Best way to get fit quick? Running?

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  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
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    As stated above, I was basing those statements on personal experience and I realize that since that experience involves pre-existing joint conditions, the information I gave is not accurate. I will edit that bit out of my post so as not to spread misinformation.

    I picked up your later comment after I'd posted. It's a common misconception, but any sport carries a risk of injury if it's not done properly. The issue with leg injuries is that the opportunity to let them rest and recover is very limited, most people can't rest the legs as much as would be needed.

    Personally I've had broken ankles and had some reconstruction surgery on my knees, as a result of other injuries. I've found that running has really helped both knees and ankles, it's strengthened them and improved their range of motion, as well as leading to less pain. That said, I've had a number of abortive attempts to pick up running, so it's been at times a difficult journey.

    I started with C25K about 18 months ago, and I'm running a trail half marathon in three weeks time.
  • Shropshire1959
    Shropshire1959 Posts: 982 Member
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    .... It's a common misconception, but any sport carries a risk of injury if it's not done properly. ......


    And even when done properly.... **** happens, to us all. My calf is playing me up at the moment - I've not done anything 'wrong' per se.. but it'll be O.K again soon with rest, gentle stretching and my magic Foam Roller.
  • RonaldoAllen
    RonaldoAllen Posts: 6 Member
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    Running and jogging both are best exercises for fitness. we can maintain weight easily and can burn all extra fat from body with doing running and jogging. I suggest everyone to start doing running daily for 30 minutes.
  • EmilyPersephone
    EmilyPersephone Posts: 77
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    As stated above, I was basing those statements on personal experience and I realize that since that experience involves pre-existing joint conditions, the information I gave is not accurate. I will edit that bit out of my post so as not to spread misinformation.

    I picked up your later comment after I'd posted. It's a common misconception, but any sport carries a risk of injury if it's not done properly. The issue with leg injuries is that the opportunity to let them rest and recover is very limited, most people can't rest the legs as much as would be needed.

    Personally I've had broken ankles and had some reconstruction surgery on my knees, as a result of other injuries. I've found that running has really helped both knees and ankles, it's strengthened them and improved their range of motion, as well as leading to less pain. That said, I've had a number of abortive attempts to pick up running, so it's been at times a difficult journey.

    I started with C25K about 18 months ago, and I'm running a trail half marathon in three weeks time.


    I have a horrible tendency to give information/advice based on very specific/uncommon personal experience, that is not particularly accurate for the person I am advising. xD I'm working on it though, haha.

    I've got an ankle that I've had a few surgeries on (It's got a 7" plate and 6 screws which I am hoping to have removed this winter), as well as weak knees (a combo of poor genetics, and poor lifestyle choices). I don't seem have the ability/mobility to maintain a safe/proper form while running so I never gave it a real shot, beyond a few test runs with doctors and trainers. It just wouldn't be safe for me, personally, so I stick with speed walking, the elliptical when I have access to one, and the stationary bike when I have access to one.


    I definitely understand the frustrations of injured ankles/knees so I commend you for sticking with the journey, despite the difficulty. That's something I've been struggling with due to recent medical discoveries.

    All that being said, I do wish I could go for a run because it seems like it would be significantly more satisfying than speed walking. Perhaps I will talk with my doctor about it once I get my ankle and current knee injury healed and situated.
  • Shropshire1959
    Shropshire1959 Posts: 982 Member
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    Running and jogging both are best exercises for fitness..

    Running and jogging both are .. The Same Thing!
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
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    So basically....stamina..but also speed to some extent - as I do need to use spurts of speed in netball too. That's what tires me out atm!
    Thanks!

    When you know the notes to sing, you can sing most anything

    Yes, yes, I know this is from the "Sound of Music" but bear with me...

    There are a few key things to fitness, which if you understand, will help you no matter what sport you engage in.

    The first is S.A.I.D: specific adaptation to imposed demands. This is just a fancy way of saying if you want to get good at something just do more of it. You want to get good at cycling long distances? Just focus on cycling more. You want to get good at your tennis serve. Just do more serving. You want to get good at playing an entire netball game? Just play more entire netball games...

    The second thing is progressive stress. You improve your fitness by exposing your body to a greater level of stress than it was previously accustomed to before. To keep improving you must keep increasing the stress consistently. This is just a fancy way of saying keep pushing yourself every game that you play.

    The third thing is recovery. Training actually breaks down your body. You improve in the times you are actually not training but recovering. This is just a fancy way of saying: listen to your body and get sufficient r&r.

    The fourth is injury. Your body can only deal with a certain level of stress before it breaks. There's no way of improving if you can't perform in the thing you want to improve at. This is just a fancy way of saying: don't go nuts here and increase stress in a sensible fashion.

    Putting it all together: play more netball. Keep pushing yourself consistently and sensibly. Allow some time to chill out. Deal with injuries properly even if you are impatient.
  • elengwenllian
    elengwenllian Posts: 25
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    Thank you so much everyone for your answers! amazing!
  • joe_piercey
    joe_piercey Posts: 12
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    I think sprints would be great for you. I don't know what netball is, but if it's periods of flat out followed by not so flat out, it's probably similar to ball hockey. So try running sprints. I did a program called Body of Fire about 6 months ago that called for doing sprints 2 days a week at the end of a bodyweight exrecise type day, mostly cardio oriented stuff. But the workout was finished by doing sprints. It certainly could have had something to do with the rest of the program, but I thank sprints for my upgraded VO2 max.

    So head outdoors with a watch set to beep every 30 seconds and run as fast as you can for 30 seconds and then walk for 30. The program I did started off at only 3 minutes and increased by 1 minute every week.
  • milla1985
    milla1985 Posts: 153 Member
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    I have also been thinking about this as I absolutely hate running and have been looking at other ways to get fit.

    I can see from the thread above that cycling is a no-no for you and can totally understand your reasons for that. I admit that cycling is the one thing that I find useful but I don't think that I would have got into it so much had it not had the benefit of being a quicker and cheaper way of getting to work and back!

    Honestly? I think that the most important thing when trying to get fit is to do something that you ENJOY doing, whether that it tennis, running, cycling, swimming etc. If you don't enjoy doing it, then you won't do it (or at least not as often); it is simple as that! Remember that walking is a good way to get fit as well - just speed it up a bit so that you are at a pace where, with a simple change of motion, you are at the same speed as a slow jog. Just think of the people that do the 20km walk (or whatever the distance is) in the Olympics - they are all pretty fit!

    And as for the running shoe point, please do do what has been suggested in posts above and go to a specialist running shop to get properly fitted. My feet are pretty messed up, I have low arches and over-pronate so no wonder it hurt when I ran in my old rubbish trainers. True, properly fitted trainers with heat moulded insoles will be more expensive than ones from Sports Direct or wherever, but they will last and are so much more comfortable. I balked at the price initially but so worth it. I went to Runners Need (I have presumed from your initial message that you are UK based) who were great.

    Good Luck!

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