By Lucia Tedesco
In the tumultuous year of 2020, when the world grappled with the challenges posed by the pandemic, my life, like many others, underwent a significant transformation. As my work shifted abruptly to a remote setting, the familiar routines of commuting and office life vanished, and with them, the convenience of my workplace gym. This unexpected turn of events propelled me to reevaluate my approach to fitness, leading me on a journey that revitalized my physical health and rekindled a love for an activity I had long neglected.
No longer having access to my beloved work gym made it difficult to maintain a consistent exercise routine. I attempted to adapt to the digital realm and explored various Zoom exercise classes. However, I quickly discovered that the virtual setting failed to capture my attention, leaving me yearning for a more engaging alternative. As it turned out, the solution was waiting just beyond my doorstep. It was time to lace up my running shoes and hit the trails!
Drawing inspiration from earlier days when post-work runs with colleagues were a regular occurrence, I decided to resurrect this habit—this time flying solo. Armed with a mask and committed to maintaining a 2-meter distance from fellow runners and walkers, I rediscovered the joy of running. The solitude, my favorite music, a book on my AirPods, and the fresh air created the perfect environment for physical and mental rejuvenation.
To kickstart this newfound endeavor, I turned to the Couch to 5K app, a beginner-friendly program to ease individuals into a regular running routine. The structured approach provided a gradual progression, ensuring that I built endurance safely and steadily. The app’s promise held, and within a month, I found myself effortlessly completing a 5K run every day.
What began as a substitute for the lost gym quickly became a daily ritual I can’t imagine living without. The trails became my sanctuary, and running became my therapy. The accomplishment of each completed run fueled my motivation, creating a positive feedback loop that kept me lacing up my running shoes day after day.
Now that the pandemic days are over, running still seamlessly weaves into my routine. I hit the pavement in almost any weather, only skipping my runs if it’s scorching hot, dangerously slippery, or pouring buckets (although I enjoy a good run in the rain!) Whether on the trails in Portola Valley, soaking in the stunning views along the lake in South Lake Tahoe, or in my absolute favorite spot on earth, Roma, tracing the banks of the river Tevere—running has become a constant. And wherever else my travels take me, my running gear takes up minimal space, and my trusty running shoes pull double duty as my go-to travel footwear.
And as a testament to the transformative power of running, consider these well-documented benefits:
- Running adds years to your life and life to your years: a 2014 Journal of the American College of Cardiology finds that even five to 10 minutes a day of low-intensity running is enough to extend life by several years, compared with not running at all.
- Running helps you sleep better: The more you run, the better chance you have of enjoying some extra deep sleep. Running can also crank up the amount of slow wave sleep that is considered to be the most restorative sleep stage.
- Running can improve your knees and back: this is one running benefit many find difficult to believe. Still, many studies prove it. In this study of first-time marathon runners, researchers noted that post-marathon: “The knees of novice runners achieved sustained improvement, for at least six months post-marathon, in the condition of their bone marrow and articular cartilage.” The same goes for the lower back.
- Running improves cognitive function and reduces cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s, a 2015 study from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease shows.
- Running improves mental health and reduces depression: Running not only controls stress and enhances the body’s ability to handle mental tension but also increases norepinephrine levels, moderating the brain’s stress response. The chemicals released during and after a run can bring a sense of calm—a healthy coping mechanism for challenging times.
Treat your running shoes like your BFF to get into the running groove. Head over to a running store, get properly fitted, and let the pros guide you to the perfect shoe for your terrain and running vibe. If you’re hitting the pavement daily, consider swapping out for a fresh pair every six months to keep that support and performance top-notch.
Lucia Tedesco is an obsessive knitter, avid reader, amateur runner with a passion for political activism and social justice. Born and raised in Roma, she moved to Silicon Valley twenty years ago for “just two years” and made this country her second home. A statistician by training, she has twenty years of experience in fundraising and donor relations. She firmly believes that almost everything in life can be solved with a good spreadsheet or a well-designed database.
Throughout the “Active You” section of this blog, we will introduce you to ideas on staying active and learning new things.