Bad Running Habits That Are Rapidly Aging Your Body, Expert Reveals
The health benefits of running are truly endless. Running provides great cardiovascular exercise, can improve your mood, and when done regularly, can even help extend your life, according to Harvard Health Publishing. But you can have some bad running habits that are rapidly aging your body. Read on to make sure you don't!
You're not wearing appropriate running shoes.
According to Dr. Mike Bohl, the Director of Medical Content & Education at Ro and a certified personal trainer, not wearing appropriate running shoes is totally bad for you. He points out, "There are many different kinds of shoes meant for running, and when picking a running shoe, you should think about things like flexibility, support, and comfort."
Not wearing proper athletic footwear puts you at risk of injury or running with bad posture. Dr. Bohl warns, "You may develop knee, hip, or back pain, irritate your Achilles tendon, irritate the connective tissue on the bottom of your foot (the fascia), or may even sprain your ankle."
Related: Healthy Habits To Live to 100, According to a 100-Year-old Runner
You're not getting enough fuel prior to or after getting in those strides.
Another bad habit some runners have is not feeding your body with enough fuel prior to and after you hit the pavement. Dr. Bohl explains, "Running takes a lot of energy, so it's important that you give yourself energy before a run so you don't become exhausted. Exhaustion can cause fatigue, can make it take longer to recover, and increases your chance of experiencing an injury. Make sure to have a carbohydrate-rich snack before you run and have another one afterward to replenish energy stores."
Related: Bad Fitness Habits That Are Rapidly Aging Your Body, Trainer Reveals
You're not cooling down properly post-runs.
Next up on this list of bad running habits that are rapidly aging your body is not cooling down correctly after you run. The proper way to cool down is to slow your pace gradually to a walking pace as you near the end of a run. "This will help reset your muscles and get them ready for normal activity again, which can help with recovery," Dr. Bohl explains.
Keep on running, because cardio is one of the top ways to stay in shape as you get older.
The absolute best thing a runner can do to stay young? Keep on running! Dr. Bohl adds, "Cardio is one of the best ways to get exercise and stay fit into old age, and it will help maintain mobility and keep the muscles and bones strong." So lace up those running shoes pronto, and hit the pavement!
