Take it from these four brainiacs – running regularly will improve your memory and your mood, and boost the growth of brain cells.
The Atomic Physicist
“I run six times a week first thing in the morning. Afterwards I’m energised: I’m more spontaneous and I’m more aggressive at getting work done. It gives me a fresh mind and makes me more focused and efficient.” – Professor Walter Ketterle, Massachusetts institute of Technology, Nobel Laureate in physics
The Inventor
“Running focuses my mind and allows me to think around a subject. I still need a workshop to make dis- coveries, but on a run I might think of a new avenue to explore. Another thing I learned from running is that the time to push hard is when you’re hurting like crazy. The moment you should accelerate is the moment that you’re most tired. I found that to be so in life as well.” – Sir James Dyson, founder and chief engineer of Dyson, manufacturer of vacuums and fans
The Tech Whiz
“I really started running for meditative purposes. I would pick some problem to have in my head while running – not for the purpose of solving it, but for the purpose of having it bounce around in there. Like when you say you’re going to sleep on it; I say I’m going to run on it. Then at some point later on, a solution falls out.” – Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter
The Novelist
“I try not to think of anything special while I’m running. As a matter of fact, I usually run with my mind empty. However, when I run empty-minded, something naturally and abruptly crawls in sometimes. That might become an idea that can help me with my writing.” – Haruki Murakami, author of What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Picture courtesy Daniel Milchev/Red Bull Content Pool
