Running has a stigma of being horrible, torturous, and the worst thing in the world.
It is.
I’m not going to pretend that running is great. Your legs hurt and you get cramps and if you’re running for long enough your mind goes a bit crazy. . But running is great exercise — mentally and physically.
Cardio isn’t the only benefit from running. Don’t like milk? Running helps build strong bones. It helps lose and maintain weight, and it can add years to your life. Oh, and if you run for long enough your body releases endorphins, i.e., happy juice.
But maybe that isn’t enough to get you to run. Good news is, it doesn’t actually take much to do it. Unlike basketball or a dance team or pretty much any other team sport, it costs practically nothing. All you need is a pair of half decent running shoes and some solid earth.
If it’s the mental barrier keepin you from clocking a few miles, you still don’t need to worry. If you can get yourself up at 6:30 AM for school, you can put shoes on and run two miles. The mental strength required to put on shoes and run for 30 minutes is infinitely less than the strength needed to get in your car, drive to the gym, and spend two grueling hours hating yourself for how little you can lift. Besides, the view of nature from a trail run is infinitely better than the walls of a gym.
Running takes so little and gives so much. Just get out and run a mile. The next time, try a little bit more. The time after that, push yourself a little harder. It takes a lot of work, but in the end, it’s worth it.