Why would anyone ever want to jog anywhere at anytime?
FitnessGeek
Posts: 487
So...of all exercises, I hate jogging/running. Really, after any amount of time doing so, I just want to lay down and die. :sick:
Biking, elliptical, walking is all good though.
I have also heard a number of things about jogging being bad for yours joints and causing pain.
From information I have read online, I see that jogging only burns a few more calories than walking the same amount of time.
So here's my question, why do people jog? What is the health benefit? Should I 'upgrade' to jogging, or am I better off at a quick pace walk (3.5 mph)?
I know there have to be some die-hard runners out there waiting to tell me why the heck they would torture themselves! Thanks! :bigsmile:
Biking, elliptical, walking is all good though.
I have also heard a number of things about jogging being bad for yours joints and causing pain.
From information I have read online, I see that jogging only burns a few more calories than walking the same amount of time.
So here's my question, why do people jog? What is the health benefit? Should I 'upgrade' to jogging, or am I better off at a quick pace walk (3.5 mph)?
I know there have to be some die-hard runners out there waiting to tell me why the heck they would torture themselves! Thanks! :bigsmile:
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Replies
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So...of all exercises, I hate jogging/running. Really, after any amount of time doing so, I just want to lay down and die. :sick:
Biking, elliptical, walking is all good though.
I have also heard a number of things about jogging being bad for yours joints and causing pain.
From information I have read online, I see that jogging only burns a few more calories than walking the same amount of time.
So here's my question, why do people jog? What is the health benefit? Should I 'upgrade' to jogging, or am I better off at a quick pace walk (3.5 mph)?
I know there have to be some die-hard runners out there waiting to tell me why the heck they would torture themselves! Thanks! :bigsmile:0 -
Hi Cham!
I feel your pain! My Mother and my sister run FOR FUN! They are always running marathons, Grandmas, twin cites marathon, etc. my Mother usual work out is a 6 mile jog. RIGHT!
I love walking on ther treadmille - I do brisk walk at 4.0 then very my incline level every 4 minute..2.0, 4.0, 5.0, back to zero then all over again.0 -
oops
what I try to do is walk for 10-12 minutes and then jog/run for 3-5 then back to fast walking. it helps get my heart rate up and burn those few extra cals I wouldnt have in my 60 min work out just walking.0 -
I like jogging. I ENJOY it. I wouldn't say it;s more beneficial than cycling but I just like it. I jog in intervals- jog 10 mins, walk 5, jog 10 etc. I find it relaxing.0
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You make a good point!
I just started jogging and the main benefit over walking is heart health.
However,if you get your heart rate up high enough when you are walking than there probably is no reason to put the excess stress on your joints. I actually have been jogging as many minutes as I can and then walking and or cycling the rest. I find that walking puts me to sleep. Yeah I know weird huh? I actually slipped off the tread mill at the gym one day because I just started to zone or doze. I don't know but it scared the crap out of me. the elderly lady beside me got a good chuckle. Anyway each his/her own.
Good luck with your goals
Carrie0 -
-- A runner's high is the best antidepressant!
-- I love the feeling of physical power and strength in my legs.
-- Every run completed is a challenge and an accomplishment.
-- Sometimes I feel like I can almost fly.
-- It's a form of meditation.
-- I love the positive community. Races welcome all levels and everyone gets cheered on.
-- It keeps me feeling young.
-- It actually makes your joints stronger because they have to adapt to the pounding.
-- Running to music feels like dancing.
-- It's a simple and relatively inexpensive sport. All you need is a good pair of shoes and your own body.
-- The first couple of runs are the worst, but once you find your stride, you know it, and then you're hooked!0 -
I started because the fittest teacher I work with encouraged me to try a 5K. she had recently done a half marathon, and I was admiring her slim and healthy body, and she said- all I ever do is run- so I figured I would try it.
I used a 12-week couch to 5K, I started training around thanksgiving, and on February 1, I ran that 5K. I RAN the whole thing. I didn't think I could do it when I started, and when I crossed that finish line I got such a thrill, goosebumps, euphoria, name it whatever, it was SUCH a great feeling.
