Running Benefits Top Ten: Improve Your Health Today

Why should you start running? Check out these running benefits to learn why you should start your running routine today. The reason that you run might be the great runners high, the act of staying healthy, or something completely unique.

As with all exercise, you may not always have the motivation to run, and get your daily exercise. Fortunately, it can also be a truly amazing experience where the benefits far exceed the drawbacks. That is why we have created these running benefits- to keep you going and remind you why you love to run.

Benefit of Running 1 - Stress Relief

Whether I'm feeling pressure at work, feeling anxious about a problem, or just need to clear my head, I always feel better after running a few miles.

Getting out of the house of office is a great way to feel less stressed. The fresh air and exercise naturally allow your body to decompress. Better yet, if you are feeling overly stressed, take out your aggression by running sprints.

Benefit of Running 2 - Losing Weight

Whenever you get out and run, you are taking a step in the right direction of weight loss. As a matter of fact, you will burn more calories per minute by running than most other sports. No matter your weight loss goal, running is the perfect place to start.

Benefit of Running 3 - Prevent Future Bone Loss

Our body is made to adapt to the activities and strains that we make it endure. If you sit in front of a computer screen for eight hours of your day, your bones are not being stressed, and grow weaker. If you choose a proper running training program, you will significantly improve your chances of fighting osteoporosis.

Benefit of Running 4 - Make Your Heart Healthy

If you are looking for a great way to improve you heart health, running is your best choice. Not only does it reduce the risk of blood clots, it also raises HDL cholesterol levels. Running strengthens your heart, and as a result, lowers blood pressure. That is not it! Running will also help your arteries by making them less rigid, a common health issue amongst individuals.

Benefit of Running 5 - Make Your Immune System Happy

If you incorporate a running training program into your life, you will naturally produce more of those disease fighting white blood cells. As an added boost, you will notice your lungs are becoming stronger. You will be exercising that capacity that is rarely in use.

Benefit of Running 6 - Discover the Runners High

Many runners run for that illusive runners high. It is something that keeps them coming back, even amongst the worst weather conditions. If I'm having a bad day, or just lacking energy, going for a run outdoors always seems to turn my attitude around. Your body naturally releases endorphins. This is what causes that natural high that makes the run worth the effort.

Believe it or not, running is often recommended for individuals that are dealing with depression or those addicted to a substance. People who follow this advice will usually discover this high and use it as a way to feel better about their situation.

Benefit of Running 7 - Get Rid of Diseases

Not only has running been reported to reduce your chances of heart attack, breast cancer and stroke, it has also helped people who are at high risk of diabetes, osteoporosis, and hypertension.

Benefit of Running 8 - Find Your Inner Coordination

Have you ever wanted to be one of those people with great coordination? Try adding running to your workout routine. Whether or not you realize it, by running you are teaching your muscles to work together, making you that much sharper during your exercise.

The best advice is to run outside. You will encounter surfaces that are uneven. These naturally strengthen your ankle and leg muscles. These obstacles allow a runner to improve body control to prevent tripping or from becoming injured.

Benefit of Running 9 - Improve Your Self Confidence

No matter how you view athletes, if you decide to get outdoors and run, you are an athlete. Every time I begin training for a new race, I'm amazed at how quickly I see a difference in my body's strength and endurance.

By setting these goals, you will notice your confidence improved. You will now be considered a runner! If you are seeing your body change, and losing weight as a result of running, a gain in confidence is sure to follow.

It is an amazing feeling to finish that first race (or that tenth, for that reason). The camaraderie that you feel amongst your fellow runners will inspire your next race.

Benefit of Running 10 - Running Makes You An Athlete

Running allows you to train on so many different surfaces, in different conditions, in so many different locations. Running will allow you to become that athlete you once were, or perhaps the one you always wanted to be. If you want to be in charge of your own health, take up running. Your will not need to rely on anyone but yourself.

Running only requires you to get some shoes. It is a cheap way to get some great exercise. Run anywhere you want. There is nothing to stop you from exercising in any conditions that you wish. Make the best decision of your life and become a running athlete. You will impress yourself.

So what are you waiting for? Get yourself a new pair of shoes and a running training schedule and hit the road. The running benefits are yours to take.

Understanding Zones

We will go ahead and start out with zone number one which is located in the back row on the right side. This would be the spot in which your setter is located if you plan to run a 6-2 offense. A 6-2 offense will allow you to have three hitters in the front row at all times. In order to run this offense you would simply have a setter sub out for a hitter when they returned to the front row. The other team setter would then come in for the other hitter who is rotating to back row at the same time. I like this offense because it allows for more equal playing time between hitters and setters and give more players the chance to make a difference in the game.

The next zone is zone two, which is located in the front row on the right side of the court. This would be directly in front of zone one. At this position, if running a 6-2 offense you would have your right side hitter positioned. This spot is also a good spot to put your left handed hitters because they are able to take a similar approach as your right side outside hitters, allowing them to have more power and more shots available like line, cross and short cross. Now if you plan to run a 5-1 offense then when you setter is in the front row this is the zone that they would be positioned in.

After that we come to zone three which is in the front row in the middle position of the court. This is the zone that you would place your middle hitters in. They are more than likely your tallest and quickest hitters. The middle hitters also need to be able to be a big block and be able to intimidate the opposing hitters.

The last zone in the front row is zone number four and it of course is located on the far left side of the front row. In this position you will put your outside hitter. The outside hitters have a longer spike approach than the middle hitters but because of this they have more power and more options as far as the spots in which they can hit. Outside hitters have line, cross court and short cross court which is similar to the left handed right side but is just on the opposite side of the court.

The next zone then takes us back to the back row. This is zone five and is located in the back left side of the court. This is where your left back position would be placed. This is a great position for your libero.

Finally the last zone is obviously titled zone number six. This is positioned in the middle of the back row. This position is responsible for any deep balls that go to the corners which can be difficult to chase down.

Gymnastic Swing and Hoop - What You Should Really Know About This Movement

The basic swinging action with the hoop is particularly important as a preparation for the throws, as well as being an intricate part of the manipulations of this apparatus. The hoop lends itself to a wide variety of ways of throwing and catching, and these develop from swings in the various planes, with one hand or with both.

A forward backward swing at the side of the body with the hoop held in over grasp in the right hand is the first swing to use for throwing. It can be done with feet together or feet apart, changing hands and feet in the same way as the exercise described with the rope.

The technique differs again due to the size and solidity of the hoop, because the arm should remain almost fully stretched though not rigid in order to prevent the hoop hitting the floor as it swings past the leg, the body leans away slightly from the swinging arm.

Also, the arm is held away from the body a little to allow for more freedom of the swing. Unlike the rope where the action is mostly brought about through the wrist, the swing occurs through the shoulder joint and so the whole arm is used.

As the hoop reaches the peak of its forward swing, it can be released into the vertical throw, gently at first, to acquire good control and direction, and then gradually increasing in height and strength until the hoop soars up to, but does not touch, the ceiling.

The catch is a simple reverse procedure, stretch up with the arm and make contact as early as possible with the outside edge of the hoop, fingers in over grasp, the continue the downward swing of both arm and hoop together.

The position and plane of the hoop is identical to that described in the rotation throw. Either throw can be caught as suggested above, or the rotation catch can be used, with the hand reaching inside to the lower, front edge of the hoop as it descends.