When we start exercising, it often takes time and effort to get used to it. It requires a great deal of self-control and willpower to make sport part of our routine. However, once the habit is established and almost without realizing it, it can become an indispensable activity in our lives.
Exercising brings us many benefits, from better physical shape and a better appearance to an increase in positive emotions. But can it become harmful? Of course, it can. If the sport becomes the center of our lives, it can become an obsession. It will never be enough to satisfy us and we will always want more. An example of this is running addiction.
“Putting miles into your daily training is like putting money in the bank. You start seeing the interest immediately.”
-Hal Higdon-
The benefits of running
Exercising contributes to a better overall state of health. On the one hand, it helps us prevent cardiovascular problems and other chronic diseases, as well as reducing the risk of premature death. On the other hand, it improves our mood and encourages positive emotions. It also influences the quality of our sleep. But what are the benefits of running in particular?
Runner’s euphoria or high runner’s euphoria is a phenomenon that has been widely studied. It is a neurobiological reward that appears after running long distances. Its consequences are clear: it improves mood, produces a feeling of well-being, and leads to a reduction in the sensation of pain.
What is it about running that can lead to running addiction?
So, what is it about running that makes a behavior that is initially beneficial addictive, and, therefore, harmful? The reality is that running involves a series of physiological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that contribute to this happening.
At a physiological level, when we run, the brain’s endogenous opioid system is activated. Opioid substances produced by our body act on it, contributing to an analgesic effect and an increase in emotional well-being.
“Anyone who has run knows that its most important value is that it eliminates tension and allows you to free yourself from any other worrying things that the day may bring.”
-Jimmy Carter-
At a psychological level, the factors that influence this process have their starting point in the improvement in mood that we have discussed. Practicing running regularly leads to an increase in self-esteem, self-confidence, and the strengthening of social relationships.
Finally, sociocultural factors linked to the search for a body image that conforms to current standards, which can be achieved through this sport, also play a role. In conclusion, the danger lies in the fact that running becomes a tool for achieving a large number of personal benefits.
When does running addiction appear?
Initially, running doesn’t have to be a bad habit. If you get into regular and balanced practice, you can benefit from the positive consequences of running without harming yourself in your daily life.
Running addiction occurs when we cross the line from practicing this sport for pleasure to becoming an obligation, an obsession that governs our routine. We lose our ability to control this behavior and increase the chances of suffering injuries and discomfort.
Not only that, when we are addicted, our general behavior is altered by carrying out the exercise. Thus, we become more anxious and irascible and the rest of our life is relegated to the background. Our social, family, and work life is affected because our main goal is to run, regardless of whether we put aside other things that were previously important to us.