The new year is upon us and with it comes the time to recommit to yourself – mentally and physically . As with each passing year , you tell yourself that 2018 will be different ; this time you will reach your health goals and release the fitness freak within .
But where do you start ? Do you join the gym or invest in equipment for the home ? Or do you head down the rabbit hole of Googling countless home workout videos that leave you too mentally exhausted to even workout ?
We say you ditch the research migraine and save your bank account from taking a hit every month through a gym membership , and instead take up one simple activity – running .
This is no infomercial . Running is regarded as being one of the best calorie-blasting workouts around , and here are 7 other reasons you should take it up .
You can do it anywhere It ’ s safe to say that the more accessible and hassle-free a fitness regime is , the likely anyone is to stick to it . So be it a park or a street walk , you can rack up the kilometres practically anywhere , even on your next vacation .
Save some cash Forget fancy equipment and exuberant gym memberships , with running the only tool you need is the right footwear .
Make new friends As we enter adulthood , one thing becomes startlingly clear , making friends is no longer as simple as it was in
Tips from a trainer
HEALTH & WELLNESS
adolescence . But meeting up with individuals with similar interests and hobbies is always a great way to start building friendship , so search around for a local running club or set up an impromptu one through social media .
Sleep better A 2013 survey from the National Sleep Foundation reported that regular exercisers get in better shut-eye than even the most dedicated of couch potatoes . Even better , they found that a little goes a long way too with just 10 minutes of physical activity enough to show signs of better sleep .
Fewer trips to the doctor Active people are less likely to develop colon and breast cancer . Their hearts are much healthier too , vastly reducing their risk of coronary diseases . Generally , all systems are a go with frequent workouts , leaving you feeling better allround and slowly diminishing chances of contracting a number of illnesses and diseases .
Destress The next time work pushes you to tear your hair out or knock out a colleague , hit the track instead . Exercise has shown to release endorphins , automatically giving your mood a much-needed boost , and even helping remodel the brain into a calmer and stress-resistant organ .
Live longer There ’ s solid evidence that daily moderate running adds years to your life , so not only do runners show fewer disabilities and remain active longer than their stationary counterparts , they live longer too – the health benefits just keep on coming .
If you have been convinced to take up this butt-kicking workout , here are four nuggets of wisdom from Dubai-based fitness instructor and the founder of Run Wild Run Free , Tala Al Ejou .
Start off slow : get a good base first before suddenly deciding to run 10km . You need to work up to it and understand that everything in fitness takes time – have patience , let your body adapt to running and over time as you get fitter , those 10min runs you start off with will easily turn into 30min ones
Run by time and not distance : it sounds less intimidating to go out and run for 20min then it is to go out and run 5km . Running a distance sets too much pressure to get to that distance , while running by a set time , you enjoy the experience more
Invest in comfy shoes : nothing is worse than ending up with terrible blisters after your first run . Find the right pair that fit you . Feel out the padding and the breathability instead of purchasing a pair that simply look cute or hot
Find a community or club : running with others is one of the best motivators to keep you going . It pushes you more and even leaves you with a feeling of accountability if you ever plan on skipping a session !
For more information about her initiative Run Wild Run Free , visit runwildrunfree . ae