What is so special about running???

Nothing has ever burned my belly fat like running.. I'm FLAT for the first time in my life. I can get out with the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin and just have me time. I am stronger and fitter. I have more energy now at 39 than I did at 18. I'm 4 sizes smaller than I was at 18.. and 10 sizes smaller than I was 2 years ago. There are about a billion different races that I can enter, so I never get bored.. I ran some 5Ks then switched to half marathon.. now I'm training for Warrior Dash.. I'm having an absolute ball. I love it.

Nothing.

There are people who get the "runner's high," which I've never had...I just get boredom. You don't have to run to be fit, you can get the same benefits by lifting weights....excuse me, lifting heavy weights.

easy to do with little or no equipment
enjoyable (for some)
real-world applications; e.g., running from zombies, running from police

Running from zombies. This is correct!

Zombieland: rule no 1 Cardio.

I used to run a lot and along with reduced cals I lost a lot of weight doing that. (also lost a lot of muscle) I now prefer sprints. Shorter time period, more intense.

It makes me feel good from head to toe. I hate running, but I can't see myself ever stopping, it's almost like an addiction. I had horrible knees since I was a teen and avoided running at all costs until last year, partally using my knees as an excuse. Now I'm training for a half marathon, ran 10.5 miles yesterday, without stopping at all, and haven't had to wear knee braces in almost a year.

It energizes me. When I'm feeling tired, dragged out, and like I can't do a single thing, I still get myself out and run. And then I feel better afterwards, mentally and physically.

It makes me feel fit. Even if I'm still not at my ideal weight/body composition, when I complete a good run I feel like a powerhouse. I may not be the fastest runner, or have tons of races under my belt (a 5-K, a 7-K, and a 10-K so far) but every time I finish a race or a a new longest distance, I feel like a total champion and like I can do anything.

Pride in myself and from my family. My husband and my entire family are constantly proud of everything that I accomplish, from my first 5-K to just sticking to my training schedule. My parents even want to come see me finish my half in April. And I never thought that I'd be able to run a mile without stopping, much less what I'm doing nowdays.

It keeps me healthy. When I'm running regularly I don't get sick. And if I feel like there's a start of a cold forming or my nose is a little stuffed up, I go for a run, and it feels better than any cold medicine I could ever take. The first cold I've gotten in years and years was after taking almost a month off of my workout schedule.

I get to eat more. Mmmmmm...food. I love food. Go run 10.5 miles and see how much you get to eat that day. It's awesome. even running 4.5, like I am tomorrow, makes for a much more filling day.

It's a challenge for myself. I'm constantly striving to go faster, go further and just overall be better than I am. When I run in races, I'm not racing anyone there except for myself. Which keeps me on top of my training, so that I can keep advancing.

There's more stuff that makes it special to me, and yeah, there's also stuff I hate about it. But the good so far outweighs the bad, I don't see running not being a part of my life anytime soon.

Oh yeah, and if you're dealing with injuries, try mixing up the running. When I ran every single day, I had constant injuries. But once I changed my training schedule to include days that were for strength and days that were for cross-training cardio (ARC trainer, roller skating, elliptical, bicycle, whatever your preference.) I've been completely injury-free. (well, from working out, I suffered a leg injury last fall, but it wasn't due to the exercise)

I haven't moved into the "love for running" group yet...but I do love the calorie burn that I get from it...and the sense of accomplishment after I finish a run, or get to a new milestone with it!

When you fart, no one can hear!

Hehe

I love running, it breaks the monotony and stuffyness of the gym. It makes you feel athletic and proud when you run further or faster

I just dislike the runny nose!

easy to do with little or no equipment

This. Some of us can't afford a gym or fancy exercise equipment, so running is the best option.

P.S.

I do barefoot running and, though I was sore as hell for the first few weeks (take slow if you're going to try this), I've never gotten an injury and I rarely have any sort of foot or leg pain anymore, even when I'm on my feet for almost eight hours straight at work.

Definately-zombie factor a HUGE factor LOL

I have NEVER ever considered myself a runner and when I first started "jogging" I could barely lift my feet of the ground, instead perfecting a shuffle. I am now running and loving it, particulary early evening / mornings when its cooler and calm and if its drizzling even better.

There is nothing particularly special about running as a form of exercise. In moderation is can improve metabolic efficiency body-wide and generally improve health in sedentary individuals. However, strength training is far superior with many more advantages than steady-state aerobic activity. For example, only anaerobic exercise offers all of the following benefits.

• Stronger bones & increased mineral density
• Stronger body & musculature
• More robust organ and systemic fitness
• Improved cardio-vascular function (better than "cardio")
• Higher basal metabolic rate (50 cal/day/pound of muscle)
• Healthier immune system
• Easier fat loss
• Increased energy and efficiency
• Improved physical appearance
• Slows natural loss of muscle mass over age 30

There is a potentially significant down-side to running too much. For example, check the following execerpt from this book --> http://www.bodybyscience.net/home.html/?page_id=18

"The scientific literature is filled with data that strongly make the case that long distance runners are much more likely to develop cardio-vascular disease, atrial fibrillation, cancer, liver and gallbladder disorders, muscle damage, kidney dysfunction (renal abnormalities), acute microthrombosis in the vascular system, brain damage, spinal degeneration, and germ-cell cancers than are their less active counterparts."

Each assertion is footnoted. They're making the point that most people have "cardio" all wrong and don't really understand how to train to be fit. The book explains why running is so incorrectly associated with cardio-vascular fitness and positive health benefits when it does little to build the systemic and organic fitness which can only be provided by increasing lean muscle mass. It's a "must read" for all trainers.

Good luck and good health!!

♠

I just decided that as an adult male, a father, and husband, I should be able to at the very least run a mile, now I can, and I will continue adding to that base :happy:

Me, I've been able to get rid of a lot of my asthma, although I still have it, I don't get it as often. It's time I can have with my children uninterrupted by homely duties, just me with kids and bikes. We get to see lots of wonderful things as well on our journey's.

And I'm losing weight while doing it. A lot of my reason for not wanting to go to the gym was because I felt guilty leaving my children and felt that I was being selfish, now I don't have to feel selfish and I can do it everyday. LOVE IT!

Each to their own though, find something you love and do that if you stick to something you don't really like you won't want to do it long term