Although I've never been much of a runner myself, many of my friends who are regular runners say they get far more than health benefits from jogging in the park or around the track several times a week: they feel happier.
Now a new study confirms the anecdotal evidence. Danish researchers say that people who job at least an hour a week live an average of six years longer and reported an overall sense of well-being, which means that they were not only healthy but also happy.
The Danish researchers used data from the Copenhagen City Heart Study. They found that for both men and women, jogging was associated with a 44 percent reduction in the risk of death over 35 years compared to not jogging.
The best results were for people who were jogging at a slow-to-average pace for an hour to two and a half hours in two or three sessions a week. In other words, you don't need to do this every day to get the benefits.
The researchers also say that it's never too late to start. They believe that even people in their 60s and 70s could benefits from jogging.
If this inspires you, remember to check with your doctor to make sure you're ready to start an exercise program. But if you get the OK, jog away!