It still isn't easy, and I am working on my stamina, but I feel so happy afterwards, almost smugly impressed with myself.
my ipod and my dog are the best two things that keep me going. If i make a new playlist, I won't let myself listen to it until I go for a run. and when she sees me put on my running shoes, my Luckydog starts jumping around and she can't wait to go! She is a great motivator!
and cherapple is so right, the community is full of positive people who cheer each other on. that helps!0 -
i used to feel the same way as you did! I still am not a great at running, but I've only started a few months ago. i was on the treadmill one day and decided to just see what it would be like to try and run & I did it! I did it for a whole 8 minutes!! I literally cried and cried at the gym that day!! haha, I do it now because it's been the most rewarding achievement of my weightloss, being able to run for the first time since I was a tiny tiny kid! So, I know how you feel now, but you'll come around!
Best of luck!0 -
I started to focus on running as opposed to walking a while ago because every woman I kn ow or have seen in the media with great, toned, lean legs is a runner!!!!:bigsmile: Since I really started focusing on this about 6 months ago, I have noticed a definate difference in the shape of my legs!!!:drinker:0
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everyone just remember that running is harder on your body if your older , so be careful and always stretch well before, during , and after, and drink plenty of water. I'm recovering from anterior knee pain from running to far to soon. just be careful and be smart. I wish I had. I really liked the high and hope that I 'll be able to work my way up to it again. just a lot more careful this time. Dr. says maybe 4 weeks or so.0
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Sorry, see below.0
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-- A runner's high is the best antidepressant!
-- I love the feeling of physical power and strength in my legs.
-- Every run completed is a challenge and an accomplishment.
-- Sometimes I feel like I can almost fly.
-- It's a form of meditation.
-- I love the positive community. Races welcome all levels and everyone gets cheered on.
-- It keeps me feeling young.
-- It actually makes your joints stronger because they have to adapt to the pounding.
-- Running to music feels like dancing.
-- It's a simple and relatively inexpensive sport. All you need is a good pair of shoes and your own body.
-- The first couple of runs are the worst, but once you find your stride, you know it, and then you're hooked!
Couldn't agree more! In addition, running, more so than walking, is a whole body work-out. It's going to do more for you in terms of athleticism, if that's an aspiration. I think it is much more enjoyable if you are running somewhere (preferably scenic) as opposed to just a treadmill. And the outdoor air is good for you.
I do, sometimes, see people 1/2 jogging & 1/2 walking - or kind of plodding along half-heartedly. This could be only slightly more beneficial than walking because it's not a very natural motion. But running, after you've acclimated yourself to it for a few runs, should have a comfortable stride that will only do good things for you. The only other reason you'd have more joint/bone problems is if you're not running on a decent surface or have bad shoes. I've been running for about 17 years (sometimes not enough) and I can honestly say that it has been a huge strength to my joints and tissue strength. I play a reasonable amount of sports and I see others at my age hurting much more and getting hurt much more easily than I do.
Just MHO.0 -
I agree! Besides having one bad knee I am an H. There is not a bra in the world that will allow an H to jog for any long period of time. I do interval jogging on the treadmill for a minute or two but that is it. I can see how none H's might enjoy it but this H doesn't..:happy:0
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I jog on the treadmill to give the people behind me something to giggle about.:blushing:0
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it's the best way to lost weight fast.0
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it's the best way to lost weight fast.
of COURSE the military dude says this!! You guys think running is the answer to everything!!:laugh:0 -
it's the best way to lost weight fast.
of COURSE the military dude says this!! You guys think running is the answer to everything!!:laugh:0 -
it's the best way to lost weight fast.
of COURSE the military dude says this!! You guys think running is the answer to everything!!:laugh:0 -
it's the best way to lost weight fast.
of COURSE the military dude says this!! You guys think running is the answer to everything!!:laugh:0 -
it's the best way to lost weight fast.
of COURSE the military dude says this!! You guys think running is the answer to everything!!:laugh:
I bet. If you are ever running and see this funny chick running like a chicken down the road..........thats ME!!:laugh:0 -
it's the best way to lost weight fast.
of COURSE the military dude says this!! You guys think running is the answer to everything!!:laugh:
I bet. If you are ever running and see this funny chick running like a chicken down the road..........thats ME!!:laugh:0 -
-- A runner's high is the best antidepressant!
-- I love the feeling of physical power and strength in my legs.
-- Every run completed is a challenge and an accomplishment.
-- Sometimes I feel like I can almost fly.
-- It's a form of meditation.
-- I love the positive community. Races welcome all levels and everyone gets cheered on.
-- It keeps me feeling young.
-- It actually makes your joints stronger because they have to adapt to the pounding.
-- Running to music feels like dancing.
-- It's a simple and relatively inexpensive sport. All you need is a good pair of shoes and your own body.
-- The first couple of runs are the worst, but once you find your stride, you know it, and then you're hooked!
