Americans love their sports. Playing them, watching them, betting on them, and talking about them. The United States simply cannot get enough of their athletes. Of all the sports Americans love to play — football, basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, etc. — running happens to be one of the most popular. As a competitive sport, running has been captivating Americans for years. From Jesse Owens to Tyson Gay, American runners have made their country proud in the Olympics and beyond. More generally, the U.S. is host to thousands of marathons, half-marathons, 5Ks, and other races every year.
As an exercise, running may be even more popular. Did you know, for example, that in 2012 more than 57 million Americans — close to 20% of the population — went running or jogging at least once? Perhaps the better question is, “Why wouldn’t they?” Running is an exhausting aerobic exercise but the results are well worth it. Of the ample health benefits that comes from running, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease stand out.
Running can also help you lose weight, build muscle (especially in the legs and torso), strength your cardiovascular system, improve your breathing, and make you feel all around awesome (not that you’re not already). It has even been shown that running can extend life expectancy by as much as six years!
Of course, you don’t have to run per se in order to appreciate running. After all, there are a lot of running products out there that can be used on and off the track. Personalized gifts for runners include a number of items that can appeal to runners and non-runners alike (though, obviously, runners can appreciate them the most). From running necklaces and running journals to running decals and runners IDs, there is no shortage of gift ideas for you or that special someone who enjoys running. For more information about running necklaces and other items, feel free to leave a comment or question at the bottom.
