does running regularly make you look older? sorry, running doesnt take the blame for that

"Let's go for a run."

"I'm not going. Running will make me tan and look older."

— This was the conversation last time when Wuyan Zu invited a friend to go running. I was thinking, everyone says running makes you younger and more energetic, so how can it make you look older?Look older?

Previously, I had heard similar statements: professional marathon runners are often darker, thinner, and look older, indicating that running doesn't make you look radiant but rather makes you look older and more haggard.

So, is there any scientific basis for this claim? Does running really make you look older and more haggard? Today, Wuyan Zu will give you a detailed explanation.

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Sorry, running doesn't take the blame for this.

In life, we see more people who make themselves younger and maintain a better mindset through running.

Half of the reasons people start running are to relieve stress, and by running, they maintain a relaxed and easy-going mindset. Most of these people become increasingly 'younger' through running.

A study showed that using a sample of 55,000 people aged 18 to 100, it was found that regardless of whether you are male or female, drink or smoke, running one to two hours a week can reduce cardiovascular-related mortality risk by 45% to 70% and the chance of getting cancer by 30% to 50%.

Moreover, researchers found that the average lifespan of runners far exceeds that of non-runners. This not only makes you look 'younger' but also feel 'younger'.

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Why does running make people 'younger'?

Running makes you feel better

While running, you don't have to think about anything, letting your brain be in a blank state. If you're in the mountains, you need to focus entirely on your next step, staying highly concentrated.

No matter the form, after running, you will feel extremely relaxed and satisfied. Of course, you will also feel tired, but this fatigue will quickly recover, making you crave the next run.

Running helps you control your weight

Many people run to lose weight, but later find they haven't succeeded. Even those who succeed often rebound. However, this isn't entirely running's fault.

If you train seriously, develop good exercise and lifestyle habits, and persist over time, you will see pleasing changes, and your weight will naturally return to a healthy state.

Running can boost your immunity

While running, your blood circulation speeds up, nutrients are delivered more frequently, and immune cells receive more nutrients, allowing them to replicate and renew. As a result, the number and vitality of immune cells will significantly increase.Regular running benefits the enhancement of cardiopulmonary function and boosts immunity.

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Why do some people think running makes you look older?

Everyone knows running is good for the body, but why do some people think running makes you look older? What does 'looking older' mean?Darker skin?Worse facial skin?

The main cause of worse skin is ultraviolet rays.Many male runners don't pay much attention to skin care. If frequently exposed to UV rays, their skin will deteriorate. But this isn't running's fault; it's because you didn't pay attention to sun protection.

Look at those runners around you who pay attention to skin protection. Whether after a scorching marathon or a high-altitude race, they still look radiant, with no signs of sun damage.

Besides the superficial 'aging,' another reason people mistakenly think running accelerates aging is that we see many top runners suffering from 'Overtraining Syndrome (OTS)' due to excessive running and intense training, leading to a decline in physical functions like athletic ability and immunity, making them easily fatigued. This makes people think running accelerates aging.

Generally, those who suffer from this syndrome do so due to excessive training. How much training is that? For example, the famous American trail runner Mike Wolfe used to run over 250 kilometers a week while preparing for a race.

However, for most runners, they won't have such a large training volume, so there's no need to worry about this.As long as you pay attention to sun protection and avoid continuous high-intensity running, you won't 'look older.'

Those runners who endure wind and rain, and even high-altitude UV rays, may look 'older,' but their physical functions are actually 'younger' than many others.

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Conclusion

In theory, running makes people look energetic and radiant. However, since the skin has secretion functions and directly contacts the external environment, running increases secretion and exposure to the elements, which can make the skin rough and aged.

Therefore, dear Codoon friends who love sports, don't forget various sun protection measures when doing outdoor activities. This way, your skin will look more radiant and younger.

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