Totally confused!

sophieamhaley
sophieamhaley Posts: 85
in Fitness and Exercise
I recently started running (well, jogging I suppose) as I take my dog for a 2-2.5 miles walk every evening and it was a convenient way to incorporate a work out into my schedule.
I've now read more than one article saying that running is bad for your skin (?), bad for your joints, that jogging isn't a good fat burner but HIIT (sprinting/walking) is. I don't know whether just to go back to my regular dog walk!

I'm only doing twenty minutes per evening, 5 or 6 days a week, and I thought I was benefitting myself and adding to my fitness and health, now I'm not so sure! Any experienced runners out there? Can you offer any pearls of wisdom please? I'm quite dischuffed that my new regime that I was so happy about, may be more harmful than good!

Replies

  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    That's the trouble with the easy acces to information and opinions these days - choose ANYTHING and you'll find someone who has a negative opinion of it.

    No, it's not bad for your skin (new one on me!)

    Can be sore on your joints - start gently, build up gradually, take time to recover if you feel sore.

    It's not as big a fat burner as you'd think, and HIIT or sprints are definitely superior for that aspect.

    BUT if you enjoy jogging with your dog, then go ahead, it IS going to be beneficial.

    Note - your dog is over 1 year old, yes? I have 2 dogs and regularly run with each of them individually.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    Everything is harmful if you believe the internet ... unless it's the new cure for everything else. As long as your form is good, you have proper shoes, and your dog doesn't trip you there is little to no increased risk to your joints from your current running (at least that is what science says). HIIT does have its advantages but it isn't the end all of workout philosophies.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    ... is bad for your skin (?)


    that's a new one, and I can't think of any realistic reason why it mighht be. What publication was the article in?
    ..bad for your joints...

    Any higher impact sport has the potential to cause damage, but you need to be aware of that and compensate. Form and pace are key to avoiding this issue. In addition, weight bearing exercise helps to strengthen the system around the joints, and also helps mitigate for osteoperosis. Swings vs roundabouts...
    , that jogging isn't a good fat burner but HIIT (sprinting/walking) is

    Any CV exercise will burn calories, but burning calories isn't really the point of doing exercise. Running will help your CV fitness, improve your endurance and increase your capacity to perform at higher intensities.

    As far as HIIT is concerned, again what publication? HIIT is the latest silver bullet!

    Essentially as part of a balanced programme you'll get benefit from including higher intensities, and one of the two ways to do that is use interval training. It's reasonably time efficient, but without building your aerobic base it won't really develop you as fast as a more rounded programme will.
    I'm only doing twenty minutes per evening, 5 or 6 days a week, and I thought I was benefitting myself and adding to my fitness and health, now I'm not so sure! Any experienced runners out there? Can you offer any pearls of wisdom please? I'm quite dischuffed that my new regime that I was so happy about, may be more harmful than good!

    Personally I run 5 times per week, one long slow run (10kph for anything up to a couple of hours), two recovery pace shorter runs (10kph for 5-7km), a tempo run (up to 12kph for up to 40 minutes) at higher intensity and an interval run at maximal intensity (intervals of 13-14kph with 10kph rest periods).

    My fitness has improved significantly in the ten months I've been building up to that.
  • sophieamhaley
    sophieamhaley Posts: 85
    This is one of the articles

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-66640/What-jogging-does-body.html

    I can't find the other!
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    This is one of the articles

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-66640/What-jogging-does-body.html

    I can't find the other!

    From the article you linked ... once you get past the crap filled introduction.
    According to the National Osteoporosis Society, the weight-bearing effect of running makes it one of the best bone-strengthening activities around.
    Over time, regular jogging will strengthen the cardiovascular system, enabling your heart and lungs to work more efficiently. This means you can do more exercise for less effort.
    Run at a manageable pace of ten minutes per mile and you will burn an average 4.2 calories per hour for every pound of your body weight
  • crystalfisher89
    crystalfisher89 Posts: 196 Member
    I run a lot and am training for a half marathon in late May. Bad on the joints... well, if you don't take care and get proper running gear and listen to your body when it aches then you'll definitely injury yourself. As some others have said, build up to it and work on proper form and a comfortable pace. Look up the different types of strides and which one you should be using for your foot hit. I've been heel to toeing it and it's begun to bother me so I'm switching (slowly) into a neutral strike with my feet. I also get regularly adjusted by my chiropractor to make sure my joints are in good shape. Really everyone should do it personally, not just a runner.

