Yes, you can run! Its benefits -- improved cardiovascular health, stronger bones, a big calorie burn, longer life -- are well worth the effort you put in. Find your stride with this expert advice.
You watch runners trotting by and think, "I could never do that." Running causes too much wear and tear on the body anyway, right? And besides, only the superfit can run.
Not true! With the right training, almost anyone can do it -- and we have plenty of reasons to try. Research suggests that running regularly keeps your joints healthy and slows the aging process. James Fries, M.D., emeritus professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, explains that joint cartilage is "the only tissue in the body that has living cells but no blood supply." To stay healthy, joints need the compression from weight-bearing activities such as running to flush out waste products and draw in nutrients. Running also slows aging by protecting against bone loss, shedding pounds, and preventing cardiovascular disease.
Interested? To get you started, we turned to Diane Proud, running and triathlon pro at the Cooper Fitness Center in Dallas, who has coached hundreds of people off the couch and onto the running track. Even if you've never so much as run for a bus, with our easy step-by-step plan, you'll be cruising along to better health in no time.
Ref.marthastewart.com
