Running 101: Embrace the Lifestyle

About a year ago I was on a run with a fellow Twin Cities physician, and we began discussing our motivation for running, including both short-term and long-term goals.  Usually, these types of conversations invariably prompt mentioning of some combination of prior sports participation, personal health experiences, influential figures, and distance or time goals. 

In the midst of our relatively predictable dialogue however, the other doc summarized the driving force fueling his decades-long running tenure in a simplistic, poignant way that was still so impactful to me that I’ve adopted it as a personal mantra for my own running journey.  “I just like the lifestyle.”

Whether you are an experienced, accomplished runner or a novice looking to get a little more active, I encourage you to embrace the lifestyle of being a runner and the benefits that it provides to our overall health and wellbeing.

Let’s start with the obvious, particularly given my background as an internal medicine physician.  Running is good for your overall physical health.  Several studies support the notion that regular exercise – which running is an effective, efficient form of – lowers the risk of death from all causes and reduces the risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, dementia, certain cancers, and osteoporosis.  In fact, there is evidence that suggests that the risk of dying prematurely lessens as the amount of moderate-intensity or vigorous-intensity activity increases.

Running is also good for your mental health.  In addition to the physical benefits that running provides, there are several psychological benefits of regular physical activity.  These include reduced risk of anxiety and depression and improved cognition.  Running can provide you with time alone to think and reflect, and it’s an outlet for stress relief.  Regular physical activity is also associated with improved sleep and improved quality of life.

Running can provide structure that allows for improved performance in other areas of your life.  Preparing for and committing to runs is a practice in discipline and activity prioritization.  Incorporating the time for runs and the associated needs for sleep, rest, and recovery requires time management and the elimination of activities that may be of low value.  In addition, the strategic planning required to accomplish short- and long-term race or performance goals is a transferable skill that can be applied professionally.

Running improves your diet.  In order to maximize performance, you’ll find yourself eliminating or minimizing certain foods and drinks that don’t provide high nutritional value.  Paying attention to your personal gut health becomes important as mileage increases, and adequate water intake and hydration are non-negotiable priorities.

Finally, there is a social benefit of running that should be underscored.  Running provides the opportunity to join clubs, crews, groups, and communities based on location, background, race, ethnicity, gender, and other personal characteristics – in-person or virtually.  It’s an opportunity for accountability, engagement, and kinship in a world that can sometimes seem impersonal.

While I’m sure that certain personality types are attracted to physical activity and running, I think that committing to being a runner shapes and molds us in a way that enriches other facets of our lives.  I think we become better versions of ourselves regardless of how we otherwise identify or function.  I’m thus appreciative of the ability to run and what running in essence does for me.  I like the lifestyle, and it is my hope that you do as well. 

Running 101: Advice for Getting Started

Throughout April, the TCM Motion Experts  have shared advice from their areas of expertise focused especially for new runners . If you're a new runner, we hope you find the information helpful. If you're a veteran runner, consider sharing the content with a run-curious friend or family member to help get them in motion. Find all the Running 101 content here.

New series coming in July ... the Motion Experts will offer advice for more experienced runners looking to push themselves further and faster with in our next month-long series: "PR Pursuit."

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Introducing the newest member of the Motion Experts team ...

Kenneth G Poole, Jr, MD, is an internal medicine physician with a special interest in running. He is one of the team of Motion Experts TCM has gathered to help its subscribers and participants get the most out of their running. Instagram: @renaissance_doc; X: @KPooleMD