Yes, we saw you running . . .

The real victory is deciding that your health deserves attention every day of the year

Dr Tendai Zuze
Health Matters
LAST weekend, social media was flooded with photos and videos of people taking part in a popular local half marathon.
There were smiling faces crossing the finish line, medals proudly displayed, groups of friends celebrating together and plenty of selfies to mark the occasion. For a few days, it seemed as though everyone was either running, cheering someone on, or posting about it.
To everyone who took part, congratulations. Completing a half marathon is no small achievement. Whether you ran the entire distance, walked sections of it or simply made it to the finish line, you accomplished something that required commitment, determination and courage. You deserve to be proud of yourself.
Events like these are important. They bring communities together, encourage physical activity and often inspire people who have been thinking about exercising to finally get started.
If the running shoes are put back into the cupboard until next year’s event, then we have missed the greatest benefit of taking part. The real victory is not crossing the finish line on one Saturday morning. The real victory is deciding that your health deserves attention every day of the year. Fitness is not an event. It is a lifestyle.
Our bodies do not become healthy because we exercised once. They become healthier because we choose to move regularly. Just as we don’t expect to become financially secure after receiving one salary, we shouldn’t expect one day of exercise to keep us healthy for the rest of the year.
The good news is that staying healthy does not require you to run half marathons every weekend. In fact, you don’t have to be a runner at all. A brisk walk after work, cycling with your children, swimming, dancing, gardening or even choosing the stairs instead of the lift all count towards a more active lifestyle. The best exercise is not necessarily the most difficult one. It is the one you enjoy enough to keep doing.
Exercise, though, is only one part of the picture. Good health also depends on the food we eat. We should aim to fill our plates with more vegetables and fruit, choose whole grains where possible, reduce sugary drinks and highly processed foods, and watch our portion sizes.
Many of the illnesses we see every day in our clinics are influenced by the choices we make at the dining table.
Sleep is another habit that is often overlooked. We live busy lives, and many people sacrifice sleep to work longer hours or spend more time on their phones. Yet it is during sleep that our bodies repair themselves, our immune systems recover and our minds recharge. Regular exercise and adequate sleep work hand in hand.
We should also pay attention to our mental health. Exercise is a wonderful way to reduce stress, but it should be combined with making time for family, friends, hobbies, laughter and moments of rest. Looking after your mind is just as important as looking after your muscles.
If you smoke, perhaps the half marathon has reminded you that your lungs are capable of so much more. There is no better time to make a plan to stop smoking. If you drink alcohol, do so responsibly. Small lifestyle changes, maintained over many years, produce far greater health benefits than dramatic changes that only last a few days.
Don’t forget regular health check-ups either. High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and kidney disease often develop silently. Knowing your blood pressure, blood sugar and weight, and seeing your healthcare provider when necessary, are just as much a part of healthy living as going for a run.
One thing that stood out over the weekend was the sense of community. Friends encouraged one another, strangers cheered people they had never met and families came out to support loved ones. That same spirit should continue long after the event is over. Invite a friend for a morning walk. Encourage a family member to become more active. Healthy habits are easier to maintain when we do them together.
So yes, we saw you running. We saw you dance at the Zumba session afterwards. We saw the smiles, the determination and the celebrations. We also hope to see something even more important over the coming weeks and months. We hope to see you walking after work, choosing healthier meals, getting enough sleep, attending your medical check-ups and making your health a priority even when nobody is taking photographs.