Loved this list! Thank you for writing it out. I totally agree.0 -
I love pushing through the wall to finish a really tough run, and being covered in sweat, exhausted, feeling as though I've conquered the world.
:smokin:0 -
And the outdoor air is good for you.
How could I have forgotten the fresh air?!0 -
I am not a runner, but I run. I can run about 3 miles before I really even think about the run. I have never gone farther than 5 miles though. i want to run a 10k this spring. I guess one of the motivating things that really does it for me is knowing that I can push myself through sufferring, mild discomfort, etc. Knowing that makes other challenges easier to face, i guess. Also, its kind of cool to test yourself. How many people have tested themselves? Thats what I think.
One drawback - I hate not making my time/distance goals. I also hate it when I am on a new route and I don't make the trip without a walking rest. It really makes me dissapointed.
I do understand why some don't like it though.
P.S. I do believe that a 6mph jog burns considerably more calories per hour than a 3.5 mph walk. You cover greater distance in 10 mins at 6mph than at 3.5 mph for 10 minutes. It takes energy (cals) to do more work in the same amount of time. Same mileage, maybe, but same time, i dont think so.0 -
Well, I hate running, but I'm going to be working on a couch to 5k program here so I can do it with my sister in May.
My reasons? Totally superficial.
#1. johnblake is right--it's hands down the fastest way to lose weight. I ran everyday one summer that I was under-employed for something cheap to do and I was SO SKINNY, it was fabulous. And only took a few months to achieve.
#2. Because I have major motivation--my 10 yr hs reunion is this summer and I was everything opposite of an athlete in high school, so I want to "show" people I'm a different person.
#3. Because it's cheap. Requires no equipment and no gym cost.
Are they the best reasons ever? Absolutely freakin' not. But, they are *my* reasons. I hate running, but it works, so I'm going to suck it up and do it.
Good luck if you decide to try to take it up. And get yourself some music or a running partner--I tend to count my steps, which gets VERY depressing, LOL.0 -
Running definitely burns more calories than walking for me. Much quicker way to get a good calorie burn than a walk.
I don't know that I can call myself a runner yet as I've just completed week 5 of the couch 2 5k program, so I am just running 20 mins non-stop. However, I feel so brilliant. It's hard for me and so it's a big achievement, the best I've come across in this weight-loss/fitness journey. I can't see me stopping now and previously I always said I hated running.0 -
The last time I ran was in high school when we used to have to do the 12 minute run as part of our curriculum. I HATED it. I used to walk a lot and one day when I was walking I had this strange urge to run. So next time I went out, I went for a jog instead. I can't explain it but it was the most exhillerating and freeing thing ever. When I got home I was so exhausted and was on this HIGH from just feeling soooooo depleated if that makes sense. That was it, I was hooked. So far I can run 3 k and signed up for my first 5 k in May. I NEVER considered myself a runner but I love it now!0
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Walking and jogging burn about the same cals per mile. If you jog at 6 mph, you will burn about 600 cals per hour. If walking at 3 mph, you will burn only 300 cals per hour.
I cannot get my heartrate up by walking. On the treadmill I need to set the incline to 15 degrees. I then alternate between fast walking and running to get my HR up to 160+ BPM. This gives me the workout I need for a healthy heart, intervals burn the most cals, and it takes far less time than walking.
The only serious walking workout I can get is hiking on the Appalachian Trail near my home. Numerous 1000 ft elevation changes make for a great fat-blasting workout.0 -
There are ups and downs to running.
This is coming from someone who has had surgury on both knees (not running or impact related, bone growth problems in my teens) and has enough weight to have to be consious of impact exercises.
The down side to running is the full body impact that happens (especially when running on asphalt or concrete). This can be especially bad on the neck, lower back, ankles, and knees. BUT if you run correctly, wear the right kind of running shoes, and are concious of what your body tells you, you shouldn't have any long term affects (assuming no pre-existing medical conditions). A place like runnersworld.com or coolrunnings.com both have great tutorials and examples of correct form, how to start running, and where to run to maximize the benefits and minimize the drawbacks.
NOW the upsides to running are great, you get cardio work as well as lower body toning. If done at a brisk pace there are very few other pure cardio routines that will give you a better workout. Comparing calorie burn to walking is pointless because it depends on how hard you run, and how hard you walk. Both provide calorie burn, but running has the potential for far higher rate of burn. Another upside is the ability to track your increases very easilly and set goals that are achieveable yet still difficult.
and yeah, the runners high is real, and it's pretty cool.0
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