Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Those Who Are New To The World Of Jogging

By Melissa Goodwich

So you want to get into jogging. First let me congratulate you on your decision as you are on your way to a much more healthier you. But for the beginner there are some things that you will need to know before you begin jogging.

The first step you should take is to get some jogging shoes. Running shoes are designed for the runner and to take the stress and impact from running. By having the proper running shoes you will greatly reduce the chances of injury.

Stay hydrated, this is extremely important as you do not want to all of a sudden pass out in the middle of a run. If you are consuming 64 ounces of water per day you shouldn't have to worry about getting dehydrated in the middle of a jog.

The best way to increase recovery speed and to avoid injury is to stretch all of your leg muscles. It is best to do this before your runs, and more importantly right after you are done jogging.

So you got the shoes, you are properly hydrated, now all you need to do is find a area to run at. If you have a park or a trail with some nice views around you home I would start there. I try and stay away from treadmills, as they are more difficult to run on in my opinion.

Start off slow. If you are just beginning jogging you may want to start with only 1 mile. Keep a slow pace and you can gradually increase your speed as you get more in shape.

Make a schedule and stick to it. I would start off running anywhere from 2 to 3 times a week for the first month. I would do that for 3 weeks and take the 4th or 5th week off completely to ensure proper recovery. Remember muscle grow when they are in the recovery stage.

The key to jogging is to be consistent with it. You really do not need to go our running more than 4 times a week. Make it a goal to get up to 4 miles a jog, this could take several months or longer. Just make records of everything, tracking your progress is very important as it is the only way know how much you are improving.

Take these tips and use them and you should be fine when it comes to jogging. With the right diet and exercise program, combined with jogging you have the potential to get into excellent shape, health, and you will overall feel great.

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