When running is part of a lifestyle

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Vu conquered the 21km distance in the race held in Quang Tri province - Photo: NVCC

Running competitions everywhere always attract a large number of young people to participate. Many Gen Z people say that running is not only a physical activity, but also a way for them to enjoy life, connect with the community and overcome their own limits.

Running also requires discipline and perseverance. It is not possible to change yourself in just one or two days of practice, but requires the player to have a persistent training process and not give up halfway.

Ms. LINH DAN (29 years old, Da Nang)

Run to change yourself

For more than two years now, Mr. Nguyen Cong Minh (27 years old, from Quang Binh) has been jogging for at least 30 minutes every morning. His job often requires him to sit in one place in the office, combined with drinking a lot of alcohol, Mr. Minh's general examination results showed that his blood fat level was too high, warning of the risk of arterial blockage and stroke.

Except for rainy or sick days, Minh has to run a few laps to feel comfortable and alert enough to work. After a period of persistent running combined with a suitable diet, his insomnia has now improved significantly.

The results of the most recent health check showed that blood fat levels had also dropped to a safe level, and the body was slim and toned.

Meanwhile, Ms. Linh Dan (29 years old, in Da Nang) said that thanks to jogging, she found new energy and became more confident in life. She used to feel self-conscious because of her somewhat plump figure and was nicknamed Doraemon by her friends.

But after more than two years of jogging, Linh Dan's figure has become slimmer due to losing nearly 10kg. Thanks to that, she also feels more confident and loves herself more.

"For me, running is not only a sport but also a lifestyle, helping me improve my health and balance my emotions. More importantly, it helps me find joy in everyday life" - Ms. Linh Dan shared.

Connect and explore on the run

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Vu (28 years old, living in Da Nang) admitted that he is gradually addicted to this sport, so whenever he hears about a running competition, he arranges his work and registers to participate. Since the beginning of the year, he has participated in four competitions. The most recent one was held in Hoi An (Quang Nam) in early May.

"When I was immersed in the vibrant atmosphere among a forest of athletes, I felt really excited, enthusiastic and ran very hard. At that moment, I seemed to forget all the worries and troubles in life" - Mr. Vu laughed.

According to Mr. Vu, participating in races is both a way to conquer one's own limits and a chance to experience life, visit new lands, and interact with people who share the same passion.

During the race in Quang Tri, he took the opportunity to visit some famous places such as Quang Tri Citadel and Bich La ancient village. Thanks to running, he learned more about the culture and history of the places he visited.

In addition, Mr. Vu also participates in community groups, exchanges and shares experiences in the amateur marathon group. Every week, he and many members of the running group in Da Nang invite each other to Son Tra peninsula or Hoa Bac to practice.

Mr. Vu admits that he was originally quite shy, so he had a small number of friends, but thanks to running, he has gradually become more open and has many new relationships. The most remarkable thing was that from the running group, Mr. Vu found a girlfriend who shared his passion.

Is running expensive?

Originally considered a sport that does not require too much investment, but when running is considered a part of life and people want to achieve results from running races, the investment in this sport also gradually increases. Mr. Nguyen Cong Minh shared that when he first started running, he only needed a pair of sneakers and used his phone to measure the distance and time while running.

Then, when I ran more, I found the phone a bit bulky and inconvenient, and many times I even dropped and broke it during training. Not to mention, smartphones also do not meet other requirements during training such as heart rate monitoring, VO2 Max monitoring (maximum oxygen consumption rate), step counting...

So Mr. Minh decided to invest in a smart running watch worth nearly 10 million VND to meet the above requirements. Then add running shoes, sun protection gloves, and carefully selected sportswear.

Roughly calculating the total "waste" of Mr. Minh for this passion is also around 15 million VND with the explanation "Investing like that is like an affirmation of my passion and also serves to practice more scientifically and effectively".

In addition, the cost of accommodation and travel each time participating in the race is also an additional expense that participants must calculate. Mr. Nguyen Quoc Vu said that each time he participates in a race, he will calculate the cost based on many factors such as the venue and length of stay.

Next is the money to buy supporting foods such as energy bars, energy gels, mineral salts... for training and racing, which is an indispensable expense.

"In addition to the above investment, and travel expenses, normally when participating in tournaments in the provinces, depending on different conditions, I try to save as much as possible, so on average it will cost about 1.5 - 2 million VND for three days of food and accommodation" - Mr. Vu said.

Benefits of running

According to research by Nike + Running Global, running can reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis by 18% because it helps increase the thickness of knee cartilage. Women who run at least 6 hours/week reduce the risk of breast cancer by 25% compared to those who are not very active.

On average, people who jog for just 5-10 minutes a day can live three years longer than those who do not jog. In addition, jogging also helps improve mood, reduce anxiety and stress.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khi-chay-bo-la-mot-phan-phong-cach-song-20240616015541273.htm