Running IS Good For You
Running has been part of my life for a long time. It started in the Navy and I was a total toe runner back then and dealt with my fair share of shin splints. That’s actually when I first started understanding how much mechanics matter. I remember being shown what I still call the best stretch ever for shin splints, and it was a game changer. It wasn’t about stopping running, it was about addressing what my body needed so I could keep doing it.
After I got out of the Navy, I became a personal trainer and had the privilege of helping clients train for their first 5K. Watching someone go from “I don’t think I can do this” to crossing a finish line is such an incredible experience! The energy at races is unmatched. The music, the people, the shared effort, and then of course going to brunch after, it’s an EPIC experience!
Now, as a physical therapist, one of my greatest joys is keeping runners running. Runners are a special breed. They’ll run in the cold, in the rain, up hills, through bruises and bandages. And when they can’t run, it affects everything, mentally, physically, even spiritually. Running is more than exercise. It’s stress relief. It’s clarity. It’s community. It’s identity for a lot of people.
That’s why it frustrates me when someone is told they should stop running because it’s “too hard on their knees/back/hips etc.” The research just doesn’t support that blanket statement. Recreational runners are not automatically destroying their knees. In fact, movement helps nourish cartilage, supports bone density, and strengthens connective tissue when it’s progressed appropriately. The issue usually isn’t running itself, it’s mechanics, strength imbalances, mobility restrictions, or training errors. Instead of telling someone to quit, let’s look at their hips. Let’s look at their ankles. Let’s look at cadence, core control, recovery. Fix the driver, not the activity.
Running IS good for you. It supports cardiovascular health, builds bone density, strengthens connective tissue, improves metabolic health, regulates stress, and boosts mood. It gets you outside. It builds grit and confidence. It connects you to community. Running is also a powerful tool for your mental health. There’s something about it that clears your head in a way few things can. It creates space to process, to pray, to think… or not think at all. It helps regulate your nervous system, burn off stress, and release endorphins so you often feel calmer than when you started.
If you want to run, run. Just take care of the body that carries you.
A dynamic warm-up before you head out is essential. Running is repetitive and impact-based, so your body needs to be prepared for that load. A few minutes of lunges, glute activation, calf work, and multi-plane movement increases blood flow, activates muscles, and primes your nervous system which helps to prevent injury and is much better than jogging out the door cold.
After your run, when tissues are warm, that’s the time for mobility. Stretching and recovery work help reduce stiffness, maintain range of motion, improve circulation, and allow your nervous system to downregulate.
Running is an incredible form of exercise that supports both your physical and mental health. But it’s important to take care of the body that carries you, through thoughtful pre- and post-run routines and by addressing nagging aches or injuries before they sideline you. At Longevity, our ultimate goal is to keep you doing the things you love. If running is part of your story, we’re here to make sure it stays that way.
