Scientific Health Benefits from Track
- Christy Pang
- Jan 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 9
Author: Christy Pang
Editor: David Gerges
We often hear others proclaiming that running contributes to significant health benefits, but what are the specific biological processes that lead to such improvements, and how does it really work? In this blog we will break down the mechanisms behind these changes and discuss the advantages track & field provides for our most vital organ: the heart.
Across the dozens of events in T&F, each challenges competitors’ bodies in a variety of different ways, yet all of them are constantly improving the wellness of their participants' cardiovascular system.
Beginning with sprint and jumping events, these activities mainly rely on the phosphate and anaerobic glycolysis systems. On one hand, the phosphate system provides immediate energy by using stored ATP (a biological form of energy) and phosphocreatine (a more rapid source of energy for short and intense bursts) in the muscles. On the other, the anaerobic glycolysis system is the process by which energy is chemically produced anaerobically, occurring especially when the amount of oxygen delivered to your muscles cannot compensate for the amount of motion exerted. Over time, repeating this cycle makes the heart significantly stronger, as the cardiovascular system becomes better at handling rapid changes in intensity, recovering faster between runs/jumps, and maintaining strong circulation.
The combination of sprint and jumping events such as these in addition to endurance events work correspondingly to improve the human body’s cardiovascular adaptability and endurance capacity. For instance, long-distance running primarily relies on the aerobic metabolism system, and the primary source of energy for long distance running is the aerobic oxidation metabolism of fat and glycogen (a mode of generating energy from food using oxygen). Consistently running long distances then enhances our body’s fat utilization efficiency and increases mitochondrial density (mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration where oxygen is used to produce energy), stroke volume (the amount of blood the heart pumps with each beat), and VO₂ max (the maximum amount of oxygen the body can deliver to and use in the muscles), which improve aerobic capacity.
Aside from these energy-based processes, regular running helps regulate stress hormone levels over time, decreasing the production of adrenaline and cortisol during resting levels. (Note: It is true that adrenalin spikes during running, but through training adrenaline production will be lower at resting levels) Additionally, running reduces the risk of arteriosclerosis (vascular disease where the arteries become damaged) and thrombosis (blood clot) through the improvement of blood circulation. Thus, the prevention of these conditions obtained by running in all its forms keeps the heart—as well as the runner—healthy!
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