RRI.CO.Id, Jakarta - What if the effects of running go far beyond stronger muscles and a healthier heart? Scientists are uncovering evidence that every step may influence not only how people feel physically and emotionally, but also how the brain responds to the demands of endurance exercise.

For many people, running is a way to clear the mind, relieve stress, or simply stay active, yet its effects may be more remarkable than previously understood. Two studies published in 2025 offer insights into how regular running can improve everyday well-being while revealing an unexpected biological adaptation that takes place in the brain after a estensive running.

Benefits from Running

In "Impact of Running on Physical and Mental Health and Life Satisfaction," Hsieh et al. (2025) examined 457 members of the Kaohsiung Marathon Federation to better understand the benefits of running. The researchers found that participants experienced improvements in physical health, weight management, cardiopulmonary fitness, mental well-being, work productivity, and overall life satisfaction.

The study also highlighted that consistency matters, as participants who ran three to four times per week reported significantly greater improvements than those who ran only once a week. More frequent runners demonstrated better muscle endurance, emotional well-being, workplace effectiveness, and life satisfaction, while 89 percent also reported better focus and productivity at work.

Running's positive impact extended beyond fitness, with about two-thirds of participants reporting improved sleep quality and 96.3 percent saying they felt happier overall. Although muscle strain was the most commonly reported injury and many participants noted higher stress levels, the findings suggest that regular running can contribute to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle when paired with proper recovery.

What happens when you run extensively?

On the other hand, running may temporarily affect the brain during periods of extreme endurance, according to "Reversible Reduction in Brain Myelin Content Upon Marathon Running" by Ramos-Cabrer et al. (2025). The researchers found that marathon runners experienced a temporary reduction in myelin water fraction (MWF), a marker of myelin content, in brain regions involved in movement, sensory integration, and emotional processing immediately after completing a marathon.

The findings suggest that pushing the body to extreme physical limits can trigger short-term changes in the brain, but the researchers found no evidence of lasting damage. Myelin levels returned to normal within two months after the race, leading the researchers to propose that myelin may temporarily serve as an energy reserve during periods of exceptionally high metabolic demand, a process they described as "metabolic myelin plasticity."

Together, the two studies paint a broader picture of how running influences both daily life and the body's most complex organ. While regular running appears to support long-term physical and emotional well-being, marathon running also demonstrates the brain's remarkable ability to adapt and recover during periods of intense endurance.