Will jogging get you fit?

branddaly · 25 Jul 2006 at 17:19

Echo toxin said:
24 weeks seems a long time though to me, so I was going to increase my running time every 3 sessions instead of 4. That way you can get to 30 mins running in 18 weeks which is 1.5 months sooner.

Nothing wrong with pushing a little bit harder if your body can take it, but if it starts to hurt don't feel embrassed about easing off. Its better to take it slow, than to rush, injure yourself, and then take 6 months to get to 30 minutes because you've developted ITBS or someone equally painful condition, becuase of lack of patience. Don't forget that your CV system will probably adapt to the exercise a lot quicker than your joints and tendons do, so you won't be out of breathe and you'll really feel like pushing it. The biggest mistake most runners make is too push too far, or go too fast.

Energize · 25 Jul 2006 at 17:21

Zip said:
Swimming is even safer then that

Its supposed to be the best way to exercise as it builds up your muscles, gives you more stamina and suppleness, better than running anyway.

geeza · 25 Jul 2006 at 17:33

i thought breast stroke was bad for the knees as its an un-natural position to be in. :confused:

branddaly · 25 Jul 2006 at 17:34

There was a lovely article I read where they took a runner, a swimmer and a cylist. Then they trained them for a triathlon. The fastest overall time was from the runner.

The highest V02max reading, which is a pretty darn good indication of fitness (ie, how well you use oxygen) is from a runner aswell. Admittely a nutter who spends all his time running along mountains, but it does cover the point that most swimmers are restrained to training at sea level, so it kinda rules high altitude training, which is great for fitness and endurance.

geeza · 25 Jul 2006 at 17:36

^ so what about swimming at a really high altitude. I know there are some places that have pools on mountain top (or almost tops)

Zip · 25 Jul 2006 at 17:39

geeza said:
i thought breast stroke was bad for the knees as its an un-natural position to be in.

Try doing it standing or have them sitting on your lap then

Energize · 25 Jul 2006 at 17:39

If you spend time high up of course your going to use oxygen better because you have more red blood cells. Its not a very good indication at all of which exercise is better or fitness.

geeza · 25 Jul 2006 at 17:41

Zip said:
Try doing it standing or have them sitting on your lap then

yes, i was thinking id get a reply like this when i wrote it

Roduga · 25 Jul 2006 at 17:47

I jog (well, run) every weekday. As said many times over, it is harder on your body.

My tip: Don't set yourself a time/distance. Run to enjoy it.

smiley · 25 Jul 2006 at 18:02

do 3 mile a day of jogging then a 2 mile bike ride to and you will be as fit as a fiddle and of cousrse eat sensibly

branddaly · 25 Jul 2006 at 18:11

smiley said:
do 3 mile a day of jogging

Well that'll cover the warm up. Has anybody actually warned you that running can be addictive?

First of all you'll run to the end of the street. Then you'll run for 30 minutes.
Then you'll see a sponsored 5k run, and it will be easy, cos you can already run for 30 minutes, and thats not really pushing much harder. So you'll enter a 10k run. That'll smart a bit, but you'll get round. And then you'll increase the training so that 10k becomes a twice weekly training run.
Next thing you know you'll have entered a marathon. Spent a fortune on running shoes, wicking clothing, vaseline, heart rate monitors and wrist watch style GPS units. Heck you may even shave your legs to remove that extra bit of drag the airs are producing.....

Andelusion · 25 Jul 2006 at 18:26

branddaly said:
Well that'll cover the warm up. Has anybody actually warned you that running can be addictive?

First of all you'll run to the end of the street. Then you'll run for 30 minutes.
Then you'll see a sponsored 5k run, and it will be easy, cos you can already run for 30 minutes, and thats not really pushing much harder. So you'll enter a 10k run. That'll smart a bit, but you'll get round. And then you'll increase the training so that 10k becomes a twice weekly training run.
Next thing you know you'll have entered a marathon. Spent a fortune on running shoes, wicking clothing, vaseline, heart rate monitors and wrist watch style GPS units. Heck you may even shave your legs to remove that extra bit of drag the airs are producing.....

OR, you could not,

No I know what you mean, I've always hated running but am finding it increasingly addictive trying to go that bit further/shave off a few minutes.

SexyGreyFox · 25 Jul 2006 at 18:52

Spacky said:
Yes it will get you fit but knacker your knees up in years to come, speed walking is far more safer.

Listen to this man.
I've been running for years, done 8 marathons etc and I have bad arthritis in my knees.
However, it still doesn't stop me doing 3 miles everyday.

Yes jogging will get you fit and the more you do the better but listen to your body and don't do too much.

Almost forgot, you might find this useful - http://www.disturbinthepeace.co.uk/runtip.htm

PhantomKarl · 25 Jul 2006 at 19:03

cheers for all the advice guys i am sure it will help me out

Saberu · 25 Jul 2006 at 19:24

smiley said:
do 3 mile a day of jogging then a 2 mile bike ride to and you will be as fit as a fiddle and of cousrse eat sensibly

Similar to what my mate said to me. "Do 3 miles of jogging then immediately do an hour of skipping with no break in between"

What him and maybe you don't understand is us unfit guys can't suddenly get up and do such a big stretch of exercise. I had aching muscles for days after attempting to jog 3 miles so next time i'm gonna make sure it's only 2 miles.

As others said you need to build up gradually.

cleanbluesky · 25 Jul 2006 at 19:30

dmpoole said:
Listen to this man.
I've been running for years, done 8 marathons etc and I have bad arthritis in my knees.
However, it still doesn't stop me doing 3 miles everyday.

Yes jogging will get you fit and the more you do the better but listen to your body and don't do too much.

Almost forgot, you might find this useful - http://www.disturbinthepeace.co.uk/runtip.htm

Since we're on a running thread, anyone got any advice on stretching the amount of distance you run?

DmPoole, I'm looking in your direction...

locutus12 · 25 Jul 2006 at 19:35

Spacky said:
Yes it will get you fit but knacker your knees up in years to come, speed walking is far more safer.

its safer but you look like a cross between a very camp man and an insane chicken.

Borris · 25 Jul 2006 at 19:44

I'm all for spangly new running shoes and filming my feet to pick the correct ones, but I'm always a little circumspect.

There's no doubt that my current shoes are better than my old pair, but that's probably because the older pair were knackered.

Has anybody ever gone to a running shop on two separate occasions and been sold the same pair of shoes? I was informed, unequivocally, by the sales person that the shoe I had were terrible for me.

And he was the same person that sold them to me two years previously.

My confidence is shaken, to say the least.

branddaly · 25 Jul 2006 at 19:59

cleanbluesky said:
DmPoole, I'm looking in your direction...

Just because he's got a fancy website and all.....

Generally its best not to add more than 10% per week. I've got 2 longer runs during my training week. When I'm training for a 10k run I increase these by around 5 minutes per week. I also then drop them by 5 minutes every 5 or 6 week, this is to stop my body getting too used to the routine.

So at the moment I run 90 minutes on sunday, and 70 on a wednesday, Over the next 4 weeks I'll increase sunday to 110 minutes and wednesday to 90 minutes.

firstborn · 25 Jul 2006 at 19:59

cleanbluesky said:
Since we're on a running thread, anyone got any advice on stretching the amount of distance you run?

DmPoole, I'm looking in your direction...

When building up the distance I look to my long weekend runs, I'd increase the long run by a mile or two each week. I already have a good endurance base though so distance isn't too much of a problem for me and generally don't feel an extra mile or two.

Try adding 10% to your long run each week and see how it goes - if your body complains ease off.