I’m first to admit that I have a love/hate relationship with running. I never have been and never will be the fastest, or the one who can run for three hours, or the one who doesn’t look like a red, sweaty mess at the end of a jog. However, there’s nothing better than waking up on a sunny Sunday morning not hungover for once and spending an hour using my own two legs to explore.
And guess what – you don’t have to train for a half-marathon or go for a run every single day to reap some awesome benefits. All you have to do is log a totally doable six miles a week.
According to a new meta-analysis in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, running just six miles a week delivers more health benefits and minimizes the risks that come with longer sessions. Lacing up your sneakers and hitting the pavement helps manage weight, lower blood pressure, improve blood sugar, and lower the risk of some cancers, respiratory disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Even better, it lowered the runners’ risk of dying from any cause and extended their lives an estimated three to six years—all while lessening their risk for overuse injuries as they aged.
While it’s best to spread out your sessions, you can fit in those measly six miles on the weekends or spread it out and do a mile per day with a rest day.
Sorry, guys, no more excuses. Hit the pavement!
[Lead image via Shutterstock]
