Runnin’ through my Mind

It will come as no surprise to read that running is excellent for your health, but it may surprise you to learn how beneficial going on that extra-long jog is for your mental wellbeing. How? I’m glad you asked:

Exercise releases endorphins, brain chemicals that produce feelings of happiness and euphoria. Exercise can even alleviate symptoms of long-term depression. There’s a possibility you learned this little fact from Legally Blonde, and if you’re too embarrassed to admit you gleaned it from that movie, you may now quote this article. You’re welcome.

Running prevents cognitive decline. As our bodies age, so do our brains. Alzheimer’s and other degenerative diseases eat away at our brain cells, causing our brains to shrink. Running doesn’t cure the problem, but does protect the brain by giving the memory and learning center of the brain (the hippocampus) “armor.”

Pavement-pounding helps control addiction. Running releases dopamine, your brain’s “reward chemical,” which is released during sex, drug use, and eating. Jogging can serve to distract alcoholics and drug addicts, and make them de-prioritize their dopamine release (at least for a short time.)

Jogging boosts your creativity. Getting your heart pumping boosts your creativity for up to two hours, and doing so outdoors will maximize those benefits. Looking for a creative way to boost that TPS report for work? Go for a run, and think of a new way to really jazz up the cover sheet.

Running improves your self-esteem. Turns out, you can be as fat as Jupiter and a good ol’ fashioned sprint around the park will have you striding like Adonis into work. Any physical fitness can boost your self-esteem regardless of size, sex, weight, or age.

Jogging increases relaxation and sleep. Working out five to six hours before bed increases your body’s core temperature, which drops to normal a few hours later, giving your body the sensation of a sleeping pill, and kicking your sleep systems into gear. This can even work on people who have insomnia. So lace up, Denver, and hopefully I’ll see you out on the trail!