Most of us are constantly on the lookout for the next best exercise technique or activity. Whether this is some fancy equipment at the gym or the latest celebrity fitness routine, we all want something that is going to give you the best results.

But what if we told you that one of the best forms of exercise is one that’s been around forever? In fact, it could even be the oldest form of exercise in the world.

That’s right, running could be the fitness routine you’ve been looking for.

It doesn’t matter if you head outside or hop on the treadmill, running has a number of benefits, making it the perfect way to workout. Don’t believe us? Here’s why you should take up running:

Anyone can do it

Literally anyone can run. All shapes, sizes and fitness levels are able to put one foot in front of the other, even if you can’t go fast. You don’t need specialist equipment or anything fancy — beyond some good shoes, a supportive sports bra and a general direction — so it is essentially a free workout too.

So long as you know where you’re going, are being safe and pay attention to your body and what it’s telling you, you’ll get the most out of your run.

Burns calories

Running raises your heart rate — even if you aren’t Usain Bolt — which helps you to burn calories. In fact, it burns more calories than many other forms of exercise, making it really efficient for weight loss and management.

This means that running every day can help you lose inches and generally become healthier.

It’s good for your heart

As well as blasting away calories, running keeps your heart healthy. This is because as you run, more blood travels to your heart so it needs to pump faster to keep it going around your body. The more you run, the stronger your heart gets and better it works, which helps every part of your body.

Less stress

All exercise helps to reduce your stress levels, but running is particularly good. When you run, it’s just you and the road, which helps you to work out problems and feel powerful.

No one interrupts you, you benefit from all those endorphins and you can focus on your stride, form and breathing. All of this with some good music is enough to set you up for the day and slay any stress that you may have been feeling before you put your running shoes on.

This is why so many people choose to start their day with a run, as it sets them up ready to face what it brings in a calmer way.

Good for your joints

You may think that running will damage your knees, but so long as you have good shoes that help to cushion your feet and legs, as well as absorb the shock of hitting the pavement, they’ll actually benefit from it.

Not only is this because you can lose weight and maintain a healthy size — being overweight can damage the cartilage in your knees — it also increases how much oxygen the cartilage in your knees gets, helping to strengthen your joints and get rid of toxins.

While you may feel a bit sore after your first few runs, you can be sure that the exercise is helping you.