Do I lose weight from one run? No. Is that my goal? No. Do I drop a pants size from one run? No. Is that my goal? No. When I talk about running and training, I think a lot of people think of the physical challenges and balk at it. Yes, it's difficult. Yes, running is a lot about physicality. Do I become stronger with each run? Yes, I believe so. Do I add miles to my bank for endurance? Yes. But obviously I run for more reasons that just the physical ones. I've cataloged a lot of those reasons on this blog, some vague and some very specific, such as weather, my sanity, the feeling, freedom, hope, etc. But today's blog post is about the lesser considered benefits of running. I've entitled the blog post productivity because of all the things I am able to accomplish when running.
I've now been on this running journey for almost 7 years and I get a lot of feedback from people about "time" I spend on running, the implied "time" I could be spending time with my family or cleaning house or working or [insert something more acceptable than running here]. My argument is always going to be that running allows me the extra "time" to devote to those things because I am operating at my best because...I'm a runner. I'm healthier, less stressed, happier, and more confident, to name a few. If I didn't run, I'm certain that many areas of my life would be neglected. This brings me to productivity. As a way to illustrate this, I'm going to list all of the things I was able to accomplish on my 9 mile run this morning.
1. I listened to 2 podcasts - one about current events/news and one about self-improvement/leadership
2. I came up with a new book idea and even "wrote" the first line.
3. I came up for the idea for this blog post
4. I ran through the cemetery and visited my uncle Marty. I drew inspiration from a conversation I had with him right before my first marathon.
5. I processed through the events of the last week and thought ahead to next week's agenda.
6. I "wrote" an important email in my head.
7. I created my to-do list for the day.
8. I got some much needed sunshine and time in nature.
9. As an introvert, I got some much needed time to myself to recharge.
10. I listened to my 50 mile playlist, creating a mental connection from today's run to what will eventually be race day.
11. I encountered 8 different people out running or biking in my community and I was able to connect with them by smiling and saying good morning.
Sure, some of these things could have also happened had I not ran but it would have been less likely. For one, I got up at 5:45 am and had all of this accomplished by 8:30 am. If I didn't get up to run, I would have slept at least another 2 hours. I also would have likely spent my time with a mind numbing activity like watching TV or surfing the internet. You see, running is my brain fuel, making all the above possible during the course of a 9 mile run. Running is good for the brain! This is scientifically proven. Many studies have shown that running (and physical exercise in general) increases the generation of neurons and blood vessels which aid in learning and memory. Running also benefits your sleep - you fall asleep quicker and sleep longer, and running boosts the immune system making you more resilient to common illnesses. Ain't nobody got time for that!! I don't know about you but when I have trouble sleeping and I'm sick, my productivity goes way down. Just more proof that running is good for productivity.
This blog is for all of you out there. If "time" is a frequent excuse for why you don't or can't run, please consider what I've told you. I used to be there too. When I first started 7 years ago, my commitment to running was 1x a week for 1 hour or less. That's all I felt like I had "time" for. When I'm in the peak of my training, I'm running 5 to 6 days a weeks for hours at a time. Running is a much better use of my time than anything else I could be doing. I've also learned that you make time for what matters. Running is a top priority in my life for all the reasons why I run. It could be that way for you too. Get started and reap the benefits of having a more productive lifestyle.
