What is the best way to build yourself up to jogging?

Question

Right now I walk 3miles a day with my baby in the baby jogging stroller. I want to try jogging, but I want to make sure that my body is ready for it. When I walk now I don't feel the burn as much and I really want to tighten up my legs!!

Answer 1

just start! take it slow at first, and don't try to jog too much. for the first couple of weeks, jog to a particular landmark (the end of the block, a fire hydrant, etc) then walk the rest. every week or so, extend to a further landmark. also, you shouldn't feel you have to jog every day. if you switch off jogging and walking every other day, that's a really good workout. to tone your legs, combine this aerobic work with squats and lunges using weights (or just while holding your baby!)

i worked my way into it by finding a route that has flat and hilly parts. I started by only jogging on the flat parts and walking on the hilly parts. then i started running up some of the less steep hills, working toward landmarks that were increasingly further away. it was a great feeling to finally reach the point of jogging the whole 3 miles, hills and all. it took a few months, but it happened.

another great way is to find a motivator. sign up for a 5k run that's a month or two away. sign up with a partner and have fun training together. if you really want to get motivated, look for a mini or sprint triathlon that's several months away and start preparing for that. you can train for the running and cycling with your baby in tow, which will make the real event seem easy.

if you're walking 3 miles a day, you're already doing great things for your health and body. congratulations!

oh, and invest in a good pair of running shoes to protect your knees.

Answer 2

Your body is ready for it. I mean, if you can walk 3 miles with a baby jogging stroller.

Start out jogging for 1.5 miles. I know it sounds like a lot, but you CAN do it. Find a pace that is taxing on your body, but not extreamly hard. Maybe level 5 on the treadmill? You may need to push your self a little bit to finish. Don't worry you will not die if it hurts a little. Add .25 every week (or whenever you are ready).

Keep this up and you will look good and feel great. You should see results after about a month.

Good luck!

Answer 3

You can buy small weights that attach by Velcro or straps to your legs just above the ankle, this works better than jogging with a baby in a stroller. The reason I say this is because the stroller can tip over if you hit a high crack in the pavement at a fast speed. Also, your ability to avoid obstacles will be lessened when you're jogging as opposed to walking where you have more time to react. So for safety reasons I don't think you should jog with your baby. Just get weights for more of a resistance workout.

Answer 4

Jogging with a baby isn't what I planned on answering for, but maybe you could work something out.

What my HS's cross country team and the long-distance crew of the spring track team do is nearby there's this massive hill that goes up and up and then it kind of levels off, but then it keeps going up at this b****** of an angle that will just wreck you. Those are great if they're any of those around your area.

Otherwise just run. Get used to jogging and that feeling of going quicker. Small things you can do are go up the stairs with a spring in your step, literally. As a track kid myself it's great. And don't even THINK about that elevator missy (unless you have the baby of course).

Eating right is of course another part of it. People will say don't eat carbs but you'll have to, it's a side effect of working out. Definitely eat some fat and protein and make sure you take vitamins daily. A Red Bull or a Powerade here and there won't hurt as well, and drink other non-alcoholic beverages. Orange juice gets a lot of good stuff in your system but it gives you massive cramps if you go out jogging straight from drinking a glass.

Answer 5

I've been a runner since I was 12, and am now 32, so I think I should at least give you a few pointers that should help . . .

There are 3 factors related to running that you should consider . . . time, distance, and intensity. It is obvious that you have to pick either a length of time that you will run and then see how far you will get, OR you will pick a particular distance to run and see how long it takes you . . . Intensity is really related to combining those two factors. If you say that you are going to run 3 miles in X minutes, the level of intensity is related to your current fitness level and whether covering that distance in that amount of time is difficult or easy for you.

You should begin with a low intensity jog so that your body is not too overworked. If you overwork yourself you will be too tired to keep up the jogging through out the week and beyond, and there is a distinct possibility that you may injure yourself as well.

