Is Running 2 Miles a Day Good for You?
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If you are new to running, 2 miles a day can become a great start. Two miles is long enough to challenge yourself but not too much that it’s unbearable.
With running 2 miles a day, you’ll be able to notice improved health and weight-loss results quickly. This specific distance has numerous benefits for your physical and mental well-being.
In this article, we cover everything you need to know about running 2 miles a day.
5 Benefits of Running 2 Miles a Day
Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise for a reason. It doesn’t need much equipment, and you can do it just about anywhere or anytime it is suitable for you. All you need is a pair of shoes – and you’re good to go.
You can run alone, you can run with your friends, you can even run with your dog if you want to! Running is very versatile and can be easily tailored to your lifestyle and goals.
More importantly, running is great for our health and can lower the risk of death by 23–30%. Read on to learn more about the amazing benefits of running 2 miles a day.
#1 Physical transformation
Many people think they must do the heavy lifting and train certain parts of the body to sculpt a fit and strong body. The truth is, running is one of the best examples of balanced whole-body exercise. It can help you equally develop all your muscles and make you an all-around fitter and stronger person.
At the beginning of your run, your quadriceps (large muscles on the front of your thigh) are doing most of the work. As your body moves forward, the effort shifts into the muscles on the upper back of your calf. So running daily wonderfully works your quads, hamstrings, and calves. Which leads to your legs becoming more muscular and toned.
But running not only tones your legs. When you run, your glutes provide the power to push your body further. This means you work on your glutes and hips as well, resulting in a bigger and stronger booty.
Running also uses your core to balance and coordinate movements. So your upper body, arms, and abs become stronger and more toned too.
Let’s not forget that the physical impact of running is also known to increase your bone thickness. People who run every day have stronger leg bones, pelvis, and spine. However, beginners must take things slowly and not overwork to really strengthen their bones and not cause any bone fractures.
Moreover, by getting your heart rate up and improving blood circulation through running, you help deliver oxygen and nutrients to your skin. This promotes collagen production and new skin cells keeping the skin glowing and preventing aging.
#2 Burning calories
How many calories do you burn while running 2 miles? The specific number depends on your weight. On average, running burns about 100 calories per mile. Running involves continuously moving your entire body weight. Because of that, it burns more calories than most other activities.
To be more exact, we can use a study by Harvard Health Publishing. If a 125lb person runs at a pace of 12 minutes per mile, they will burn approximately 240 calories per 30 minutes. A 185lb person will burn 336 calories when running for about half an hour. Running for 2 miles a day works out to approximately 192–284 calories burned during your daily run.
| Running: 5mph (12min/mile) | 125lb person | 155lb person | 185lb person |
| Calories burned in 30min | 240 | 288 | 336 |
Chart based on Harvard Health Publishing
What’s great about running is that you don’t have to worry about speed when it comes to calorie burn. You can burn the same calories by running for a more extended time if you want to run at a slower pace. This means you can enjoy your everyday two-mile run and still burn calories without any need to run faster.
When you run, you’re using your body’s energy to push your body forward and coordinate movements. That energy is fueled by calories. This is why you burn a lot of calories through running.
#3 Weight loss
Since running burns many calories, this is one of the best ways to lose overall body mass through exercise. Combined with a balanced diet, running 2 miles a day can help you lose weight and see results quickly.
How much weight you’ll lose depends on many factors: your body composition, weight, gender, diet, and level of physical activity.
As mentioned in the chart below, you can burn approximately 192–284 calories by running 2 miles a day. This means you may be able to see positive results within the first weeks of running 2 miles a day.
But don’t worry if the scales won’t go down right away. As you already know, your whole body is involved while you run. Which means your muscles are getting stronger every time you run.
Muscles weigh more than body fats because they’re more dense than fat. This is why the scales might not show the decreased number initially.
Muscle growth is one of the factors why you can quickly lose weight running. Muscles increase your metabolism. This means the more muscles you have, the more calories you burn when you’re resting.
If you continue running 2 miles a day for at least a couple of weeks, you will start to see weight loss results soon. And thanks to the stronger muscles, you will not only lose weight, but your body will also look leaner and toner.
One of the most important benefits of running is improved heart health. Many medical studies have declared a positive connection between running and cardiovascular health.
One of these studies was made in 2014 by the Journal of American College of Cardiology. Scientists looked at the data of 55,137 adults between the ages of 18 and 100 over 15 years. They found that running even 5 minutes a day can reduce the risk of cardiovascular illnesses related to death. Not to mention the benefits of running 2 miles a day!
