With so many options for getting fit these days, more people are turning to lower impact forms of exercises instead of running.
This article explains why running is so good for helping you lose weight and improve fitness.
It also explains why those moving to non impact exercises should think again.
Running Increases your Metabolic Rate
All cardiovascular exercises increase our metabolism while we do them but few have the after burn effect which running and strength training causes. This after burn effect is the prolonged increase in metabolism required to repair micro tears in the muscles.
Running can cause more muscle soreness than cycling, swimming, rowing, the cross trainer, stepper, elliptical machines because none of these exercises have a significant lowering or impact phase of the movement.
The
lowering or, in running's case, landing phase requires our
muscles to catch our body weight to prevent it collapsing in a heap.
When our muscles catch our body weight or lower something like a barbell
there is more muscle damage caused and this is what leads to the repair and increases in the after burn effect.
This makes running a fantastic exercise for burning fat because the
calories are not only burned while running but also while recovering
from a run.
Worried about this very impact leading to injury?
Worried about this very impact leading to injury?
Subscribe to this blog to find out how to avoid common running injuries associated with impact.
Running Saves You Time on Fitness
Focusing your precious training time on an activity you can do without having to drive to another location is great for busy people. Minimal preparation makes running the most time efficient form of cardiovascular exercise you can do.
If you've got a gym membership then running is even possible when the weather is miserable. While any cardio machine can become monotonous in the gym, running is the easiest to take outdoors and allows us plenty of options for mixing things up.
You can do laps of the block, hill repeats, fast and slow intervals or take your workout to the bush or countryside if it's close enough. All of these options allow you to get a quality workout in minimal time. Invite a friend to join you for additional competition or support.
Practically every other form of cardio exercise you can do in the gym either requires you to be at the gym or another location such as the pool. Cycling does allow us to start our workout from the front door but requires much more time to get ready.
Running is Relatively Inexpensive
Running is far less expensive than most sports for a number of reasons:- no equipment purchase or maintenance required
- no entry fee for training venues
- relatively low entry fees for events
- less travel expenses for trainings
- no uniforms or venue hire
A good pair of running shoes will cost you around £100 every 8-14 months if you use them regularly but this is no more than what you'll pay for a decent pair of footwear for any other sport.
There are also a number of reasons people choose not to run. Many are due to the impact and associated injuries but many of these niggles are simply due to:
- over training through running too fast or too far
- lack of strength and stability in the muscles which prevent the injuries
- excessive tension in the muscles which cushion the impact of landing
- poor running mechanics or footwear
If you'd like to get back into running but suffer from an ongoing niggle or old sports injury then maybe it's time to visit your physio or tell us about it to discuss the best steps you can take next.
Visit www.stsfitness.com/running-club and register your interest if you'd like to discuss how you're going to get back into running.
Our Running Club is available locally in Gloucestershire and online through the fitness application GymCalc
Our Running Club is available locally in Gloucestershire and online through the fitness application GymCalc
