Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!
So just like last week when I shared 13 benefits of running a half marathon to inspire you to sign up for that 13.1 mile race that's on your bucket list, I'm sharing 26 reasons (that's double the fun!) verywell fit says (*with my two cents thrown in if course) that you should train for and complete the greatest 26.2 mile race there ever was and there ever will be that will have you meandering down the scenic streets of Springfield this fall. Did I mention that Bass Pro has the best marathon pacers you could ever have as well? No joke! The Bass Pro Pace Team will not only help you make it from the start line to the finish line on time, but will leave you with wonderful memories about the experience! And did I also tell you that official training groups start in June to help you? It's true!! But before I get sidetracked any further, check out these 26 reasons (you can count the other tips as the .2 of the race, aka victory lane) you should get signed up:
Benefits for Your Physical Health
1. Improved overall health: Running regularly strengthens your heart by increasing your VO2 max (aerobic capacity) and helping keep your blood pressure and high cholesterol at healthy levels. It also improves your immune system and increases muscle strength. In addition, longer runs push your body to strengthen fast-twitch fibers in the muscles to combat fatigue and build strength and power.
2. Better sleep: Marathon training can be exhausting. Your body will crave sleep, since it repairs itself while you’re resting. You’ll find yourself getting to bed earlier and sleeping more soundly.
3. Better fitness: Marathon training challenges even the fittest athletes. If you’re not in good shape (or the best shape of your life) by the time you reach the starting line, your training may have been lacking.
4. Toned legs: Weight loss is often a goal of marathoners-in-training but, as many discover, it doesn’t always happen. Although you may not lose a lot of weight, logging all those miles will absolutely increase your lean muscle mass and tone your legs.
5. Guilt-free massages: Marathoners-in-training tend to get tight muscles, and regular massages can help you feel comfortable and stay injury-free. Treat yourself to a massage or two during your training to help relieve some of that tightness.
6. Room for extra calories: During your very long runs, you’ll be burning thousands of calories, so it’s OK to be a little indulgent after. You will be hungry, after all. You can run hard, and celebrate hard.
1. Improved overall health: Running regularly strengthens your heart by increasing your VO2 max (aerobic capacity) and helping keep your blood pressure and high cholesterol at healthy levels. It also improves your immune system and increases muscle strength. In addition, longer runs push your body to strengthen fast-twitch fibers in the muscles to combat fatigue and build strength and power.
2. Better sleep: Marathon training can be exhausting. Your body will crave sleep, since it repairs itself while you’re resting. You’ll find yourself getting to bed earlier and sleeping more soundly.
3. Better fitness: Marathon training challenges even the fittest athletes. If you’re not in good shape (or the best shape of your life) by the time you reach the starting line, your training may have been lacking.
4. Toned legs: Weight loss is often a goal of marathoners-in-training but, as many discover, it doesn’t always happen. Although you may not lose a lot of weight, logging all those miles will absolutely increase your lean muscle mass and tone your legs.
5. Guilt-free massages: Marathoners-in-training tend to get tight muscles, and regular massages can help you feel comfortable and stay injury-free. Treat yourself to a massage or two during your training to help relieve some of that tightness.
6. Room for extra calories: During your very long runs, you’ll be burning thousands of calories, so it’s OK to be a little indulgent after. You will be hungry, after all. You can run hard, and celebrate hard.
Benefits for Your Mental Health
Long runs play a big role in helping you hone your mental toughness and develop a coping system to deal with running day-after-day, mile-after-mile, in tough conditions. Running a marathon will also help you reap the following benefits...
7. Stress reduction: Research suggests that running in times of stress helps you better handle life's challenges by increasing your mental resilience.
8. A new outlook: This well-known maxim says it all: “The person who starts a marathon is not the same person who finishes a marathon.” You are sure to be a different person at the finish line because you’ll forever know that you have the mental and physical strength to persevere, even during times when you think you can’t and won’t succeed.
9. Inspiration: Whether it’s the double-amputee wheelchair racer, the 73-year-old grandmother running her 35th marathon, or your own kids holding “We love you!” signs, you'll find some inspiration around every turn.
