If you’ve read my previous posts, you would know that I am a pretty active person. I started playing tennis at a young age and about a year ago, I received my Turbo Kickboxing certification. As much as I love working out and pumping iron in the weight room (you can’t blame me – that’s where all the ripped guys hang out!), one thing I’ve always hated is running.

At the gym, running on the treadmill gave me a headache as soon as I stepped off the conveyor belt. Outside, the bugs just enjoyed flying into my face….and my teeth.  It just wasn’t working for me. I was not a runner and I was a-OK with that.

That is, until I realized the many health benefits of running. Obviously, it keeps you in great shape, but, more than that, it relieves stress. I’ve mentioned before that stress is bad on the body and that exercise helps you through it, but running specifically gives you a natural high. Running long distances allows your breathing pattern to stabilize and gives a similar effect as meditation. The perk? You’re burning a few more calories when you run! Read More »

Unless you consider yourself “a runner,” (you know who you are) running can kind of suck. A lot. Sometimes it feels great to feel the wind through your hair and know that you left the equivalent of a 5K in the dust, no sweat. Other times, you barely make it to the end of your block before thoughts of turning home to the comfort and safety of your couch and DVR creep into your head.

And then there’s the whole debate over whether running on a treadmill is the same as running outdoors. Some “runners” will swear up and down that running on a treadmill is inferior to running outside, belittling the 3 miles on the treadmill that you just called your workout as not as hard, not as fast, or not as long as the treadmill said.

Well, here’s your chance to put those people in their place. Studies have proven that treadmill running is just as hard (and good for you) as running outside! Yayyyy! For better or worse, the treadmill and the great outdoors will burn your booty just the same when running is the name of the game. Read More »