All Stevens students have seen the infamous runners by the Hudson River on a daily basis. Hoboken is known to have a large number of younger residents, many of whom find themselves on weekly jogs or runs along the water. Despite how painful or difficult running may be, it comes with an endless list of benefits. As an asthmatic, for years I avoided doing cardio besides my soccer matches, but after experiencing “runners high” I’ve become severely addicted to running. Runners high is a flow state — your mind clears any sort of stress, resulting in an euphoric state. If I have a rough week where classes just become too overwhelming, I go for a run to clear my head. I promise you it works. Runners high is attainable by anyone, for me it typically sets in after running for about an hour, but it sometimes occurs sooner. My body becomes completely engulfed in a wave of chills every single time it happens, even if it is 80 degrees outside I will be covered in prickly goosebumps from head to toe.
Aside from relieving stress, running teaches valuable lessons about discipline and self-improvement. It may seem impossible to run a few times each week, but your body will get used to it. Overcoming mental battles poses the true challenge. Our brains are the devil on our shoulder, whispering to us saying no, you can’t do this or this is too difficult for you, but with discipline you can disregard this internal conflict. This is applicable to more than running, if you want to learn a new skill, it comes with the same patience and discipline. Learning an instrument or learning how to rock climb are two examples, but I’m sure you can ponder plenty on your own as well. Each of which, the brain will sometimes take over and tell you to stay in your comfort zone instead.
Running completely transforms the body as well. It has been proven that it increases your VO2 max, which means that your body is better equipped to deliver oxygen to the muscles, making the aerobic process more efficient. This lessens any future chance of cardiovascular diseases as well as increasing energy production and significantly improving heart health. My asthma used to be a major issue while playing soccer and I could barely run for over five minutes, but after training my lungs I was recently able to run a marathon! So there should not be any excuses.
I’ve also found that running has allowed me to reflect on the past and process the life I’m presently living. You’ve got to entertain yourself while running because it can get boring sometimes, so going down a rabbit hole of thoughts is always fun. Another option is to throw on a new album or artist that you have never listened to before. My music taste has drastically expanded since doing cardio exercise, it makes running more enjoyable when discovering new genres of music you’ve never heard of. One last note, Hoboken has some absolutely gorgeous views of NYC which makes runs by the water all the more interesting — it’s a sightseeing activity as well! There are plenty of running trails to take along the Hudson River leading to Jersey City and Weehawken. The weather is only getting nicer outside, so this is the perfect time to start getting into running. With all of this in mind, give it a chance! It can be a new hobby or addiction, especially after you get your first “runner’s high”.