Since you already gauge your exercise according to distance, I would continue to do that. Just to gauge yourself and see where you're at, go ahead and see if you can jog the 3 miles. Be sure to keep a slow pace. The difference between jogging and walking is not necessarily that jogging is FASTER. When jogging your FEET move faster, but not necessarily your body. You should be able to "hold back" and almost keep yourself to the same pace you walk at, with the only difference being how fast you are moving those feet. See how far you get. If you can only make it 1.5 miles before you have to start to walk, then you should start out jogging 1.5 miles each day! Simple. At whatever distance you can make it, you need to give yourself maybe 2 weeks jogging at that same pace so that your body gets used to it. Then you need to try and take it up a notch and increase your pace slightly. Try and shave a minute or two off your total time for the jog. Every time you increase your pace, you should jog at that pace for a week or two to let your body get used to it before you try to increase again. If you try to increase and can't then go back to your old pace for a little longer. You'll get there.

Another thing you can do is something called a Farlik run (that's what I call it anyway). You walk or jog at a comfortable pace for maybe a minute or two minutes, then you increase your pace to maybe 75% of your maximum speed for the same amount of time, and then change back to the easy pace. Continue this throughout your run. You probably won't be able to jog a full 3 miles doing this drill.

You can also pick maybe one day a week where you intentionally go uphill at the end of your run, so that the intensity increases at the end and your body is pushed that way . . .

Diet is important also in running/jogging. Be sure to drink lots of water so that you are hydrated. Your muscles will need it. Also, jogging a few miles or more requires energy, so don't shy away from carbs too badly (in case you are on one of those high protein/no carb diet plans) . . . Your body needs energy, and it is found in carbs. Try not to eat too much red meat and get a few more veggies and fruits. Nothing extreme, just try to adjust a little. These things will help impact how efficiently your body will perform.

I hope some of these ideas help you . . . If you would like to ask any more questions, feel free to email me. I would be interested to see if any of my advice works for you! :-) Good Luck!

Answer 6

I gave up jogging because my thighs rubbed together causing my pantyhose to catch fire......lol. Start off slow, make sure you stretch out before and after. Walk a bit then jog some walk, jog walk jog. Do this everytime you go out for your daily routine jogging a little more then the last time and before you know it you'll be jogging the whole way. Take it slow and drink plenty of water.

Answer 7

If you can walk for three miles straight, you're already built up enough to try jogging one or two miles. If you lack the confidence to start already, you could run in place for a half hour or so once a day for a week.

Less active people looking to build themselves up for jogging might start with an exercise bike, followed by walking.

Answer 8

I completely disagree with people telling you to start out jogging any kind of lengthy distance. When I was building myself up to jogging, I did the walk-jog-walk-jog-walk-jog intervals a few people mentioned and it worked out GREAT. I started with walking for 2 minutes and jogging for 1 and you find intervals that work for you until you only use walking as a means of cooling down. Good luck!

Answer 9

I like the Galloway method, or a facsimile thereof! First off I would suggest a Heart Monitor (if you don't already have one) Polar's are great!
Then try a jog, two minutes of jogging to one minute of brisk walking, then increase slowly. You'll be running in no time!

Oh and remember! Feel the Bum! Enjoy the Bum.

Answer 10

good question young lady,
first of all,making your body equipped and ready for jogging is the first step to feel the bum,you should always set up a measurment and go for it,for example,try someday leaving your baby in the day-care,or in safe hands,and get in your jogging outfit,and hit the right place,choosing the right spot makes jogging more fun and useful,for example try choosing a place full of joggers,that will make you feel like your not the only one doing the hard job,so that you can feel challenged and have the good spirit to jog.

then,set the place you want to jog around,usually a place next to the sea or water will be great,and full-round places are the best actually,because taking a full round makes you feel like you did a quite hard job,choosing longer places will be great,and you should first be determined about completing the whole mission even though you might feel tired or lazy to do so,but nothing comes easy,so you should put yourself into this and trust me,the results will be something you always wanted.

Start Jogging!
setting up check points is a useful way to start,like for example,if you jog around the garden or park,set a check point from the fence to the other side,and start running(not so fast,but with more effort).and keep jogging until you get to that point,have a 2-3 minutes rest,and set another check point,and keep "check-pointing" until you finish the whole spot you chose,and Inshallah,that will make you used to jogging longer places and makes your body equipped for jogging everyday,and for your notice,never stop jogging and never miss a day,because your body need everyday exercise to build up yourself.

hope you will benift from the Information provided,and if you need anymore try contacting me on my E-Mail address ([e-mail]) or ([e-mail]).

Best Regards!

Nino!

N.P:Carry a Music device,to listen to your favourite songs while jogging,that will really help you in forgetting the effort your doing and help you cross more distance!