Friday, September 28, 2012

How to Get the Most out of Jogging

How to Get the Most out of Jogging


by James Steele


Many people find that jogging is the best way to improve their fitness levels and lose weight. It's great because really, as soon as you start your jog you know you're burning calories, getting a little more fit, and your body and mind are happy with what you're doing. We have some great tips for you that will help you to extract the maximum from your jogging.

Your footwear is extremely important when running or jogging. You should be wearing thick athletic style socks. Jogging is very beneficial in many ways, but it also creates impact on the feet and ankles, and if you don't have good running shoes, you risk a variety of problems. Ideal running shoes will fit your feet well and are comfortable to wear, and will need to be replaced as soon as they start to wear out. Try out many brands and styles to find the best shoes for you. Running in shoes that don't fit well or that are in poor condition can lead to blisters, sprains, or even knee injuries. Good shoes are the only real expense for joggers but they are important for you to take care of your feet. If safety and health is important to you, make sure you are constantly aware of the surfaces you are jogging on. Make sure you keep away from running on steep inclines or on surfaces that are very rocky or that have lots of obstacles. Running or jogging on hilly and rough terrain can make your running more adventuresome, but it will likely only lead to you getting hurt or worse, unless you have run on terrain like that before. If you run up and down hills, you will hurt your knees, feet, and ankles, so it's best to stick to flatter ground when you run.

If you've never run anywhere except to the bathroom, then it's highly recommended by a lot of people to begin small and with power walking. Power walking it really great, and if you have not done any working out for a while then it's a good way to ease into things. You can start off as slowly as you want, and gradually increase your pace. Then, when you feel you're ready, you can break into a slow jog and proceed at your own pace. You don't want to overdo it and cause an injury because that will only set you back as you heal. Power walking can be a healthy and beneficial activity in itself, and people who cannot run because of an injury or health problem can power walk instead. But if you can run without problems, then do consider walking and then slowly build up to running.

Before you walk or run, it's really important to warm-up and stretch, but also it is important to do a proper warming down after exercising. Don't run at your full speed and then stop all of a sudden, but give your body a chance to gradually cool down. So a good rule of thumb is to start and end at a slow pace and you ease into the transition. Then it's a good idea to do some light stretches. After this, you can rest with your feet up, at a level above the heart, as this helps the heart return to a more normal load after the increased activity.

Once you get past the beginning, jogging can become a lifetime pursuit. It's one of the best exercises you can do to lose weight, and you may find that you still want to jog even when you've reached your ideal weight. If you make jogging a regular part of your routine, and keep the above tips in mind, you will find that it has many long term benefits.




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