The general consensus is that running regularly is good for your health. Many runners claim that running provides them with increased energy, stress relief, weight loss, and perhaps most important, a longer life. But is there any scientific evidence to back up the claim that running helps guarantee a longer life? The answer is yes.
One of the largest studies to have established the positive effects of running is the “Copenhagen Heart Study.” This study lasted 27 years and involved 17,589 participants. Of these participants, 1,878 were runners (1,116 men and 762 women). The runners ran as little as 20 minutes, three times a week.
In the follow-up period of the study, researchers analyzed the age-adjusted survival rates of the runners and non-runners. The age-adjusted results showed a 6.2 year increase in survival for the male runners and a 5.6 years increase in survival for women. It is difficult to pinpoint the specific reasons why the study’s runners survived longer than non-runners, but due to the study’s massive size and scope, its results should not be ignored.
All runners have motivation issues from time to time – sometimes it can be tough to get ourselves out the door for a run. When you have these inevitable motivation issues, keep the Copenhagen study in mind and understand the enormous return on investment that running provides in giving you a longer life.
