Running is an excellent form of physical activity which is cost-effective, easy to incorporate in your workout routine and has tons of physical and mental health benefits.
But running too much and every day has its pros and cons too, just as everything in this world does.
As beneficial as running can be for your physical and mental health, it still puts a lot of stress on your body, which is why even professional runners take days off. So when deciding, consider the following potential downsides, according to Marathon Handbook.
The publication also notes that running every day could lead to functional overreaching or overtraining syndrome. Overtraining syndrome can cause performance declines, sleep disruptions, depression or irritability, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, appetite changes, and a weakened immune system.
Increases your risk of overuse injuries
When running every day, it can increase your risk of overuse injuries, such as stress fractures, IT band syndrome, and shin splints. The body needs time to repair the microscopic damage incurred by running.
Running every day does not necessarily give your cells and tissue the recovery they need to prevent fatigue and ultimately failure. Therefore, the body needs time to repair the microscopic damage incurred by running.
Running every day can be monotonous
Running every day can lead to boredom or mental burnout, particularly if you don’t vary your routes, pace, or running companion.
The mind needs different things to thrive on just as the muscles have something to gain when you do different types of exercises.
Limit your fitness
Doing the same type of exercise every single day, be it running, cycling, walking, or anything else, subjects the muscles to the same motions and workloads day after day.
Doing different types of exercise introduces new movement patterns and allows you to utilise different muscles or the same muscle differently.
Also see: 5 Health benefits of morning walks
