5 marathon benefits for chubby people
For chubby people, even the thought of running a marathon is complete lunacy. Maybe it’s the memory of the bully on the playground or a bad experience in junior high gym class that prevents us, but the proposition of training for a long-distance race is far from crazy. In fact, I’m here to tell you it’s very possible, there are marathon benefits for chubby folks. With a commitment to hard work and overcoming mental challenges, there’s nothing holding you back. Add to that, the fact that there are actual physiological and mental benefits for chubby people as we train and run marathons.
Read on to discover just a few of the many benefits you’ll experience:
1. Longevity
If you run marathon’s you’ll die, they said. Running will kill you, they said. Actually, a recent study confirms that running long distances doesn’t kill you, it can actually extend your life.
This study also found that chubby marathon runners live on average 19 years more than their chubby peers who lead non-active, sedentary life. Indeed, Marathon benefits for chubby runners.
2. Improved heart health is one of key marathon benefits
Training for a marathon is a time-consuming endeavor. Chubby runners will need to factor in more time to build endurance and speed gradually over time. This process requires your heart to step up in a major way.
According to experts, chubby marathon runners have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases when compared to non-active chubby people. This is due to the fact that the heart of a typical marathon runner tends to consume more oxygen than an average heart, pumping a larger volume of blood per beat. So, as a chubby runner, you can experience the same benefits, it just may take a little more time to get up to speed.
To really get the most out of your marathon training all you need is a fitness tracker of some kind to monitor your heart rate data to allow you to plan your running program accordingly.
3. Increased productivity
Another marathon benefit is an increase in overall productivity. Need some extra motivation at work? The solution may be found in your running shoes.
Maximizing cognitive performance is one of the unknown marathon benefits
A University of Georgia study found that 20 minutes of moderate exercise was the ideal intensity and time to maximize cognitive performance. This occurs because marathon training stimulates the brain to release the “happy” hormones known as endorphins which make you feel exhilarated and productive.
There is also a study that found that intense exercise is linked to positive mood, due to endorphin release, but also creativity. Maybe that was Picasso’s secret?
4. Boosted brain function
Training for a marathon is not all about pushing your body to reach new physical limits, it’s also, and probably more so, a test of mental strength. You may be intimidated by the magnitude of running a race that is further than most people drive in a day. In a previous post, I talked about how training and running is more a mental exercise than physical. Learning how much training for a marathon benefits your mental health may actually help you overcome the doubts you may be having.
Did you know that running can spark the growth of new brain tissue? It’s true. Running can spur growth in the volume of brain tissue through:
- Neurogenesis, the growth of new nerve cells and;
- Angiogenesis, growth of new blood vessels
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), linked to decision-making, learning and analytical thinking
In fact, one study found that cardiovascular exercise, such as marathon training, increased the volume of the hippocampus—that part of the brain linked to memory and learning—by 2% over inactive chubby runners.
5. Improved confidence, one of the big marathon benefits
Confidence has got to be the most underrated benefit of training for and running a marathon. As you know, I was a round kid growing up. I didn’t have a lot of self-confidence in myself or my physical abilities. When I started to train for my first marathon, each mental roadblock busted was another uptick in my personal confidence. It was such an empowering feeling each time I accomplished a new personal milestone, as I ran 5 miles for the first time in my life, then 10 miles, then 20, and so on.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “if I can do it, believe me, anyone can do it.”
For chubby people, running a marathon is a very ambitious goal. It requires more work and drive when it comes to training. But as you reach these ambitious goals you will see a boost in self-worth and confidence that is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Training and running a marathon is scientifically proven to boost your confidence.
Conclusion on marathon benefits
Scientific studies show that training for a marathon is one of the best decisions you can make. The marathon benefits include building your heart and longevity, healthier life, sharpening your mental ability, and boosting your confidence. It’s no wonder more people are finding joy in running a marathon. The only question left to ask is: Are you ready to get started training for your first marathon?
