Fall is our busiest season. School is back in the session, the children are busy with fall sports and we are traveling to college football games. However, I would have to say that it is my favorite. I love making gingerbread with the kids and the awesome smell that carries through the house. I love relaxing at the end of a busy day to George Winston’s “Autumn”. I love the crisp coolness and excitement in the air at college football games. But, one of my all-time favorite things to do in the fall is to run. There is something about a run in the fall that is different from any other time of the year. It is a treat for the senses. The sound of the crackling leaves under your feet, the smell of the wood fires burning in the chimneys, the feel of the cool air, the look of the vibrant colors in the changing leaves and coral sunrises. The bugs are gone and the humidity is down. Madison, our ten year old Lab, feels it too as she is finally willing to leave from below the shaded tree and join me for the cool down.
Running, just like any exercise, makes you feel good. When you exercise aerobically, you release endorphins. Those endorphins reduce stress and improve your mood. Whenever I feel tense, exercise always makes me feel more relaxed. The more hectic life gets, the more exercise seems to help me cope. If I have tough decisions to make, it seems gives me a clear head in which to think.
Many people know about how exercise can help you to lose or maintain weight, control blood sugar levels and improve overall fitness. But, one very important aspect of exercise that is often overlooked is how it can improve your mood.
So, get out and enjoy the good things that both fall and exercise offer. If you are not a runner, go for a walk. You will be surprised at how good it will make you feel, both physically and emotionally!
~ Angie
It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make that change!
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