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Time to get running

April 19, 2013 13:39

ByAnonymous, Anonymous

1 min read

The London Marathon takes place later this month and I, like millions of others, will watch in wonderment as the runners push themselves beyond normal limits to complete the 26 mile, 385 yard distance, spurred on to achieve their personal bests or raise money for their chosen charities.

Undeniably, marathon training and the event itself is extreme and causes tremendous strain on the body, beyond the physical capabilities of many recreational runners.

Reassuringly, you don’t have to run a marathon to reap the rewards of this excellent form of exercise. Even running short distances increases stamina and burns calories. It improves blood circulation efficiency as well as reducing the risks of angina, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and strokes.

Being a weight-bearing exercise, it builds bone strength too, reducing the risk of osteoporosis as we age.
Best of all perhaps, it releases endorphins, those happy hormones that produce feelings of euphoria and relaxation which help decrease stress levels and encourage a good night’s sleep.