Some people say it looks like Eliud Kipchoge is a “happy” runner. He seems to be smiling when he races, sometimes even when most of us would be grimacing. I can think of other runners who were similar. It at least looked like they were smiling, even during very difficult points in races.
Is Kipchoge really smiling? Somewhere along the line, I recall reading that he says he does intentionally smile because it helps him run better. Is he on to something?
In short: yes. From good hormones to improved perception of effort, there are real benefits to smiling that make a compelling case for doing something that isn’t all that hard and has little, if any, downside.
Exercise to treat depression? Can exercise be used to treat depression? I’m sure I’m far from alone in feeling that running definitely lifts my mood but that’s small scale. Can it be beneficial for people who are suffering from depression and not just as a mood lifter for those of us not suffering from depression? It looks like the answer is yes.