National Running Day

I usually eschew made-up holidays, but today,

The first Wednesday in June, I will be celebrating the fifth National Running Day by doing a loop of my neighborhood park, maybe even two.  For me, running is a complement to healthy eating.  Sometimes it’s compensation for less healthy eating, too.  Running is a low-cost activity that can be social, meditative, challenging, and rewarding.  Like almost everything, running can become more complicated than it needs to be, but in its essence, it is as natural as breathing.

With three kids at home, everyday I’m reminded of how innate our instinct to run is, unlike my desk job.  My youngest almost never walks, preferring the joy of running, whether it’s down the block or just between the kitchen and the playroom.  My middle child loves to race her sisters home.  My eldest ran her first 5K in March, and she was almost as proud of this accomplishment as I was. 

Why run?  Like almost any physical activity, running is good for your heart, your bones, your lungs, your digestive system, and for your brain.  For weight loss, running beats walking, probably because it’s more intense.  It also takes less time.  Assuming 100 calories burned per mile, one could burn 300 calories in almost half the amount of time running compared to walking.  When traveling, running is a great way to explore, whether it’s on city streets or in a park or trail.  Although your first few times running may feel like the hardest. thing. ever., your body quickly adapts, and you’ll quickly see improvements in your fitness.  Participating in races, whether you’re in it to win it or just to finish, is addictive.  In New York City, thousands of people turn out for road races most weekends, and it’s so inspiring to see the diversity of people who share a love of running.  The community aspect as well as the sense of pride in doing a longer distance or finishing faster is what keeps me racing and running.

If you’re not a runner, or haven’t exercised in years, talk to your doctor before you start.  If you’re interested in taking up running, start slowly, and enlist a friend to join you.  National Running Day has lots of great tips to get started, find a running group, or to stay motivated.  If you’re not able to or interested in running, do something else that’s active and reap the same benefits.

Why do you run?