Have you ever heard someone say, “I love to run”? That quote makes me think, do I love to run, or do I need to run? One of the most frequent questions I encounter is “WHY do you run?”
Running is a sport that embraces thoughts that crave answers to the questions of who, what, where, when, and why. Thinking back to the moment I began my running journey I am reflective on why I began this path over 20 years ago. As with most women, I began running to curb a weight gain progression. I hadn’t mastered my nutritional needs versus my love of food. I saw running as an exercise that gave me the “biggest bang for my buck”. In just 30 minutes, I could burn 300 calories, if I just laced up. At that time, it just seemed manageable and obtainable.
If you are a beginner runner or even an avid runner, consider more than the why in this scenario, but rather WHAT types of runs that will help achieve weight loss. In recent years, I have had to change my running to meet my different goals. If your goal is weight loss, consider running with speed incorporated into the run. Distance running builds endurance and many other health benefits but will challenge the weight loss goal. Also, if your goal is weight loss, consider short, speed intervals for running. This will burn fat and allow you to burn more calories in less time.
As time passed, I realized that my weight goals were not the only reason I ran. In the next few blogs, I will provide you with reasons that may spark your interest to run or even better enhance your rationale for running. In the meantime, I ask you, WHY do you run?
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