Moving Forward: Global Running Day & 5Ks!

Hey there, everyone! Brendan here, and even though it's fairly busy around Nakee Butter HQ today, we're still taking the time to celebrate a holiday that means a lot to us and our mission here. Today is Global Running Day, the ninth anniversary of an event that started as an individual event and has spread to involve millions of participants across the globe. We recently participated in the Detroit Techno 5K, and we're helping to sponsor another run this weekend (check out the details below). I wanted to take this opportunity, though, to go over the benefits of running as a hobby and a way to pursue your health goals. 

There are so many benefits to running that it simply wouldn't be possible to list them all here, but here's a few of the most important:

• Supports weight management and metabolism:As a high-calorie-burning activity, running helps maintain a healthy weight and can increase your resting metabolic rate over time.
• Enhances endurance and stamina: Running builds aerobic capacity and muscular endurance, making everyday tasks feel easier and improving performance in other physical activities.
• Strengthens bones and joints:Despite common myths, moderate running actually increases bone density and joint strength when paired with good form and proper recovery.
• Boosts mental health and mood:Regular runs can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by releasing endorphins and promoting stress relief—often referred to as a "runner’s high."
• Encourages consistency and discipline:As a hobby, running offers structure, personal goals, and a sense of progress, qualities that can build self-confidence and resilience in other areas of life.

Something I wanted to bring particular attention to, however, is the element of cardiovascular health. To be blunt about it, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, and maintaining a healthy heart is one of the best ways to live longer and healthier. When you run regularly, your heart becomes stronger and more efficient at pumping blood. Over time, it needs fewer beats to deliver the same amount of oxygen, which lowers your resting heart rate and reduces overall strain on the heart. There are more benefits, too; running can also increase the elasticity of your arteries and blood vessels, contributing to healthy blood flow, as well as raising your "good" (HDL) cholesterol! You don't even have to run all that long to start seeing these benefits, as around ten minutes a day can be a good starting point. 

You may have heard of people training for extensive periods to complete marathons, and although you probably won't have to do as much as them to prep for a simpler 5K, you should not simply rush to join one. Preparing your body for the strain of that exertion, even if you're in shape, is important to preventing potential problems. In addition to making sure that you have the right gear (do not run a 5K in sandals, please), you should set out to build your endurance. Set a routine for a few weeks before the event you're hoping to join and escalate the distance you walk/run. Read more here, and don't feel pressured to break world records or something; participating in the race is success enough.

Having said that, Detroit does have a vibrant and expanding running scene. We're in the season for it at the moment, and there's several races of varying lengths coming up over the summer and beyond; you can see a listing of them here. This weekend, on June 8, Nakee is proudly supporting the fifth annual Palmer Park Pride Run + Walk, sponsored by Welcome Home Yoga and Wellness. There's an 8K and 5K event that you can sign up for ($45 and $35, respectively) as well as a one mile race ($25) and yoga ($15 with any race). This event is, as the hosts describe it, "a community celebration of Detroit neighborhoods" and is a part of Pride Month festivities around town. The races will begin promptly at 8:15am, and the yoga afterwards; the address for the start is the Palmer Park Community Building at 1121 Merrill Plaisance Street in Detroit. Nakee will be there, and we'd be happy to see you join us; register on the website linked above!

Thanks so much for reading. We're happy to support our community, and we appreciate you guys supporting us. Have a great week, and feel free to say hi if you see us at any event around Detroit, be it on Saturdays at Eastern Market or any of the other events and runs we sponsor! Best wishes, everyone, and have a wonderful week! This is Brendan, signing off for now.