What is so special about running???

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... lol!!!!!

1) Inexpensive
2) Get outdoors which is a big deal for those of us who are in office settings
3) Good time to think; it's much cheaper than therapy
4) Tremendous sense of accomplishment when you do something like finish a marathon

Becasue you look hot while doing it

You wouldn't say that if you had ever seen me wearing running tights!:laugh:

Nothing if you hate it. I have tried running several times and never got the 'high' that other posters are talking of. I love walking, and it burns almost as many calories as running - just takes you longer to get there!
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that made me laugh. I too run occasionally, but like you i enjoy walking awhole lot more. may take longer but at least we enjoy the trip. :laugh: ]

Whats so special about running? well its a sense of achievement for a start. I started a year ago having struggled most of my life with weight and fitness issues. Last summer on my birthday I ran 13.5 miles in 2 hrs 15 mins - not blisteringly quick by any means but wow what an achievement. Yes the hardest thing is getting out of your chair and putting your shoes on, then the first 10 mins a barrier but after that you feel like you could go on and on. Brilliant - love it.

It is what the human body is designed, or evolved if you like, to do. Humans are the best endurance runners on the earth. To run is to be human.

I completely agree with this. We are designed to be able to run for days. Most animals are faster, but can only do an hour or so.

A really good illustration of this is in the film The Eagle. My husband was complaining it was unrealistic that a group of Picts managed to run down some people on horse back. I pointed out that in a day, absolutely, horses are faster. Over three days, the chances are the humans will win.

It burns a decent amount of calories, it's a great stress reliever...

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

hahaha.

interval running has shred fat for me like crazy, aside from decreasing my resting heart rate as well. it makes me feel like i get a great workout in such a short amount of time. plus i like that it can be done outside or inside

I love running.
Its a great way to get out stress and unwind.
Its fun to compete with myself and see the improvements.
Running gets me outdoors and taking in the scenery, something I love is to be outdoors.

I love lifting weights.
its a great way to get out stress and unwind.
Its fun to compete with myself and see the improvements.
Lifting gets me in the gym and taking in the scenery, something I love is to be in the gym.

:happy:

My ode to running:

There are a thousand ways to love running. Can there be anything more wonderful than running through the woods (my preferred), or through the sand on the beach, or scrambling over rocks up mountains, or on the road's even undivided pace, or the bounce of the track, the wind in your hair, all cares behind you, thoughts free to wander where they will, the twinge of exertion in your quads, the challenge of intervals, the calm of a steady pace, the question of the trail's next turn, the warm sun on your skin, the cool of the winter's air in your lungs, the romance of the rain, the spring of your step to your favorite music, the sound of the wind in the trees mingled with the rhythm of your own breathing and regular footfall, the allure of personal bests, the feeling of deep exhaustion during a race and the dull happy relief afterward, the view from the top, the view from the bottom looking up, running clothes, the fun of run planning, the beginning of a run, the middle of a run, the end of a run, the run at dawn, the run at dusk, running with deer across a field in Ohio, running across those little wooden bridges on trails, running over stepping stones in water, jumping over small streams, running in snow, running up hills, running down hills, running around a lake, new routes, the pleasure of the tried-and-true route greeting you like an old friend, the brief knowing acknowledgment from runners passing, all this, yes all this, and more...

Running has been a godsend for me in the last year. I had a hell of a year (my mum was in hospice care for three months before she passed away last August) and running was one of the things that i could control. I could decide how far and how fast and how long and I found that I really enjoyed being able to achieve something positive when there were so many things that were completely beyond my control. Another surprising thing was that my running gave other people something positive to enjoy too - both mum and dad were very proud of the fact that I had lost weight and got fitter and was able to run... in fact I ran the local City to Surf race only a few days before mum passed away and apparently she told everyone in the hospital that "my daughter ran 12km in the the City to Surf today!"

Plus I like feeling fitter, my resting heart rate has dropped, running burns enough calories that I don't have to cut my calories too dramatically and, I just like it!

Awesome story and what an inspiration!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!