Tags: Running
By Alexander Villafania
MANILA, METRO MANILA — Having a regular exercise regimen is an importat part of keeping fit and having a good, active lifestyle. But in the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s still hard to find time to keep fit. It’s even harder to find the right kind of exercise that would be within the range of one’s time, budget, and most important of all, interest. In most cases, people working in 9-to-5 jobs usually just quit even before they start, primarily because of lack of interest.
Even if there is interest, the next problem would be finding the time. All exercise requires time, and for those who want to be serious, they will have to allocate a significant amount of it. Their bodies have to get past the laziness bubble and remain active or the purpose of exercising becomes for naught.
But one exercise that seems to be gaining a foothold — literally — is running. It is perhaps one of the simplest but most active exercises anyone can do. While running has been around for a while, it’s only been in recent years that interest in this sport has grown. Before, groups of runners would come together to organize fun runs. Now, even corporations are jumping into the fray, organizing and sponsoring running events. Companies like Kenny Rogers, Century Tuna, Globe, Condura, Unilab, Merrell, and Microsoft regularly hold different running activities across the Philippines.
Running has become a regular activity that even cities are partnering with corporations to hold their running events. In one month, there are at least three major organized events happening in the country. The most favorite track is the one in Bonifacio Global City, which can accommodate a 21-kilometer run. There are also events held in Subic, Cebu and Davao. However, an improperly organized running event can be disastrous. One such event is a major marathon event in October 2009 organized by the Quezon City administration, which saw the closing of major areas along Commonwealth Avenue. Even when there were announcements of rerouting schemes weeks ahead, the nine-hour event caused major traffic jams in the rerouted areas. Still, the marathon was considered a success as thousands of runners joined the event.
Even though it’s a simple activity, running brings with it many benefits, most especially better cardio-vascular circulation. The heart pumps faster when running and as such, blood flows throughout the body, bringing with it the necessary nutrients to sustain the physical activity. Good blood circulation is also effective in removing toxins from the body, which results in better health.
An article from MedicineNet.com cites a very comprehensive report on the history and health benefits of running. It underscored the benefits of running, especially an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or the “good cholesterol” and reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol. As such, regular running significantly reduces coronary heart disease. They also have greatly reduced risks of having high blood pressure and are more resistant to many diseases.
Running is also a great way to lose weight. Calories are burned much faster when running, and since it requires a lot of energy, the extra fat stored in the body is also being used. A health website has an online calorie-burning calculator, which shows that a person weighing 145 lbs. and runs at around 10 kilometers per hour can burn as much as 2,000 calories. However, it is also important to note that a person would not lose as much fat as wanted if he or she is consuming the same amount if not more calories that what is being burned.
Running is easy to pick up, by just about all people from any age group who still have a good pair of legs. However, like all very physical activity running requires some planning, especially if it is done by first-timers who plan to pursue it as a regular activity. Without proper guidance, a fairly easy exercise can cause serious, long term injury. Takbo.ph, a local website for runners, enumerated several ways on how to prepare for running. Some of the suggestions include preparing the necessary equipment, set goals as to the purpose of running, and start slow. When running a few laps or kilometers becomes natural, then an increase in pace would be at hand. This means setting longer goals and planning ahead. Takbo.ph also suggests that serious runners should see a doctor to find risk factors. Joining running clinics with other runners will also provide a starting runner more information about how to go about with running.
There are a few more suggestions for people who want to start running. One of these is to find a good spot to run. In most cases, parks are the best places for starting runners. There is little to no vehicular traffic and the air is cleaner. Having a running buddy can also be beneficial as a runner can monitor his or her pace in comparison to the running budy. Also, one can build a social bond with other runners.
Of course, the availability of equipment is important. Runners should choose a good pair of shoes that fit their style of running. Brands like Nike, Adidas, and New Balance have different shoe models that comply with the running styles of people. A shop called Runnr in Bonifacio High Street at Bonifacio Global City has a treadmill with a camera at the back to monitor a runner’s gait, thus providing the prospective buyer with the right kind of shoes.
As it is, running is not a complex activity. It is a cheap form of exercise that can benefit a person’s well-being. However, a little planning ahead will also make a huge difference. Because it is easy to pick up, and with the support of many running communities, this activity will surely remain a long-term activity.
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