Running: For The Brain, Enhancement Gear, & a Workout
The short answer
Can running make you happier and sharper? Research suggests yes — even a single bout of moderate-intensity running can lift your mood and improve executive function (the brain skills behind focus, planning, and self-control), and brain imaging shows the boost coincides with increased activity in the prefrontal cortex. In other words, an easy run isn't just good for your heart and legs; it's a quick tune-up for your brain.
Episode 135 of The Garage Gym Athlete Podcast is up!
This week the team is back with another great study! It's on running and how it can improve your mood and brain function. The coaches give their takeaways and how to kill comfort with this one. In keeping with the theme of running, the team go over a new piece of equipment called super pants! They talk about their thoughts on it and how this could affect the sport. To end the episode on a running note, the team go over this week's Meet Yourself Saturday workout, 60 Minute Run. It may just be the most skipped MYS at Garage Gym Athlete! Challenge yourself and give this one a go!
What the research says
The study, published in Scientific Reports, is titled "Benefit of human moderate running boosting mood and executive function coinciding with bilateral prefrontal activation." Researchers examined what a bout of moderate-intensity running does to mood and to executive function — the set of mental skills you use to focus attention, plan, switch tasks, and control impulses. They found that moderate running improved both, and that the improvement coincided with increased activation in the bilateral prefrontal cortex, the brain area central to executive control.
The practical message the coaches pull out: you don't have to run hard or far to get the mental payoff. A moderate, sustainable effort — the kind you can hold a conversation through — is enough to lift your mood and sharpen your focus, which makes running a simple, accessible tool for a clearer head as well as a healthier body. It's also a good reminder to keep some easy aerobic running in your week, not just hard intervals and lifting.
You can read the primary source in Scientific Reports.
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IN THIS 66-MINUTE EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
- Running for Brain Power
- Super Pants
- Enhancement Gear
- 60 Minute Run
- Daily Over Decades
- Tips For MYS
- Updates and Announcements
- And A LOT MORE!!
Diving Deeper…
If you want to go a little bit deeper on this episode, here are some links for you:
Study of the Week
Garage Gym Athlete Workout of the Week
Be sure to listen to this week’s episode:
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Thanks for listening to the podcast, and if you have any questions be sure to add it to the comments below!
To becoming better!
Jerred
Frequently asked questions
Does running improve brain function?
This study found that moderate-intensity running improved executive function — the mental skills behind focus, planning, and self-control — along with increased activity in the prefrontal cortex. So yes, running appears to benefit the brain, not just the body.
How long do you need to run to get the mental benefits?
The research centered on a single bout of moderate-intensity running, so you don't need a long or grueling session. A moderate, sustainable effort can be enough to boost mood and focus.
Is running better than other exercise for your brain?
This study specifically looked at moderate running. Other moderate aerobic exercise likely offers similar benefits — the key ingredient is moderate-intensity aerobic effort. Running is simply convenient, free, and easy to scale.
What is executive function?
Executive function is the umbrella term for mental skills like focusing attention, planning, switching between tasks, and controlling impulses. These are largely governed by the prefrontal cortex, which this study found was more active after running.
Want a program that balances running, conditioning, and strength so you get the brain and body benefits of each? Garage Gym Athlete builds it all into one plan.
Train like an athlete. For life.
Programming built this way: hard when it counts, sustainable the rest of the time.
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