WHY ITS SO IMPORTANT TO WALK AND RUN DURING A PANDEMIC!

A New Jersey retail professional and avid runner, Jennifer Heiner-Pisano manages retail operations for several branches of a successful running company. In her free time, Jennifer Heiner-Pisano maintains membership in local running clubs for comradery, training support, and an amazing social connection. 

In addition to organizing training and race events, these running groups most often offer free, coach-led walking and running sessions weekly at various local parks, communitiy centers, and other facilities. These programs encourage everyone from beginner runners to the more advanced to meet at locations throughout their communities to participate in one-hour sessions in a fun, no-pressure environment. These programs help people of all ages and experience levels to meet new members and develop healthy habits and attitudes toward exercise.

After the workouts are complete, the many coaches lead participants through strength exercises and stretching aimed at increasing endurance, flexibility, and balance. Throughout the workout, coaches also offer helpful, practical tips about health and nutrition to help walkers improve their quality of life.  While the format may have changed since March during the outbreak of the global pandemic, the purpose and the mission is still the same. These support sessions are held virtually, and through the use of social media, everyone can still connect and support each other mentally in order to achieve their fitness goals.  

SOME BENEFITS OF LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING, EVEN DURING A PANDEMIC

With years of experience in leadership positions, Jennifer Heiner-Pisano serves a New Jersey running company as the retail director, where she is responsible for inventory control among the company's four locations, assisting with race directing when necessary, which this year includes a virtual race option, and hiring new associates in periods such as holidays, and when new stores are set to open. Besides working in the area, Jennifer Heiner-Pisano also considers running one of her favorite hobbies – she is an avid runner and marathoner, and is looking forward to live, in person races resuming in 2021. Running is known to provide numerous health benefits for those who do it regularly. It can not only provide physical, but emotional benefit as well. Marathoners are those who consistently train for long-distance events, training which can takes several months prior to the goal event. However, less serious runners can train for half-marathons and other shorter distances as a way to achieve many of the physical and cognitive benefits provided by regular long-distance training. The benefits of taking part in long-distance running events such as marathons and half-marathons come with making consistently long runs, and base-building which requires 4-6 solid days of running per week. Typically, runners need to do long-distance sessions of high-intensity running for weeks on end to get ready for a race. This activity provides the benefit of burning away calories, which results in weight loss, improved muscle tone, among other things.

Another health benefit of long-distance training is that it strengthens the heart and blood vessels, minimizing the risk of cardiovascular disorders and heart attack. The average resting heart rate of a distance runner is often on the low end of what is considered normal, which points to strong heart health.  However, this practice is not only beneficial for the physical body. It also improves cognitive aspects such as memory - it is proven that right after long-distance running sessions, runners have a working memory increase of an average of 16 percent.  The endorphins that are released when running also help to promote positive mood and energy, and the relationships formed amongst runners while training and working towards the same goal is invaluable.