Another Reason to Find a Running Partner
We all know that running with someone else can improve our pace, our spirits and our distances. But here's another reason: it really improves your mind.
At a workshop last week, a national expert in dementia care urged everyone to engage in healthy lifestyle choices now to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and other types of memory impairment associated with aging, poor exercise, bad diet, stress, poor sleep habits and head injuries. (And even if she didn't mention it, there's now evidence forgetting to brush and floss teeth can contribute to the disease too.)
It's also important to not socially isolate yourself since doing so can lead to "cognitive stagnation." That's why I'm recommending everyone occasionally team up with a running partner.
When you carry on a conversation while running you engage the brain differently.
-You take turns talking, which requires you to think before speaking.
-You use decision making to decide together where to turn and when to stop or start again.
-You must use your memory to retain what they are saying.
-You must use your language skills to form words when it's your turn to talk.
-You need to hear and understand what someone else is saying.
-You also need to ignore background noise to focus on them.
Sometimes running together means you ignore safety issues, like being so engrossed in conversation you fail to notice a traffic light change or oncoming cyclist and narrowly avoid being hit. So do be careful when you run together. And don't be quiet all the time; keep up a conversation unless you are doing a tempo run or speedwork - then it's a little tough to talk. Otherwise, carry on. It's not only good for your body, it's great for your brain.
At a workshop last week, a national expert in dementia care urged everyone to engage in healthy lifestyle choices now to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and other types of memory impairment associated with aging, poor exercise, bad diet, stress, poor sleep habits and head injuries. (And even if she didn't mention it, there's now evidence forgetting to brush and floss teeth can contribute to the disease too.)
It's also important to not socially isolate yourself since doing so can lead to "cognitive stagnation." That's why I'm recommending everyone occasionally team up with a running partner.
When you carry on a conversation while running you engage the brain differently.
-You take turns talking, which requires you to think before speaking.
-You use decision making to decide together where to turn and when to stop or start again.
-You must use your memory to retain what they are saying.
-You must use your language skills to form words when it's your turn to talk.
-You need to hear and understand what someone else is saying.
-You also need to ignore background noise to focus on them.
Sometimes running together means you ignore safety issues, like being so engrossed in conversation you fail to notice a traffic light change or oncoming cyclist and narrowly avoid being hit. So do be careful when you run together. And don't be quiet all the time; keep up a conversation unless you are doing a tempo run or speedwork - then it's a little tough to talk. Otherwise, carry on. It's not only good for your body, it's great for your brain.
