Why can I do everything but jog?

are you jogging outside, or on a treadmill? It is so easy to jog faster than your fitness level because of preconceived notions of what "running" is...slow down and you can go longer (the impact on your body is also a factor)

Jogging is definitely harder than elliptical/stationary/hiking (those are the ones on your list that I do regularly). FWIW, I'm a fast biker and a slow runner, and I still use twice as many calories per hour jogging.

Most people just starting out go too fast. Slow way down. Your speed will eventually pick up as you get used to it.

JennieMaeK wrote: »

Jogging is definitely harder. If you want to increase your jogging you could try a walk/run program like Couch to 5k, it increase the amount you jog each week. Zombies, Run 5k is another good one. A little less structured than C25K. I started C25K last year and now regularly jog 5k, working on getting my time to about 35 minutes (today was 37 minutes).

Very good!

I second the recommendation to do a C25K program. I started it in late September and did my first full 5K on December 5.

When someone is out of shape, you can tell by the heart rate. Based on what you said, yes, it is normal because you are out of shape. When I run (not jog, run) my heart rate hits between 150-170 depending on a few factors (indoors vs outdoors, incline vs flat, et c.). When on the machines you listed my heart rate never breaks 130. Resting is 55.

You need much more time before running. Strengthen the soft tissues first by doing what you are doing + weight training, then consider running

jacki865 wrote: »

I started really working out aFew weeks ago. I noticed for an hour, I can do the elliptical with 10 incline and 8 resistance, the stair stepper, stationary bike, the cross trainer, and the incline trainer at a 2.5 speed and 15% incline. I even hiked about 5 miles Sunday with no problem. All of which had my heart rate up between 160-175 consistently. I feel like being able to stay on these machines isn't all that difficult even though I'm really sweating.

Yet I can't jog for anymore then 2 minutes without getting out of breath, is that normal?

This is 100% normal! When I first started my weight loss journey 4 years ago I could barely jog for 30 seconds. I felt miserable doing it and actually cried a few times while in the middle of my 30 second jogs thinking: "When will this get easier!!!!??"
When I eventually discovered the Elliptical, at first it was still pretty hard but I was able to maintain 20 minutes on it without having to stop. I fell in love with the Elliptical and decided to stick to that instead of running. Eventually once I started losing more weight and built up a little bit of endurance I decided to try jogging again. It was still really hard but not as hard when I first started. Eventually it got easier and easier to maintain a jog, then more of a run and eventually started running 5K races.
Like every exercise/sport it takes practice. If you're dedicated to being a runner, just practice. Follow the c25K program to help ease yourself into it. Or just do what I did and listen to your body. If you can only run for 30 seconds at 5.0mph, then lower the speed so your jogging more slowly. Run for the X amount of time that you can and then walk the same amount or double if you need to really catch your breath. Then repeat, run again for what you can at a gentle speed and then walk. This is how I did it and how I eventually built up my endurance because I didn't know anything about C25K.

I am now training for a half marathon and am trying to decrease my mile times.
Good luck

Very few people can go from zero running to running for an hour over night. I used to run half-marathons and despite a really strong base fitness (squash, spin classes, distance swimming etc) I had to start with run-walking and short distances and build up from there. Running is strange in the sense that finess from other areas that you think you have just doesn't transfer very well. I assume it's because unlike cycling,elliptical etc you are having to forward propel your own body mass at impact. It's simply a lot harder. It took me 9 months to get from non-running to my first half-mara and about 6 months to my 1st 10k. You just have to be patient.

As some have already suggested, the couch to 5k is a pretty good option. It worked for my wife and I.
Example: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k-plan.aspx

That being said, I have the attention span of a bolt of lightening and C25K didn't make jogging/running any less mind-shatteringly tedious for me, so I stopped after achieving the 5k goal in favour of team sports and martial arts (mostly).

Weirdly, running is a skill, no matter how natural it seems. Last year I did the Zombies Run 5k training plan. I started able to jog for about a minute, and ended with a 5k in March. I loved it, but after that I basically stopped running or doing any real endurance exercise before deciding to try for a 10k this year. First run of the year, did 10 minutes. Second, went for 26 minutes straight. I'm sure my endurance was back to what it was before training this year, but my body just knows how to run now. Like riding a bike. You have to build it slowly, and since it's high impact that's really for the best.

lemurcat12 wrote: »

Most people just starting out go too fast. Slow way down. Your speed will eventually pick up as you get used to it.

THIS!

Your cardiovascular needs conditioning before you can run for an extended period. As others have pointed out a program like C25K can get you there in as little as eight weeks.

Frankly, I was thrilled to discover that the body responds so quickly to new demands. Fitness gains I find more satisfying than weight goals.

Running is terrible. Don't do it. Hike ALL THE MOUNTAINS instead.