IN MY RUNNING ERA
True transformation begins when we step out our comfort zone. My personal journey with running it’s the perfect example. I used to dread it. I used to run only to warm up before my workouts or, sometimes, just to burn off some extra calories. I thought running was tough, time consuming, boring and, mostly, I couldn’t understand it. Plus, I was afraid that it would make me lose all the muscles I had built with great effort in the past years of my bulking phases.
In short, running for me was a double-edged sword, and a mystery. But I couldn't help being fascinated by it. Because I’m very curious as a person, and I wanted to understand running.
How did marathon runners have such a resilient mind and body that they could run more than 40 km? How can the human body sustain such exertion and self-consumption as that of ultra-marathon runners?
Last winter I had a stalematein my fitness journey like I had never had before. I had lost motivation, I was stuck. I forced myself to go to sculpt classes and lifting weights was becoming boring.. it was just a phase, that was totally ok…and now looking back at it, I wish I listened to my body, asking for rest.
One day my boyfriend gave me a book. A little book. He was thrilled when he gave it to me because he said he had never read anything like it. I was incredulous... why should I care about a book about an ultra-marathon runner.
The book is called 'Ultra' written by Folco Terziani and Michele Graglia and it tells the incredible story of a guy who had everything but was nothing, and in the return to the primordial act of running he found his freedom, his courage, his purest being. Because in the end the ultra is no longer a sport: it is a means of reaching nature and oneself.
I became fascinated by running, by slowly overcoming my limits, setting myself goals, getting out of my comfort zone, where I thought I would never go, and getting out of a phase of my fitness journey in which I felt stuck. But above all, during my runs I can leave everything behind. The mind expands and the mood improves. It's just you and your body. A natural thing, without artifice, without tools, without engines.
You are in a pure connection with yourself.
Running is also a great reason to reconnect with nature, with environments we may not see every day because of our busy lives. But above all, it is an opportunity to meet new people who share the same passion as you.
You learn a lot by running, it's a life lesson. You don't always have to be in a hurry, trying to make the perfect tempo, especially if you’re a debutant. One of my first mistakes, at the beginning, was going too fast. I used to challenge myself more on speed than on distance. When, instead, I should have done exactly the opposite.
Starting a new running habit doesn’t have to be hard — all it takes is a comfortable pair of shoes and a willingness to move a little or a lot, all at your own pace.
One good tip to stay motivated, as well as having a well-made training playlist on your music device, is to find a race, sign up for it, pay for it and put it on your calendar. A fixed race date will help you stay focused, and keep you on a regular running schedule. A beginner can run any race — you just need to allow enough time to train for it.
I know…running might seem intimidating at first, but it’s defenitely worth the challenge. From your physical and mental health to your social life and sense of accomplishment, running can make you feel like the best version of yourself.
Running is also a wonderful way to meet and connect with other people. The magic of running doesn't miss this either! The people you meet at a marathon are simply the most extraordinary. No matter where you come from, no one is there to judge, just like you don't have to judge yourself, we are all there together to do the same thing. People with many different stories and people more similar to you than you could believe, all motivated by the same passion that pushes you to test your limits. When you’re there you only feel energy and happiness surrounding you.
Running is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is cheap and healthy. All you need is a pair of shoes and a good dose of motivation. Runners tend to live longer and have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer than nonrunners. One might assume that in order to acheive the biggest rewards, you need to regularly run long distances, but there’s strong evidence linking even very short, occasional runs to significant health benefits, particularly when it comes to longevity and mental well-being.
Here’s 7 Evidence-Supported benefits from running:
Running adds years to your life and life to your years.
Running helps you sleep better.
Running improves your immunity.
Running improves mental health, and reduces depression.
Running reduces anxiety and stress.
Running improves cognitive function, reduces cognitive decline, improves glucose regulation, and lowers risk of diabetes and pre-diabetes.
Running builds your self-esteem
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