By: The Mizuno Shoe Guy
As a runner my entire life, I’ve always felt a little different. As a kid, I ran back and forth to school when nobody else did and was mocked for doing so. Even in college when everybody was drinking themselves under the table, I ran. And continue to do so.
Still, I’m pretty much an average guy in most respects. Average height, maybe a little on the skinny side, but I’m your basic normal guy.
Funny thing is I don’t feel normal. Never have.
Running always made me feel different—and it still does. But I like feeling different. This average guy, this very average runner, feels very uncommon. The common guy is still sound asleep when I’m out running. The common guy’s idea of fun is playing a video game, while mine is a long run. The common guy feasts on steak, burgers and ribs; I prefer pasta and salad. The common guy’s idea of sports is watching someone else do something remarkable on TV. Mine is running a race.
Even when it comes to races, most of us are decidedly average, finishing somewhere in the middle of the pack. I’m not fast, but I can outrun 99 percent of all Americans. Most people can barely drive 26 miles, but I can run that far. I’ll bet you can too. In that respect, by the very definition, we are exceptional human beings.
So we know that running makes us a bit different, but does it also truly make us better people?
I think it does.
Here’s just some of the evidence:
– Runners are smarter longer. Several studies have shown that 40+ runners who have been exercising for 15 years or longer have sharper minds than non-exercisers of the same age and education levels. For reasons unclear to researchers, exercise slows down the gradual breakdown of the “white matter” in our brains which is an essential part of our nervous system and constitutes the communication system of our brain. As people age, the breakdown of this white matter is one of the main reasons people lose memory and motor control. But consistent exercise, including running, slows the degradation of the white matter. One theory is exercise stimulates the white matter and keeps it active, rather than losing it through disuse. Even if you are not an older runner, running makes you smarter because it increases blood flow to the brain.
– Runners are leaner. We burn a lot of calories while running (duh), but we also continue a caloric burn for an extended period after we stop. If you run at least five days a week for 30-60 minutes, you will reduce your body fat.
– Runners have strong hearts. Our bodies quickly adapt to running and one of the greatest changes is to our heart muscle. As we run, our heart becomes stronger and it increases its efficiency at pumping blood to the rest of our body. Cardiovascular endurance quickly improves as the heart doesn’t have to work as hard because it can pump the necessary blood with fewer beats per minute which, in turn, lowers our resting heart rate.
– Runners have better circulation. As we run, our heart beats faster to keep up with the demand for blood and the blood vessels expand to provide more blood to the working muscles. The more we run, the fitter we become which is a simple way to explain the increased efficiency in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This improved circulation reduces our risk of arterial sclerosis and the blockage of arterial pathways that can lead to strokes and heart attack.
– Runners have healthier joints. Every runner has heard time and time again from well-meaning friends and family that running is bad for your knees. Not true. Actually, it’s just the opposite. Running increases bone mass and stems age-related bone loss. Running not only doesn’t damage the knees and other joints; it reduces the risk of osteoarthritis.
– Runners live longer. Simply put, healthier people who eat right and exercise consistently can extend their lives anywhere from two to five years. Even smokers who quit and start exercising can add about four years to their lives.
– Runners are happier. We just are. On average, we’re more positive and optimistic than sedentary people. Every runner knows how even a 30-minute run can elevate our mood. Even a depressed person who turns to exercise will discover it’s an effective treatment. Also, many runners discover the “runner’s high” which is a very real, post-run flood of feel-good hormones.
So we might be different, but that’s a good thing. It’s what propels us forward every day. In our case, being different is a good thing.