Have you ever questioned if you should start running? How could it improve your life? Don’t wait any longer because running is very beneficial to people’s lives.
For starters, running introduces you to many people no matter your age. If you are in high school you can join the cross country and track team and if you are older you can join a running club. Cate Feudtner (‘25), an experienced runner at East has many positive things to say about running.
“Running has been beneficial for my life because it has given me so many new friendships and opportunities and it’s something consistent that I always know I can use as a stress reliever,” said Feudtner.
To talk about the physical benefits of running, it can improve your cardiovascular health, give you better sleep, and there are studies showing it can increase your lifespan. Sometimes, running is not just fun and can be very difficult but after a hard workout or running in the cold is the feeling of achieving something.
Running can have a very mental aspect of it being challenging as well as physical. Pushing yourself to do your best can feel uncomfortable. If you are able to do a hard run and get it done then you will be able to do something else that seems difficult. Brody Bogos (‘25), another experienced runner at East, contributes running to help him stay disciplined.
“For my mental, it builds discipline which causes it to help everything like school work,” said Bogos.
During a run, your body releases a hormone called endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals that improve your mood. Specifically, running outside with fresh air is beneficial to many things such as anxiety, depression, and decreases stress. For me personally, I love running and all of the positive effects it has had on my life so far. I have met so many great people from it and learned to really enjoy it. While starting to run might be tough to do, it is worth it and you get more adjusted to it. If you are having a bad day sometimes going on a run is the perfect escape that you need to feel better.
People might think that running after a long school day in the winter would make someone more tired, but for many runners, it gives them more energy. Do not be afraid to try something outside of your comfort zone if you want to start running.