Running – A sport or a great way to stay fit?
Running is arguably one of the most common activities out there. Everyone is doing it, Why? We ask ourselves. Well mostly because it’s easy, you don’t need lots of expensive equipment or too much gear, you can just step out of your front door and you’re off, how much more simple and easy can it be? Well, there is no denying the simplicity of such a popular activity, and yes it can really help you to stay fit, however, should we be more cautious?
The benefits of running
Anyone who has ever done any kind of sport, including running, will testify to the benefits of that sport, and this is only natural, sport in general does stimulate the body and exercises the muscles and heart. But it is also very true that playing sports can also have a very negative impact on the body, as we push ourselves during sport (whether it’s a team or solo sport) to points that we are not used to in our everyday lives, we push our bodies to the limit. Those people who would testify to the great benefits of their chosen sport, would probably also have a story or two about injuries sustained during those sports!!!
Which takes me back to running!
When we run, we put our body through enormous pressure, pounding away at the pavement, with negative impact through our major joints right up through the spine. It is easy to see how people develop runners knee, shin splints, and back pain, to name a few when they run. With this in mind, anyone who runs or who is considering it, needs to take this very popular activity seriously, and approach it as a sport.
Get fit to play sport - The age old saying still rings true
Thankfully there are many ways in which you can run safely and can make it progressive turning the activity itself into the building block for a stronger and injury free body. Some of these techniques include: Interval training, hill walking or jogging, stair walking or jogging, soft surface jogging. Applying these techniques as building blocks rather than hitting the pavement for miles on end, makes for a more interesting and safer activity, giving you a much more rounded and complete workout.
Running is so relevant nowadays we have charity runs, 5k’s, 10k’s, half marathons, full marathons, extreme marathons and everything in between. So, it is a sport, but a very unique one, given the right approach it can be both a sport and a great way to stay fit and healthy. My advice to anyone considering taking up this very unique activity is to get as much good advice as possible before you start, go on the web, do your research and start slow, build it up so that you can enjoy the progression and get great results injury free, trust me, your body will thank you for it. Happy running.
Courtesy of Paul De Nagy, Head Trainer, Bespoke Fitness
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