The study showed that people who run have a 30% lower risk of all causes and a 45% lower risk of death from heart diseases or stroke compared to non-runners. The results remained the same regardless of age, sex, BMI, and health condition.
Running also lowers and normalizes blood pressure. Daily running makes your heart stronger. A stronger heart can pump more blood. As a result, the pressure on your arteries decreases, reducing your blood pressure as well.
Moreover, the stronger heart also increases oxygen intake, which helps your heart pump a larger amount of blood per beat. This results in minimizing the heart’s workload and making it easier for your heart to perform.
#5 Mental transformation
Running is beneficial not only for physical health. Studies show that running releases feel-good endorphins and other natural brain chemicals. They enhance your sense of well-being and alleviate depression symptoms. It’s a natural mood boost!
Hormones released during and after your daily run help your body relax and sleep more deeply. To put it simply – running also enables you to sleep better.
If you want to read more about the mental health benefits of running, we have prepared an article dedicated only to this topic.
Why Should You Consider Running 2 Miles a Day?
What is great about running 2 miles a day? It’s an ideal distance. A two-mile run doesn’t take long and offers many benefits regardless of your experience level.
Running daily transforms your body by burning body fat and building muscles. You can soon expect a leaner and toner body and improved health, especially cardiovascular health, even if you’re already at a healthy weight. By running 2 miles a day, your heart and lungs will become stronger. This results in improved stamina and endurance.
Running 2 miles a day also has numerous benefits for your mental health. Such as improved mood, reduced depression and anxiety symptoms, and better sleep!
When done correctly, running may lead to positive benefits in other areas of your life. However, it’s essential to avoid these 5 mistakes most beginners make while running.
It’s important not to forget that any type of running comes with a certain degree of risk of injury. Especially if you are starting from not running at all to running 2 miles a day. That’s why it’s essential to take things gradually and work your way up slowly. You can reduce the risks by always warming up, staying hydrated, and choosing a safe running plan.
We know that jumpstarting a new running habit may be difficult for beginners. To avoid some of the challenges you may encounter running 2 miles a day, we encourage working with highly qualified fitness experts. They will help you progressively get into the routine.
One of the best choices we can recommend is Joggo. It’s an easy-to-use running app that creates a personalized running plan according to specific users’ needs and goals.
Joggo gathers personal data like age, height, weight, and current activity level. This generates a custom-made running program for the user. Since the plans are personalized for a specific person, the app acts as a personal trainer. The built-in audio guide coaches and motivates users through their program safely.
Users also get educational content, workouts, a weight-loss tracker, and tips on injury prevention. Joggo even offers a balanced meal plan to support its users’ running routine, weight loss, energy levels, and performance. That way, beginners can enjoy running with minimal risk.
A Word From our RD
Running is an excellent form of aerobic exercise, and it has become more and more popular in recent years. It burns many calories, builds stronger muscles, a healthier heart, and helps develop a healthier mental state.
People don’t particularly need to run very long and challenging distances to see results fast. A two-mile distance is a great goal to get started. Runners who tend to keep running daily will quickly see progress. This distance also helps beginners stay motivated to continue their running journey.
Unfortunately, with running comes injuries due to wrong information and improper training. Running too far, too fast, too soon can weaken your muscles and put you at risk for injury. It’s best to run an achievable distance, for example, 2 miles, and not push yourself too hard to avoid injuries. It’s also essential to give your body time to rest and recover.
Whatever your running goal is, a good running plan will help you get there safely. The plan should include the valid starting point, recovery program, and how to keep from getting hurt.
Live a Longer, Healthier, and Happier Life
Running 2 miles a day can significantly impact your life. It makes you stronger, boosts the overall function, and prevents symptoms of depression or anxiety.
The number of miles you run, how often you run, and what time of day you run are all personal decisions. However, whatever your goal may be, running 2 miles a day is one of the best distances for your health and well-being. If you are not sure where to start, try the Joggo app.
Two miles a day is a perfect distance to start with and keep going without getting burnout. It’s an achievable amount of running, which leads to visible and tangible results within the first weeks.
Edibel Quintero is a medical doctor who graduated in 2013 from the University of Zulia and has been working in her profession since then. She specializes in obesity and nutrition, physical rehabilitation, sports massage and post-operative rehabilitation. Edibel's goal is to help people live healthier lives by educating them about food, exercise, mental wellness and other lifestyle choices that can improve their quality of life.
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