MIDWEEK MOTIVATION Reasons to smile

Hello runner friends! Welcome to the first  

 MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog! As stated, these weekly posts are intended to help you Train with Intention, Run with Joy and Press On to the finish line with a smile on your face. And what better way to start than by listing just a few of the many reasons training with intention should include putting a smile on our faces... 

Because smiling has been proven to help reduce pain! 

Did you now that those 'feel good' endorphins that are created when you and I run are also created when we smile? Science says that when endorphins are released into our bodies, they interact with receptors in the brain to lessen our perception of pain. That means a smile acts as a natural pain killer. How's that for a reason to smile???

Because a smiling person attracts others!!! 

That means you won't have to run alone so much. People will want to run with you and the time and training will go by so much faster! Not only that, when you smile, it makes other people smile and that makes for a lot of endorphins!! That means by simply smiling when you're out running, you are not only being intentional in your training but you are performing a public service! Yay you!!!!! And guess what? Smiling at non-runners on your jog will make a lot of other people happy too!!

Because smiling causes joy to well up inside us!

This joy, or feeling of great happiness, helps you take your mind off your workout and think about your blessings instead. If you don't think that's true, try smiling when negative thoughts creep into your brain and replace them with positive, joyful ones. For instance, when your mind says things like, "You're so slow today" or "Everything hurts. Why don't you just stop?" Smile and say back, "Yes. But I'm moving forward!" and "I'll stop when I'm done. I can do this!" 

Because runners who smile use less oxygen!

It's true! Researchers at Ulster University and Swansea University asked a group of 24 runners to wear a breathing mask to measure oxygen consumption and then complete four six-minute running blocks on a treadmill while smiling or frowning. The study, which was recently published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise, found that runners who smiled used less oxygen, ran more economically and had a lower perceived rate of exertion than those who frowned and those in the control group.

Because Eliud does!

Eliud Kipchoge, who most recently set a new record at the Berlin Marathon and ran a 2:00:25 marathon under Nike's Breaking2 project, is known for his smile and says smiling allows him to relax and work through the pain... proving that smiling while running helps a person run more efficiently. And face it, while most of us will never be an elite runner, we can still smile like one right?

Because there are always fall races!
If you're one of the thousands of runners who had their spring race cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19, SMILE!! God willing, there will be some summer races and a lot of fall ones! And the extra time you'll have to train might just lead to a PR that will give you bragging rights!

And on a final note, if you think you have nothing to smile about, consider this... each and every day is a gift. And you, my friend, had the blessing of waking up today to receive it. Be encouraged and stay joyful! Because smiling truly makes you run better. 😉

Happy Running!!!

Psalm 118:24