When an “AI friend” suggested that running was a simple sport, it got me thinking. Yes… and no. He was right in a way: running is simple, easy, and natural. But beneath the surface, there is a lot to explore and so much to learn. If you are new to running, good for you! Keep going. If you are already hooked, there will always be more to learn. Either way, this post will have something for you to explore.

Running is simple, and we are good at it

Running comes naturally to humans. I remember a time when I ran everywhere I wanted to go. I was probably around five, mind you. Children run and play, and it is easy. There are also scientists who believe that people evolved (or were created, as I believe) to run for long distances and hunt. We are not fast—in fact, we are some of the slowest mammals on Earth—but we can outlast most animals. They call it persistence hunting, where you keep pursuing your prey until you catch up with it when it is utterly exhausted.

As a sport and a form of exercise, running is one of the most basic skills. In many other sports, running is a basic requirement. You cannot play soccer, for instance, if you cannot run. It is also cheap compared to other sports. “But, running shoes are not cheap,” you might say. True, but do we really need the elaborate cushioning and comfort that modern running shoes offer? Some say not. I am still on the fence about it. Earlier, there were no sponge, air, gel, or whatever in shoes, and people completed marathons without it.

But what happens when that simple act becomes a passion? Suddenly, you realize there’s so much more to learn. It’s an entire universe of subjects, explored in hundreds of books, articles, and videos. Here are just a few of the things you’ll encounter if you dive in.

From a Simple Act to a Scientific Pursuit

Just glance through this and see if there is anything that you need to do more research about. And feel free to comment if you think I should write a post about it.

  • Gear and Equipment
    • Shoes: Foot types and biomechanics—should you get a neutral, motion control, or stability shoe, or maybe barefoot, minimalist, or maximalist?
    • Clothing: Chafing prevention, moisture-wicking materials, women’s specific gear (sports bras), and running belts.
    • Tech: Running watches (with GPS), Strava, MapMyFitness, and Runkeeper.
  • Training and Performance
    • Workouts: Speed, distance, long runs, tempo runs, intervals, strides, and something called fartlek (Speedplay).
    • Coaching: The role of a coach, personal bests (PBs/PRs), and negative splits.
    • Running Form: Cadence, stride length, and biomechanics.
    • Metrics: VO2 max, TTE (Time to exhaustion), BMI, and max heart rate.
  • Health and Injury Prevention
    • Injury Management: Common running injuries, their causes, and treatment options.
    • Prevention: The importance of warm-ups and cool-downs, strength training, and self-myofascial release (SMR).
    • Foot Strike: Heel, midfoot, front foot. (Which one is the best? It depends on who you listen to. It may even be different for me than for you.)
    • Bad for the knees and other joints? (No, mostly, but it could be if you have bad running form)
    • Bad for the heart? (No, mostly, but when someone dies of a heart-attack during a race it tends to make people think that way.)
    • Weight loss? Yes, it helps. But it’s not magic. People who run more also tend to eat more!
  • Nutrition and Hydration
    • Pre-Run Fuel: Carbo-loading science (or is it?), what to eat the night before and on race day.
    • During-Run Fuel: Gels, chews, and drinks. When should you use them, and when should you not?
    • Post-Run Fuel: Protein? Carbs? Is fat so bad?
    • Hydration: The “drink to thirst” debate and overhydration risks. (Seriously, hyponatremia is one of the biggest killers of runners during races.)
    • Supplements: Protein, vitamins, and specific performance aids like beetroot juice (be careful).
    • Digestive Issues: Why they happen and how to manage them. (Pooping on the side of the road during a race is not fun.)
  • The Mental Game
    • Motivation: Finding your “why.”
    • Community: Running alone versus running with a group or a club.
    • Mental Strength: Consistency, pushing through difficulty, and runner’s high.

So What? Back to the Simple Joy

Yes, it is a vast subject, but does it matter? For the elite athlete or coach, it may, but for everyone else, running can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. The most important part is the act of running and its numerous benefits.

The bottom line: You don’t need to know everything about running to be a runner. You can just start. Go run! The physical and mental health benefits are well-documented, and we have gone over many of them in other posts on this blog. It plays a role in preventing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, depression, and so many more.

For me, running is a simple pleasure that God enabled me to have. Yes, I love reading more about it and learning as much as I can, but it is the experience of running, enjoying nature, and pushing my limits that has me coming back to it again and again.