● Game Changers Cardio
Seven benefits of running that will
make you want to start right now.1RUNNING CAN HELP YOU
LOSE WEIGHT
If you want to be healthy,
then maintaining a good,
healthy weight should
be right at the top of your
to-do list, and running
will help you tick that
off in double-quick time.
You burn a whole lot of
calories when running,
especially if you chuck
in a few sprint sections
during your run or
power through your
local parkrun. And even
if you just maintain a
nice, steady pace for 45
minutes, you’re going
to burn more calories
than when you push
yourself to the limit in
a 20-minute HIIT session.3RUNNING CLEARS
THE HEAD
Your mental health can
benefit from running just
as much as your physical
fitness. Running is your
own time, away from the
stresses of day-to-day life,
and the endorphin rush
you get from the activity
is a great pick-me-up.2RUNNING CAN MAKE YOU
FEEL HAPPIER
Runners are happier,
more positive and have
higher self-esteem,
according to a study
by Glasgow Caledonian
University, UK, of more
than 8,000 pavement
pounders, who scored 4.4
on the Oxford Happiness
Scale. The average score
is 4. Another study found
that the mental health
benefits of running were
almost instantaneous.Run club
It’s wise to take it slow
at the start of whatever
sport you decide to take
up, but it’s especially important with
running. That’s because running
can be an absolute chore at first.
Within a minute, you’re breathing
hard, muscles start screaming at you
within five, and after 10 a lot of people
have convinced themselves they
won’t bother with running again.
However, if you take it easy at the
start and don’t put any pressure on
yourself to run quickly, it won’t be long
until its charms become clear. Here
are seven reasons you’ll fall in love
with running if you give it a chance.I
34 MEN’S FITNESS SEPTEMBER 2019