I have always loved running but never consider myself a runner. I ran track and field in high school but would never consider cross country. I ran sprints, not long distances. I ran because I had to practice, but I never ran for fun. But as I got older and started going to the gym in my 20’s, the treadmill was always my top choice for exercise. It was familiar and easy and I loved the way I felt when I was done.
As I continued to grow older, I obviously loved the health benefits of running, and after being diagnosed with breast cancer twice, the doctors have always recommended exercise as a daily part of my life to prevent reoccurrence, so running has been essential in my life over the last decade or so.
There has always been something about running a race and getting a medal at the end. It’s really rewarding! Over the years I have probably run close to 50 5k’s. And this year was the first time I ever participated in a runDisney event! In fact, I participated in 4 runDisney 5k’s! And now I’m hooked! I hope to do more, and it’s a lifelong goal to eventually run a 10k and a half marathon!
The first race I ran was the Castaway Cay 5k in the Bahamas in February when I attended the Disney Creators celebration on the Disney Cruise Line. I loved the race so much I signed up for the Summer Virtual 5k Series!
The second race I ran was in early August. The first theme was “Mad Tea Party!” My shirt was custom made by Ms. Tom Morrow and my ears were handmade by Wishing for Wonderland!
The third race I ran was in early September. This theme was “Space Mountain!” My shirt was custom made by Ms. Tom Morrow and my ears were handmade by Lil Shop of Magic! The shirt originally was made in different colors, but the shop owner was able to custom change the colors to match my ears!
The fourth race I ran was in early October. This theme was “Haunted Mansion!” My shirt was custom made by Ms. Tom Morrow and my ears were handmade by Magical Sewing Studio!
All of these shop owners were amazing to work with and so talented with the work they do! And of course, all love Disney as much as I do, so I loved having that in common with them!
There are so many benefits to running and some studies have even shown that running can prolong lifespan and improve immunity if done moderately.
Physical Health Benefits
Builds stronger bones
Strengthens and tones muscles
Improves cardiovascular health and reduce risk of heart attack
Maintains a healthy weight
Increased Vitamin D
Reduces risk of many cancers
Improves Glucose regulation
Lowers risk of Diabetes
Lowers blood pressure
Cognitive Benefits
Improves cognitive function
Helps reduce cognitive decline and Alzheimers
Therapeutic Benefits
Increase Productivity
Increased Energy
Better Sleep
Decrease Stress
Decrease Anxiety and Depression
So what are you waiting for? Whether it’s a run around the block or signing up for a runDisney event, go out and run!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.