Women & Running
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More Than Just Fitness

If you talk to any one of the increasing number of women runners today, you will hear many different reason why they run.  Many never ran track or cross country in school, or placed in the top three of any race.  Today, at any given 5K, Half Marathon or Triathlon, you will hear that women are running for the challenge, but also the emotional high that you get from just finishing.  In addition, women are enjoying the stress relieving benefits from fitness and the camaraderie that they feel with other women who are there for the same reasons.  While many run to stay healthy and fit, the social contact that they get from running is an added bonus and a great way to reduce stress.

Let’s face it, with all of demands on a woman today, stress is inevitable. To manage stress, it is important for everyone to maintain optimal health.  But women have been found to be better than men at handling stress.  In a study at UCLA published in the Psychological Review suggests that women adopt a “tend to befriend” reaction to stress rather than a flight or fight.  The study found that women sought out social contact and support from others, especially other women (the befriend response) because women are better at forming cooperative alliances, which reduces stress.

Run and Stress Less

Running and exercise does more than just keep you fit, it is also a great stress reliever.  And, with the Run and See Georgia Grand Prix Race Series, you have the opportunity to build your running “family” and meet other runners and build friendships by running Grand Prix races each weekend. 

So, there are many reasons for sticking with your running program. Running has been proven in every major medical study to ward off diseases and boost your quality of life.  In addition to fitness, here are a few more reasons to lace up your shoes for your morning run:

Attention:  Running was found to increase attention span.  It allows you to focus and deal with difficult problems without being overwhelmed.

Positive Attitude:  Those who make exercise a part of their lives were found to have a more positive outlook on life, which helps to manage stress better.

Heart Health:  Getting the recommended 30-60 minutes of aerobic activity 3-5 times per week not only keeps your heart healthy, but also keeps your lungs healthy, both of which are the organs that handle a majority of the body’s physiological stress response.