Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Take Up Running

Are you interested in running but unsure what the real benefits are and if it’s worth your time? Read on to see why running could be just the thing you need.

Recognized as one of the best forms of exercise, running requires no equipment other than a pair of shoes and somewhere to go, but why is it so popular and what are the benefits?

In this article, we take a closer look at the benefits of running, one of our oldest forms of exercise, and assess why you need it in your life.

What’s All the Fuss About?

Running has got a bad rep over the years that we don’t feel is justified. As with any exercise, there will be drawbacks, but people like to focus on the negatives, instead of appreciating the positives.

There are so many benefits to running, and when you take a closer look you can see that it truly is one of the best forms of exercise out there.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the top reasons why you should take up running.

1. Improve your overall health and fitness

As with all forms of exercise, a movement that activates the entire body and works multiple joints at once can have huge benefits on the body. Running is no different.


Not only will you improve your movement, efficiency, speed, and agility but you will also train the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, which are vital for keeping you fit and healthy.

Running can help you to move better, feel better, and reduce the risk of developing a whole host of diseases and health issues as it boosts your immune system.

You’ve heard the old saying? “If you don’t use it, you lose it”, well at the very least, by running, you are using your body and keeping everything working.

2. Prevent disease

It goes without saying that the healthier you are, the less at risk you have of developing diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, strokes, and lung disease.

Although it’s not always as simple as this, many of these issues can be prevented by having a more efficient body where blood can flow freely and oxygen can be utilized efficiently.

The fitter and healthier you are, the easier it is for your body to work and your organs to perform their roles. By living a healthy life, full of exercise, you are building a strong body that is more capable of fighting off diseases and germs and keeping you safe. 

3. Supports fat loss

The key principle of fat loss is being in a calorie deficit and this can be achieved by eating less or by moving (exercising) more. Running is one of the best calorie-burning exercises you can perform and one of the best exercises you can take up when trying to lose weight.

Not only does running give you high calorie-burning potential, but it can also help you to build a stronger body, that continues to burn calories after the exercise has finished.

For optimal impact, you should also change your habits, but by introducing running into your schedule, you should start to see improvements in your waistline.

4. Stress relief

Plenty of people exercise to lose weight, change their body and improve how they look, whereas for some people, exercise is simple a way to clear their mind and work away the stress, and if that’s your goal, you can’t go wrong with running.

There’s no better feeling than lacing up your sneakers and heading out into the world as you challenge your body and clear your thoughts.

You don’t have to go far, or fast, but by running in those moments where you just need to get away, you can dramatically improve your well-being.

With so much stress in the modern world, it can be difficult to find a way to switch off and relax, but the great thing about running is the flexibility. You can run whenever, and wherever, indoors or outside, making the perfect environment for you to take the stress away.

5. Gives you something to work towards

So many people go through life without having any major goals to work towards or things they want to accomplish. Some people do, but as they age they say goodbye to their dreams and fall into the rut of life. Well, running is full of challenges that you can take up and there’s always a new goal just around the corner.

It could be running your first mile, entering your first race, or beating your previous best, but there is always something to work towards and a goal you can achieve.

Having goals like this can give you a sense of accomplishment and make you feel better and more positive in your day to day life, plus you’ll feel even better when you achieve your goals.