10. Improved motivation: You can’t get away with not training when it comes to a marathon, so having one on your calendar will keep you motivated to stick to your training schedule. On days when your motivation is lacking, you'll think about how you'll feel if you're undertrained, can’t finish, or have to cancel and find the strength to train anyway.
Research shows that running may help alleviate symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, such as running, was found to be moderately more effective than no therapy for reducing depressive symptoms.
Benefits for Your Soul
Running a marathon isn't just good for your body and mind, it can also help feed your soul...
11. Support for a good cause: Many marathons benefit charities and worthwhile causes, from disaster relief to fighting cancer. Running for something that's bigger than you is a great way to stay motivated to keep training, meet other runners to train with, and make your training and races even more meaningful.
12. New friends: Joining a running group is a great way to meet new, like-minded people. In fact, many runners meet their best friends or even future partners through running groups.
13. Stronger relationships: You can also convince a friend or family member to train for a marathon with you. Training together and traveling to the race is a fun way to bond and spend time together.
14. Being a role model: It’s hard not to respect someone who is dedicated and determined to complete a substantial goal such as running a marathon. You’ll be setting a great example for many people in your life.
15. Gestures of love: It seems like a small thing, but seeing your friends and family on the sidelines, holding a funny or inspiring sign made just for you, is an entirely different and awesome feeling. Running a marathon is definitely a sign-worthy endeavor.
Benefits for Your Personal Development
Sign up for a marathon and you will instantly feel a sense of accomplishment. Start training for said marathon and you will find yourself experiencing changing and growing in many ways...
16. Staying busy: Training for a marathon takes up a lot of time. If you’ve gone through a recent life change that gives you some more free time, like retirement, a break-up, a job loss, or a newly empty nest, now might be the perfect time to take on the marathon challenge.
17. A new community: If you’ve been a casual runner up until this point, training for a marathon means that you won’t be able to avoid the runner’s subculture much longer. You’ll find yourself speaking in running acronyms and talking about running a lot.
18. Achieving a life-long goal: Many people have “run a marathon” on their bucket list, but few actually achieve it.
19. Proof you’re an athlete: OK, so proving to naysayers that you can complete an incredible physical achievement shouldn’t be the only reason you decide to train for a marathon, but it is a nice little bonus.
20. Confidence: Once you’ve logged a 20-miler, you’ll feel like you can conquer the world (after a post-run nap, of course). Your running confidence will surely overflow into other areas of your life, such as work and relationships.
21. Accomplishment. Although you’ll experience rough patches during marathon training and during the race, it’s all worth it once you cross that beautiful finish line. You’ll feel proud knowing that you set a goal of finishing a marathon and you followed through with it.
Fun Benefits
Training for and running a marathon takes so much mental and physical energy that it is sometimes easy to forget how much fun you are having. But there is definitely a lot of fun to be had in the overall experience...
22. Travel: If you love to travel, marathon running is a great excuse to visit a new city or country. You'll get to see a lot of the local area in the race and may even be able to score discounted marathon runner rates on hotel rooms.
23. New running clothes: You’ll be running a lot, so you won’t be able to get away with one or two running outfits, including running shorts, unless you want to be doing laundry constantly. Picking up new running gear is a great way to reward yourself for sticking to your training.
24. Local discoveries: If you typically stick to shorter distances for running and racing, training for a marathon will force you to find new places to run, since you'll be running a lot and you’ll get bored with the same routes. Check out MapMyRun.com or ask local runners for suggestions on where to run.
25. Finisher's swag: Whether it's a medal, a shirt, or a great finishing photo, you’ll get something that’s a recognition of your achievement. You may not wear it or look at it all the time, but it'll be there when you need a tangible reminder of your running prowess.
26. Bragging rights: Once you cross that finish line, you’re a marathon finisher and will always be one. No one can ever take that title away from you.
So there you have it friends. Those are 26 great reasons to get registered for the Bass Pro Marathon today while the rates are their best! And don’t forget to formulate a training plan and then tell someone about it. Your chances of achieving your goal are exponentially increased when you get some skin in the game by having your friends and family hold you accountable. Happy Running!
No comments:
Post a Comment