So it’s been a few weeks since we started our program. What’s been happening?
Well, let me tell you!
- Your heart has been getting stronger. Just like any muscle, the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. This means that it’s better at pumping blood, even when you’re not running. Your resting heart rate has been decreasing as a result.
- Your lung capacity is growing, allowing oxygen to be moved more efficiently through your body. Running in nature with clean air helps this especially.
- Your bones have been getting stronger. Especially weight-bearing bones in your legs, pelvis and spine. Bones respond to stress by toughening, so “stressing” them in deliberate, moderate ways (like we’re doing) makes them tougher and more resilient.
- Same thing with your muscles. You might even find that you are tender in some muscles you aren’t normally “footy sore” in. Those are the ones that are drawn upon to run in a persistent way, at a single pace, without pivoting etc. As long as you don’t push too hard (and break them!) your muscles will evolve (grow and tone!) in response to your demands.
- Your brain is rewiring itself. It’s been shown that in your first hour of a run, there are reductions in activity in the frontal cortex of your brain. This means you feel more relaxed and have a heightened sense of “flow”. And it lasts after you’re done too.
Any of this ringing true? It also means that you’ll run ever improving Coopers tests, which is of course the real purpose of running.
No, that’s not even funny. Improved Coopers tests are simply a bi-product of the wellbeing improvements you are (slowly but hopefully noticeably) experiencing.
Let’s find out! 5:30pm, Wednesday at ER reserve.
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