by A. South

Created on: January 30, 2010

Whether you love or hate running, the simple act of regularly putting one foot in front of the other benefits athletes in almost every sport, and increase fitness while relieving stress.

Running is perhaps the most simple of sports.  There’s no special equipment or costly facilities required.  To be a runner, you don’t need a coach or training on special skills.  It’s almost as beneficial as it is simple.  David Geier, M.D., Sports Medicine Director at the medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, says running increases stamina, improves speed and power, and reduces stress. 

Running isn’t just good for runners. Running helps athletes in sports like soccer, football and basketball.  Running can increase stamina as well as help athletes recover from a tough workout or game.  It can sometimes be hard to convince athletes to run, but the benefits are indisputable.  Olympic athletes including speed skater Apolo Ohno, figure skater Ashley Wagner, skier Billy Demong and snowboarder Steve Fisher all report running as an integral part of their training. 

And since merely running is so beneficial to athletes, running fast is like giving kryptonite to your opponents.  Speed work, as runners call it, is a workout when runners do interval workouts, workouts that include bursts of speed followed by breaks, and another burst.  For example, a typical speed workout is one where the runner will warm up for a mile, then run 400 meters (one lap around the track) at their race pace).  After a minute or so of recovery, they do another.  Intervals can be short (50 or 100 meters) or for long distance races, longer (a mile or longer for each interval).  These workouts don’t just help runners cross the finish line faster, they help athletes increase their power.  Interval workouts will give athletes the explosive abilities required for quick movements.

In addition to the physical benefits, running has incredible mental benefits.  Running for as little as ten minutes releases mood-improving and stress-reducing hormones, or “feel good” hormones.  This is especially true after a long, hard day at work.  On days when you come home mentally exhausted, go for a run!  Mental fatigue and physical fatigue aren’t related, so when your mind needs a little downtime, running might be just the solution. 

From competitive athletes to those looking to lose a few pounds or get back into shape, running is a simple way to burn some calories, and increase your power, endurance, and physical and mental stamina. 

Learn more about this author, A. South.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.