Have you ever wondered why some people, once they embark on the road of running, seem to be pulled by an invisible force, day after day, rain or shine?
What's even more puzzling is that when this habit is formed, they feel uncomfortable not running for a day, as if something important is missing.
Behind this, what kind of psychological and physiological mechanisms are hidden that make running more and more "up"?
An expert's perspective
Running is a popular form of exercise that not only strengthens the body, but also brings joy to the mind. However, from a safety and rational point of view, experts recommend running training three to four days a week, believing that this is the best frequency to maintain physical health and athletic performance.
This arrangement not only helps our body gradually adapt to the exercise load, but also ensures that the muscles are repaired with proper rest, thereby reducing the risk of sports injuries.
Reasonable rest periods are actually a positive means of recovery. During running, muscles and joints are under a certain amount of stress, and at the same time, minor injuries are inevitable. By setting up appropriate rest days, the body can get a chance to recover and prepare for the next training session in better shape.
It's not just about the physical level, it's just as important to take a mental break. Adequate rest allows runners to better maintain their mental health and avoid the fatigue and boredom that can come with overtraining.
The experts also emphasized the value of diverse training. It's easy to get bored with a single training mode, and the results of your training can be stagnant as a result. By incorporating cross-training or other forms of physical activity, runners can maintain interest and motivation for their activities without increasing the risk of sports injuries.
Runner's experience
Many runners are addicted to running, and they feel uncomfortable if they don't run for a day, largely due to psychological dependence. For these runners, running is not only a form of exercise, but also a way to gain a sense of pleasure and satisfaction.
Every run brings them lasting pleasure, and this feeling of moving the body often makes people feel extremely fulfilling and gratifying. Every step, every moment of sweat, is an expression of self-confidence and self-worth.
Running is gradually internalized as a part of daily life and becomes an indispensable habit in the daily life of runners. On a psychological level, this daily persistence provides a stable emotional support for many people and is an effective mood regulator.
In the stressful modern society, running gives people the opportunity to relax and unwind, especially when they are under pressure, and release their inner anxiety and worries through exercise.
Find balance
People who have been running for a long time usually develop better physical adaptability and are better able to cope with the physiological load of running. However, this does not mean that running daily is an ideal form of healthy exercise.
Some runners make running every day part of their daily routine, feeling stressed by not running for a day. However, this psychological dependence may obscure sensitivity to fatigue and physical health signals when confronted with actual physical conditions.
To achieve sustained health and peak performance, runners need to learn to listen to their bodies. Among them, learning to find the balance of the body and reasonably arranging the ratio of exercise and rest is the key to long-term running.
Scientific advice
Even though running has become a daily habit or a daily desire to participate in it due to psychological needs, the importance of rest and varied training should not be overlooked.
Scientific studies have confirmed that an appropriate reduction in the frequency of running can help improve athletic performance and mental health. By running 3 to 4 days a week, runners are not only able to adapt to higher exercise intensities, but also prevent injuries.
A rest day is not only a time for physical recovery, but also a time for the mind to relax, especially for runners who are more psychologically dependent on running, learning to find joy and a sense of accomplishment in the rest day is just as important.
And a variety of training activities, such as strength training, yoga, cycling, etc., can not only improve the overall physical fitness, but also inject new vitality and motivation into running.
What really makes people enjoy the fun and health of running is a kind of intellectual balance: respect for self-experience, and be restrained and happy.
Only by paying attention to the needs of the body and listening to the inner voice can we enjoy the joy and satisfaction of running without damaging the body.
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