Running is a form of exercise that is more than just pain, exhaustion, and grief. Running is something that is fun, relaxing, and beneficial. You may be asking how I can make such bold claims. I have been running my entire life and I currently am on both track and cross country. The most beneficial aspects of running include Mental health, Fitness, and Reduced stress.

To begin with, Running can improve your mental health drastically. Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, we are stuck in a quarantine with way too much time on our hands. I am confident when I say that many teens’ mental health has declined since last year. Running has allowed me to stay sane during these times because I have something to look forward to everyday. According to Dr. Linden of Hopkins Medicine, running improves your memory and focus, ability to switch tasks, and elevates your mood. This occurs because of the endorphins that are released during a run. The exercise acts as a natural antidepressant.

Running also improves your fitness more than any other physical activity. I noticed that many people want to start getting in shape and have no idea where to begin. This is an easy entrance into the world of fitness. Running has allowed me to build more muscle and strength in my legs, core, and upper body. This occurs because during the exercise you are constantly losing fat, building muscle, and elevating your metabolism. Running will get you into shape due to the amount of calories that are being burned.

Stress can also be reduced through the act of running. Many students are currently stressed, along with the massive amount of homework that is being given out. Running helps me to deal with stress because it gives me a way to use my energy and go outside. Running can actually clear your bloodstream of stress related chemicals, regulate your sleep, and give you higher DH3 levels due to the exposure to sunshine. Overall, you will be more relaxed due to running.

You may say that you don’t want to run and that is fine. Many people are really busy and just can’t fit running into their schedule. There are many days where I have so many things going on that it’s hard to find time to run. Others just can’t afford to lose weight or muscle mass from running which is also very understanding. At the end of the day, running is something that is very beneficial and I hope that you can at least give it a shot and experience running for yourselves.