Science Article

Think back to when you were little—what was the first sport you mastered? Running, of course. You ran around your house, inside and out. Later, you ran around the schoolyard, you ran around the park. Some people like to run so much they join the track or cross-country team at school. Others run on their own, to stay fit and healthy.
Running is a great form of exercise. It makes you fit and strong. Like other forms of exercise, when done regularly running can help prevent the development of heart disease and other illnesses. Running is easy—there are no new skills to learn, and very little is required in the way of equipment, just shoes and a track or an open road. Like any other athletic endeavor, running requires certain precautions to prevent injuries. And safety is always a concern, especially for people who run on open roads. But for those who love this activity, running can provide a lifetime of fun, fitness, and even a few challenges along the way.

Photo courtesy of STRIDE- Ethiopia Children in Yirgalem, Ethiopia train on a red dirt track with a running club founded by a visiting Irish radio technician.

Photo courtesy of The Children At Risk Foundation – CARF These boys in Brazil are getting good exercise while having fun playing soccer, which involves lots of running

Let’s take a look at the different aspects of running, beginning with its history…