3 Cool ways running makes you younger

1. Get your glow back. Running increases the production of human growth hormone-your body's natural youth serum. This help you produce new cells, which can make your skin look a lot more youthful.

2. Strengthen bones. The pounding of running sparks bone to regenerate, which is why older runners generally have higher bone density than non-runners of the same age. Some real-world proof: Margaret Webb author of Older, Faster, Stronger at 52 now has better bone density than most 30 year olds.

3. Outsmart disease. Running protect your telomeres (the shoelace-cap-like DNA-sequence coatings on the ends of your chromosomes) which start to wear down as you age. The result: You’re less susceptible to sickness and inflammation.

4. The one piece of gear you absolutely must have:

Good running shoes. "When you run, you hit the ground with force greater than two times your own body weight," says Jeff Dengate, shoe and gear editor at Runner's World. "Running shoes are built with materials that help lessen that impact." So please help yourself and prevent injury don't try to run in walking shoes or cross-trainers or even old running shoes. Invest in a good pair of running shoes appropriate for your feet. It really is the only piece of gear you need for running (and maybe a good sports bra for the ladies). I replace my running shoes every 400 to 500 miles.

*The picture is me running a marathon in Italy. It was my 6th continent. I only have Antarctica left.

Adapted from Prevention article 10/2014