Do you feel like running is a physical exercise, boring and a "must do" for health? If so then it's time to open your eyes and see beyond appearances

1. What Can Running Do For You
Do you feel like running is a physical exercise, boring and a "must do" for health? If so then
it's time to open your eyes and see beyond appearances so you can enjoy and love running.
I am the kind of person who likes to look beyond appearances. I believe there is always
something more than just what we see at first glance.
When I was asked what can running do for someone it was difficult for me to put into words
what I feel when I run and what it can do when you leave aside the physical benefits such
as:
• weight loss
• cardiovascular fitness
• tone your body
• strengthen your body
My longest nonstop run was on 11th of Sept 2010 when 44.172 km in 3h 27min 42sec in
Bucharest, Herastrau Park. Since then I did many other runs under 30km and recently
obstacle course races.
My longest OCR was Spartan Beast on the 9th of November 2013, 25km, 75 obstacles
finished in 3 hours 41 minutes and 2 seconds.

2. The "other" benefits of running
We focus a lot on the weight loss side of running. That's probably because we are all paying
a lot of attention on obesity. Messages regarding obesity are in our faces every day. If we
looked beyond these things, then obesity would disappear as well.
So what are the other benefits of running that not many talk or write about? Well this is my
personal experience but I am sure there are many runners out there who would agree that
when you run:
• You let go.
You let go of stress, worry, plans, work, responsibilities and housework.
• You begin to see a different side of yourself.
Running is more than just physical movement, it requires consistency, dedication, resilience
and discipline. You cannot become a runner if you do not run on a regular basis. When you
become a runner your body changes but most importantly your mind changes as you face
challenges after challenges. After that many of your other problems will seem small and
insignificant.
• You reach "the zone" or the "runner's high".
This has to do with endorphins. The greater the endorphin surge in certain areas of the
brain, the more euphoric a runner feel. Well this is what every runner is searching for. That
moment when everything disappears and you "just run", nothing else matters. To get the
runner's high you have to push yourself hard but not too hard.
• You solve problems.
Here I have to tell you my own experience. There are phases you may experience when you
run:
• first your mind is flooded with thoughts. It's like a waterfall, they all come at once.
• after a while, depending on how busy your brain is, thoughts start to fade
• then your mind goes quiet, there is finally silence
• but then you start getting ideas, solutions to problems and get creative.
There is research done on why this happens. The thing is that many times on my runs I
create blogs, art work and I have brilliant ideas.
It all has to do with letting go of stress, with brain oxygenation, improved blood circulation to
the responsible areas of the brain.
It's not a random thing that just happens. But leaving science aside for a moment, try to just
enjoy this pure feeling rather than analyse why it's happening.
We get so caught up in scientific evidence and forget to just enjoy the moment.

3. You see, it's not what you do but how it leaves you feeling. That's it. Scientific proof will not
make you feel happy. Knowledgeable yes, and that's important, but happy .... not so much.
How long does it take to reach that stage where you can let go?
You can "let go" and just run when you are comfortable with running. I wish I could give you
an exact time frame. It depends on a lot of factors such as:
• if you have injuries and how long do those take to recover
• how much you run and train for running
• what you do besides running to build up your running, such as breathing techniques
• how dedicated you are
• why you want to run
• how disciplined you are
• whether you are coached or not
How can you reach that level where you can let go?
There is some good amount of work to put into it. After I injured myself back on August 2014
I haven't reached that stage since.
When I recover I'd have to resume my running training well under my normal level. I'll have
to built up again.
But what you should think about is the process, the journey, not the destination. You may or
may not find "the zone" for a very long time. Don't aim for that, just enjoy your run.
As a beginner what is the first step?
Because of my experience with injuries in the past and then moving onto a new style of
running which proved to be more beneficial, if I was a beginner I'd want to be coached so I
can:
• learn a running technique which puts less pressure on joints
• learn how to hold my posture so I don't close up my body and restrict breathing
• be pushed outside my comfort zone and make progress
• learn how to breathe properly so I can enjoy my run
• train my body in a multilateral and creative way because running is a full body movement
A good running techniques looks at the following major components:
• posture
• stride and pace
• landing and kick off
• using gravity instead of force
• arm movement, angle and hand position
• leg and foot movement
• hips movement
• breathing rhythm
Are you looking to start running or take running at the next level? Running is my passion and
I'd love to give you some advice. Book a FREE call with me and come with a few questions.

4. Alexandra Merisoiu is a Transformational Health and Wellness
Coach, Founder of Urban Women Fitness and creator of The
Merisoiu Technique.
She works with entrepreneurial and corporate women in their 30's &
40's to take their bodies and their minds from shut down to fully
functional using lasting foundations and transformational coaching.
She does this by creating a healthy, fit, organic lifestyle using The Merisoiu Technique™ and
its Five Guiding Principles: Earthing, Natural Movement, Mindful Control, Fluid Movement
and Habits Transformation.
Since 1995 she has explored how the body and mind works through using many different
sporting techniques and through a wide variety of highly respected coaches. At 14 years old
she was ranked 2nd in the World Championships, 2 times National Champion and now she
is a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Karate Shotokan, and still competing at an international level. It is
through these learnings that she has created The Merisoiu Technique and has established
her own unique transformational programs that incorporate thousands of years of knowledge
with modern coaching methods.
Her mission is to share her gift and educate the world, passing on to the next generations
why they need to get out of the gym and back to nature. Going back to nature takes them
on a journey of discovery, experience and creativity, and installs lasting foundations and
transformational results.
Find out more at Urban Women Fitness