Long Distance Running

Running and more particularly long-distance running, is an excellent way to build and maintain body fitness. By boosting your aerobic system, running promotes good health and greater muscular stamina. The constancy that long-distance running provides - as opposed to the extremely variable nature of sprinting - gives your aerobic system a thorough workout, whilst increasing your short-term metabolism and endorphin levels.

Health Benefits

Arguably, the most obvious benefit of distance running and jogging are those to your health.
With the respiratory system, including the heart and lungs, being exercised almost to capacity,
it can help maintaining healthier circulation and lowering resting heart rate. During, and in the hours following, a long-distance run your body's metabolism increases, which helps reduce calories in your system and subsequently fight any areas of excess fat.

Reducing the Risks of Injury

Alongside the numerous health benefits there are also a few hazards to be wary of. The most common of these is damage to the joints in the lower body, caused by constant jarring inherent in the running technique. This can particularly affect the ankles and knees, which absorb much of the shock generated when pounding the streets (or the treadmill). This risk can be lowered by ensuring that you do a full warm-up and warm-down before and after training. Ankle and knee supports are also readily available if you are susceptible to injury in these joints; likewise a good pair of absorbent shoes can help significantly reduce the strain placed on joints.

Getting a Natural High

Another positive, in the most literal sense of the word, is the increase in endorphin levels within your body whilst training. Endorphins are a natural kind of morphine produced by the body and released into the bloodstream, making you feel on cloud nine, something which is often referred to as 'runner's high'. So despite the grueling work on a treadmill, road or path, you'll feel great and benefit from all the health benefits to boot.

So if you're looking to get fit and feel fantastic, long-distance running may be for you. Whether you choose to get on the treadmill at home or the local gym or go out and about to enjoy the surrounding area and some fresh air, running is a great way to build fitness and achieve weight loss. The only equipment you'll need is a good pair of shoes and some standard gym wear, making it one of the simplest exercises to get started with, so what are you waiting for?!