Running is a great work out. However, do you know what happens to your body when running?
You Feel a Burst of Energy
In the first few minutes of your run, you will feel an initial burst of energy.
This is due to your body producing energy by converting molecules.
To be more scientific, your body turns Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP). This molecular conversion results in a release of energy that your body uses to propel your forward.[1]Bustle – 6 Things That Happen To Your Body When You Go On A Run
The Next Few Minutes and Beyond
After, that initial burst of energy from running, your body will go through several physical changes.
First, you will notice that your heart will beat faster.
Second, your blood will start to move away from your muscles and none vital organs that don’t require energy, in order to pump blood to your heart.
Third, your body temperature will rise as you burn more energy.
Lastly, you will sweat in order to regulate your body’s temperature.[2]Active – What Happens to Your Body During a 30-Minute Run?
An Hour After Running
After only 1 hour of running, you will already start seeing many benefits from running.
We are mentally programed to only see the negatives of running before we start; for example, how hard it is and how much it will hurt.
However, you can actually reap both physical and mental benefits as soon as one hour after running.
This comes from the endorphins that your body produces after working out. This gives you both a physical and mental feeling of euphoria, congratulating you for a job well done.[3]The Thirty – This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Start Running Every Day
Your Body Composition Will Change
Your body composition is the amount of fat, bone, water, organs, and lean muscles you have.
Most people are interested in increasing their lean muscle mass while decreasing their body fat percentage in order to get the body that they desire.
Working out, helps us increase our metabolism and burn more calories.
While running is a good way to increase our metabolism, it isn’t enough. At a certain point, your body gets used to running and you will plateau with regards to weight loss. This is because running by itself can only build so much lean muscle tissue.
Therefore, if you want to boost your metabolic rate even more, you need to make sure to include resistance training along with your running routine.[4]The Active Times – How Running Changes Your Body
You’ll Sleep and Focus Better!
According to studies, by running at a moderate pace as little as 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for only 3 weeks, you will see improvements in your sleep at night and focus during the day![5]Runner’s World – 16 things that will probably happen to your body when you start running
What Happens to Your Heart?
Just like any other muscle, the more your train your heart the stronger it will get.
When training for long distance running, you will see several changes to your heart including:
- A slight risk of increased plaque formation; however, this only happens if you are running for a long time and long distances
- Increased stress to the heart right after a long run; however, these are only temporary and your heart returns to normal very quickly after
Needless to say, if you have any heart risks, it is best to talk with your doctor before starting a running plan.[6]mapmyrun – What Happens to Your Body on a Long-Distance Run
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