Top running coach, national triathlete, and Fit+ Academy founder Kaye Lopez shares, "As a multi-sport athlete, I can compare running to other endurance sports like swimming and cycling. Although it is the most basic and instinctive of the three, ironically, I find it the most challenging and painful to train. It is the session I dread the most when training competitively and where I have to dig deepest during a race." Nonetheless, this never stopped Coach Kaye from running. "Packing my running gear is second-nature to me along with packing the rest of my wardrobe when heading out of town!" More than a sport, running has become a way of life for her.
Here she shares the reasons why and how it could change your life too!
1. It gives you a natural high.
Ever heard of a "runner’s high?" It refers to the rush of endorphins, also known as "happy" chemicals, which your body releases after a kick-ass workout. A daily dose of feel-good hormones from running gives you lasting energy to stay upbeat for the rest of the day.
2. It redefines your idea of commitment.
With gun-starts scheduled as early as 3:30 a.m., it’s inevitable for a runner to rise at ungodly hours in the morning while the rest of the population is still in bed or out partying. With the majority holding 9-to-5 jobs, managing to squeeze in regular training on top of maintaining a work-life balance forces you to understand what commitment is all about.
3. It teaches you to be positive.
You will need a lot of self-motivation and optimism to reach the finish line. Enthusiasm is an important motivational tool for runners especially when hitting roadblocks during a race—aching thighs, cramping legs—or getting past tough intervals at training.
For more ways on how running can change your life, head to cosmo.ph!
PHOTO: bass_nroll/Flickr Creative Commons
