(guess what this post is about...)
From that day on, if I was going somewhere, I was running.
Forrest Gump
If you’d had met me 5 years ago, running was one of the worst type of exercise I could think of. I didn’t see the point in it, I couldn’t imagine it being a pleasurable activity. I associated running with short-breathiness, cramps and stich, general pain, and blisters. Clearly nothing attractive in that. But as I mentioned in a previous post (see Being a gym rat), I started running about 4 years ago and actually enjoyed it. Quite a lot of research had been and still is conducted on the effect of running, from going for a short jog to signing up for one of those (semi)marathon, ultra-marathon and other dreadful forms of intense, sur-human runs. I thought it’d be cool to do a summary of the main findings on WHY people actually run.
First things first, I think it’s important to remember that there are a lot of different types of runners out there. You have the goal-oriented runner, for who running is a way to get fit or loose weight and nothing else. That goal is what get them go for a run. Then, you have the performance-oriented runner, for who running is a mean to push and challenge yourself to always go further, faster, and for longer times. There is the social-runner, going with their friends for a jog and a chat, enjoying the time together while getting fit. The nature-runner, who sees running as a way to discover their surrounding. There is also the runner that go out to sort things out, as running is a way to calm down and can help provide a different take on situations.
This is definitely not an exhaustive list but I would think those types sum up most runners. It is not an exclusive list either, as you can belong to more than one of those categories: discover your surrounding while training for a marathon; going for a jog with friends to loose weight; using the chat with your friends to sort things out; etc. You get the picture.
Now, what are the ups of running?
Running has been shown to re-wire your brain. In 2016, a study showed that runners had greater inter-connectivity between the part of the brain responsible for self-control and working memory. Running seems cognitively demanding: you need to pay attention to your surrounding as well as your sensation, leading to higher brain activity and the creation of different neuronal pathways between various areas of the brain we don’t necessarily use together in our daily lives.
Short runs and interval trainings (yuk!) have been shown to improve executive function and cognitive flexibility. That means that after a running exercise, you seem more focus on the situation at hand, able to make rapid decisions, but also to adapt to changes fasters. And it seems to improve the ability to learn by boosting memory retention.
Then there is the runner’s high, the sense of euphoria after a run linked to a sense of accomplishment… and chemical changes in your brain. Completing a run seems to trigger the release of endorphins, opioids, and other wonderful molecules that create a natural high. Before the high, running also helps quieten your mind. When feeling stressed, worried, or ruminating a lot, going for a run appears to have a calming effect, helping to cope with the situation and putting thing into perspective. Likewise, it helps regulating emotions, not only during the run but also after. Specially, it seems to allow a better control over negative emotions. Finally, the sense of accomplishment after a super long run seems to wipe out the memory of the pain (just like child birth! Hmm, ok, off topic… but true!).
Sounds like running is this magical answer to all our problems. Feeling down or moody? Go for a run! Want to be more focus at work? Go for a run! Want to feel legally high? Go for a run! However, there are some downsides to running…
Running releases feel-good hormones in the brain… which can create addiction! It might be an addiction having more positive outcomes than most (getting fit, being healthy…) but it can become very dangerous. First, in order to achieve the runner’s high, regular runner might have to run for longer, push their body further and further. The brain becomes habituated to the fell-good hormones realised and in need of a higher “dose” to feel the effects. Which brings us to the second point: in order to reach that goal, some runners will disregard sensation of pains and discomfort to the point that they will put their bodies in danger. This can lead to physical issues, such as knees injuries, back problems, internal dysfunction. When you stop wanting to go for a run and feeling that you have to, there is a problem...
Running is a great way to get fit. It can be fun and it can be challenging. It is one of the most versatile form of exercise as it is what you make it. Everybody sees running in a different way; there is no right or wrong take on it, there is yours and that’s the one that matters. For me, running is an excuse to listen to music and enjoying the landscape. What is it gonna be for you?
Sources
https://digest.bps.org.uk/2017/04/19/10-ways-that-running-changes-your-mind-and-brain/
https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-30/may-2017/minds-run-free
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