the aesthetic benefits to the mental perks, there's a reason why 19 million people finished races in the US last year.

, Harvard Men's Health Watch

This study used preventing death to measure the benefit of running, but it’s not the most typical reason for running. “Many dedicated long-term runners do not run because they want to live longer,” Dr. Baggish notes. “They run because it makes them feel better on a daily basis. There is a mood elevating, quality-of-life benefit that comes from being a regular exerciser.”

The new study focused on a group of more than 55,000 men and women ages 18 to 100. About a quarter of them were runners. Over 15 years, those who ran just 50 minutes a week or fewer at a moderate pace were less likely to die from either cardiovascular disease or any cause, compared with those who didn’t run at all.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology finds that even five to 10 minutes a day of low-intensity running is enough to extend life by several years, compared with not running at all. It shows that the minimal healthy “dose” of exercise is smaller than many people might assume.

, but even the draft horses of the running world — slow and steady joggers — improve their health.

Many say they are at their most creative and lucid, even meditative, during their runs, as the worries of the day slip away.

an opportunity to spend a little time with yourself and your thoughts, a chance to develop an increased self-awareness.

You've probably started running for the physical benefits, but you will quickly discover other, more metaphysical rewards.

You'll likely find yourself with fewer headaches and more energy, patience, humor and creativity.

Studies have found that healthy adults who exercise regularly are generally happier than those who don't.

Running is among the best aerobic exercises for physical conditioning of your heart and lungs. Studies have shown the health benefits to be enormous, reducing the likelihood of everything from the common cold to cancer.

Your stamina will increase. You'll lose weight; most beginners lose nearly a pound a week.

ose weight, to improve fitness, to relieve stress, to compete, or just to kill time, you'll find that the benefits are many.

And ladies, women who regularly engage in intense workouts like running can reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 30 percent.