Why bother paying large amounts of money for a gym? You’ve got a free one right outside your door! The River Thames, Richmond Park and local green areas are just a few examples of running routes in your local area that are completely free. There are also free races to compete in, such as Park run; held every Saturday at different locations around the country including Bushy Park and the River Thames.
Whether you’re running to lose weight or for the fun of it just a few miles have evident benefits for your body and health. Running is second only to cross country skiing in burning calories per minute, so a great way to lose weight, it can also slow down the aging process, muscles and bones become stronger due to the demands of a regular run meaning you are more likely to delay or avoid the effects of osteoporosis. Running also helps to promote Healthier lungs; by taking deep breaths during your exercise you are forcing your lungs to use more of their potential, up to 50% of the lung tissue you don't normally use. Regular runners also have significantly improved mental skills as they get older than more sedentary people and just 25 minutes of aerobic exercise has been shown to boost creativity. Finally running really improves your mood as endorphins start coursing through your system making everything seem better.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your trainers and go!