    You can actually turn running into a great HIIT workout on a treadmill or by yourself. (I personally find it easier on a treadmill because it makes me run faster and I set a time and stick to it). I've done 2 min walk, 2 min jog, 2 min sprint and repeat and that's how I lost 20lbs two years ago before I start on here.

    Bad for skin... Eh, I guess it could be if you don't use sunblock while running in the sun and weathering from the outdoors if you do a lot of outdoor running, but so does biking and they are outside for hours biking. I've never heard that one.

    I've read that Yoga is bad for you too, but to each their own. Everyone has their own opinion. Personally I think yoga is boring, otherwise I'd probably do it... I digress though... I think anything can be bad for you if you do too much of it.

    Reason why runners are so prone to injury is because most newbies start running and ONLY run. A running regimen needs to not only be runnings, but cross training and strength combined if you want it to truly help you. I usually run 2-3 times a week, do another cardio exercise 1-2 times, and strength train 2 days. I always take a rest day each week and sometimes two. This week I'm taking two because I have been having knee issues (not running related) and have a 10k to run on saturday.
  • brionysharpx
    brionysharpx Posts: 5
    I'd suggest HIIT if you're wanting to lose weight as it's way more effective. As for the other stuff, it's rubbish. It's not bad for your skin at all! If you keep it up you should see good results and also you're not having to take any extra time out your day cause you usually walk your dog, win-win wooo haha! Good luck
  • mreeves261
    mreeves261 Posts: 728 Member
    I suggest you stop reading the dailymail. Take everything on there with a few thousands grains of salt. It's like believing everything Dr. Oz says.
  • cjazz72
    cjazz72 Posts: 80 Member
    I recently started running (well, jogging I suppose) as I take my dog for a 2-2.5 miles walk every evening and it was a convenient way to incorporate a work out into my schedule.
    I've now read more than one article saying that running is bad for your skin (?), bad for your joints, that jogging isn't a good fat burner but HIIT (sprinting/walking) is. I don't know whether just to go back to my regular dog walk!

    I'm only doing twenty minutes per evening, 5 or 6 days a week, and I thought I was benefitting myself and adding to my fitness and health, now I'm not so sure! Any experienced runners out there? Can you offer any pearls of wisdom please? I'm quite dischuffed that my new regime that I was so happy about, may be more harmful than good!

    Any activity is going to have a claim of being bad for some part of the body. Thats just a fact of life. But you have to listen to your body and adjust to make sure that you don't seriously injure yourself. I have actually read articles that running is good for your joints and helps improve the cartilage. http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134861448/put-those-shoes-on-running-wont-kill-your-knees. In my opinion, if you enjoy it and its something that you like to do with your dog keep at it. Reason being because if you enjoy to jog and run then your going to stick with it than if you were doing a HIIT regiment. Fun activities will create a mindset of I am getting fit and having fun at the same time. Use that as motivation. I found that I love to walk and be outside so I cancelled my gym membership and started just walking playing soccer and guitar. I want to include roller blading,biking, and volleyball in my regiment too cause I use to love doing that as a kid. So find those activities that you love and your goals will be met soon =)
  • Eric_DeCastro
    Eric_DeCastro Posts: 767 Member
    I find walking can burn as many calories than running, but I enjoy running and running races. so even though I can get the same results with walking, I'll still run.

    but I still walk 4 miles a day and run 4 miles a day. so I get both in. ;)
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    www.dailymail.co.uk

    That tells me enough...

    Just go and run ;)

    Just be conscious of your form and your footwear though, otherwise you will hurt yourself.

    And fwiw I'd love to be able to run with my dog, but he hasn't got the endurance; SBT.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I'd suggest HIIT if you're wanting to lose weight as it's way more effective.

    More effective than sitting around doing nothing, certainly.

    More effective is a matter of what effect you're trying to have :)
  • sophieamhaley
    sophieamhaley Posts: 85
    As my friend on Facebook just told me, "any exercise is better than nothing so if you want to get fitter, run, and you'll get fitter"!
  • spicegeek
    spicegeek Posts: 325 Member
    If you recently started running I would suggest no more that 3 runs per weeks for a while to build up the bone strength - it is shockingly easy for the pounding from running to result in injury and a slow ( really slow ) build up is better - I never run back to days - if my works outs fall in such a way that my cardio is 2 days in a row I`ll walk the second day

    Get good running shoes

    enjoy yourself !!

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