Is jogging really good for you?

[raildogg]

most exercises are good for you.

 

[arcas]

The thing I never understood about joggers is their tendency to jog along busy roads. Seems to me inhaling the exhaust from the 25-50 cars that pass each minute defeats any health benefits jogging would have provided.

 

Originally posted by: arcas
The thing I never understood about joggers is their tendency to jog along busy roads. Seems to me inhaling the exhaust from the 25-50 cars that pass each minute defeats any health benefits jogging would have provided.

I prefer running on trails, of which there are plenty in Ann Arbor. I stay away from busy roads.

 

[StageLeft]

I like my heart more than my knees 🙂 I don't do running anyway because it's rough on my knees and rough on most people's bodies (unless you're a fvcking rail you may very well find it hard, no matter what coaching you receive, to get into running seriously if you've got much size), but there are other forms of cardio that can/should be done.

 

[vi edit]

I pretty much agree with everything SWScorch has said.

Jogging != running IMHO

To me, jogging is counter productive to other forms of exercise such as biking or walking or swimming. Jogging is typically a slow enough pace that you are flailing your appendages about, taking an excessive number of steps and pounding your joints into oblivion.

When you run at a brisker pace, you pull your arms and legs in closer to your body making for a more efficent form and you take a fraction of the number of steps and don't put any where near the stress on your body that you do from jogging slowly.

Obviously you can't just start running from scratch. That's why programs that encourage intervals are great. You can actually run for a short distance and then walk to recover. You are much easier on your body and you just keep increasing the interval time till you can run for longer time periods.

If you are a jogger...and it's hard to put a true objective standard on that...you should stick to lower impact or shorter intervals till your have the endurance to run faster and for longer periods.

If I *had* to put a number on it...if you are doing anything over 9:00 miles you should probably stick to lower impact or shorter distances.

 

[SWScorch]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Sounds like technique more than biomechanics. Well at least, to me, biomechanics sounds like being naturally built for running. But I'm no expert.

Stride length and how you land is mostly technique, pronation is almost entirely biomechanics. You really can't change your pronation level, although you can reduce the effects.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: SWScorch
biking doesn't burn as many calories as running, but is still a good workout, especially mountain biking. I have no idea how rollerblading compares but I imagine it would be up there too. And yes, minus the impact. I actually know a guy who's a distance runner who blades a couple times a week (like 30-40 miles at a time); I should ask him how it compares.

lol thats cause you have a seat. to sit your lazy ass on :laugh:

 

[abc]

Originally posted by: SWScorch

Originally posted by: Triumph

Sounds like technique more than biomechanics. Well at least, to me, biomechanics sounds like being naturally built for running. But I'm no expert.

Stride length and how you land is mostly technique, pronation is almost entirely biomechanics. You really can't change your pronation level, although you can reduce the effects.

how does the average person self analyze his/her own technique level. sounds like we have to find someone to watch us run... videotape and slowmo.

 

[SWScorch]

Originally posted by: abc
how does the average person self analyze his/her own technique level. sounds like we have to find someone to watch us run... videotape and slowmo.

A quick and dirty way of determing your pronation is to look at the bottoms of your shoes. Pay attention to the area under the ball of your foot. If it's worn evenly, you have average pronation. Worn down more by the big toe, you overpronate, and conversely, if it's worn more under the pinky toe, you underpronate. It's best to go to a running store or a sports doctor and have your gair analyzed though.

As for everything else, you can sense what you're doing when you're running, and can see whether your overstriding or not by just looking down and seeing how your feet and knees line up.