Going for a run is one of the most popular exercises in recent years. We tell you why more and more people are taking up this sport.
Running has undoubtedly become in recent years the fashionable sport par excellence. The parks and cities have been filled with more and more people who practice this activity, in which there is no age or time limit and does not involve a great cost to practice it. But what is so special about running?
The recognition of the beneficial effects of this exercise, from both a physical and psychological point of view, is more than evident. However, several studies have shown that the regular practice of running also produces a series of emotional changes that have a direct impact on the quality of life of the person who practices it.
Running promotes improved self-esteem and self-confidence
Running helps us to experience a pleasant sense of well-being because, on a hormonal level, our body secretes a series of chemicals such as serotonin – which is the hormone that makes us feel good and helps us rest. Serotonin is sometimes defined as the “off switch” for anger, and therefore people who exercise regularly feel calmer and have fewer emotional ups and downs. Adrenaline which promotes cortisol (stress hormone) regulation, and promotes motivation and performance. And dopamine, which is released during a pleasurable experience and promotes a sense of “well-being”.
Running not only helps us to feel good and free us from daily stress, but it is also a sport that channels emotions such as anger and sadness. People who practice it say they “feel liberated from their worries after practicing this sport”. Even professional runners define what they feel in a marathon as “an explosive mixture of sensations such as anger, euphoria, pain, fatigue and emotions to the surface”.
Running helps to improve self-esteem and self-confidence, since it contributes to knowing one’s personal limits and being able to overcome them. It is an activity that generates illusion and in most cases represents a challenge, which ends up becoming a habit and this causes a greater sense of stability and balance on an emotional level.
It helps us reduce stress and anxiety as runners are better able to deal with their stressors effectively. This is attributed to the fact that it renews their thought management, keeps their minds free of worries and gives them time to think, reflect and concentrate.
Therefore, we can affirm that the habit of running regularly allows the possibility of living a transformative experience, which can have a very positive impact on the emotional health of those who practice it.
