The fitness craze that hit America during the 1970s saw an outburst of fitness enthusiasts jogging through parks, sidewalks, forest paths and beachsides. Many joggers became instant celebrities, and even Hollywood luminaries rode on the craze by donning sporty attire such as jogging pants, headbands and running shoes. Today there’s a resurgence of interest in jogging worldwide, as many people put on their running shoes to keep themselves fir and trim.
The benefits of jogging are simply immense. Jogging is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy body. It improves the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems, so your heart and lungs get healthier. Your heart muscles pump in bigger quantities of blood with a more powerful beat, strengthening the heart even further. It also creates more responsive blood vessels along with an increased capillary network, lowering the blood pressure. Jogging can also help minimize osteoarthritis, a sickness of the bones in the hip joint.
Jogging is one of the easiest exercises you can do. You don’t need to do it with others, although you can also jog with friends for added pleasure and enjoyment. It helps you become more energetic, relaxed and free from stress; you don’t need any special training or new techniques. There is no age limit for jogging, and even if you’re past middle age, it still helps.
Jogging tips
Alternate jog with brisk walking – If you’re incorporating a jogging routine into your fitness plan, start by doing fast walking interspersed with brief jogs. This helps prepare your muscles, joints and ligaments become accustomed to your new routine, enabling them to better handle longer or more regular jogs. Make a regular jogging plan wherein you can increase your jogging time on a gradual basis. Ideally, you can make it a goal to run at least every other day, ideally for 20 minutes.
Find a good place to jog – You can actually do running exercises within your own home and in your own backyard, by completing several circles. But if you find running in circles particularly boring, then venture outside and find a suitable place where you can start your daily routine. It’s best to stick to a particular part for at least two weeks, then transfer to a new part to give you added challenge.
Jog either in the morning or evening – It’s no fun to jog during daytime, when heat, pollution, traffic and stress levels are at their peak. Ideally, the best to jog is early morning, not just to avoid heat-related problems like dehydration, heat exhaustion ad cramps, but also because your body and mind are refreshed, alert and stress, free.
Run before you eat! – Never, never jog up to two hours after eating. The best time to jog is always before mealtime.
Find a good jogging path – Avoid concrete pavements as much as possible, because the hard surface practically gives no challenge to foot action. Try to find an level grassy field or shady path. The key is to pick a fairly flat but moving surface. If you enjoy uphill jogging, a steep terrain may strain your legs and lungs too much.
Wear comfortable clothing – Jogging is a sweaty sport. Your attire should be comfortable, relatively loose and suitable for all kinds of weather. You don’t need to buy expensive jogging attire. Avoid tracksuits since they are actually inconsistent with hot weather, causing problems like discomfort, dehydration, and heat exhaustion. During cold weather, it’s okay to use thicker clothing because it traps some heat.
Pick the best running shoes – Shoes should be best investment when planning your jogging attire. That’s because the most active body part during jogging are your feet. Hence you should wear something that can give you the best comfort when running. Look for:
A good fit for your feet by making sure the shoes have adequate space for your socks. They should mot be tight.
Good cushioning that has a resiliency of 1,000 kilometers, which is how long the use of a good shoe should last.
A wide, stable heel that can hold up your heel correctly.
A firm sole that should be flexible in front, bending at the ball of the foot but not at the heel.