that first year was my dog.

He needs the exercise daily! Great post, I can relate to both to your thoughts and those of your wife. What makes it fun for me is that running can be used for so many things. But running can also be used to set ambitious targets, most often running a certain race at a certain time and create a training plan accordingly, much fun and rewarding.