Jogging 101

Appetizer
Learn the best way to run to make your cardio as effective and injury-free as possible.

Main Course
Running or jogging is fantastic way to get your heart pumping and burn fat, but a large number of people don’t know how to do it properly. I know what you’re thinking: there’s actually a wrong way to run? Well, yes, actually. Like any exercise, you have to learn the proper technique if you expect to get the most benefit out of your jogs.

Don’t Slap Your Feet – Stomping on the ground on every step will just put a lot of stress on joints and make you run slower. The heel of your foot should be the first thing to touch the ground, and every step should be a smooth rolling motion.

Stand Up Straight – A lot of people, especially in the last few exhausting minutes of a jog, tend to slouch. If you keep your spine erect, you will get the most out your cardio by working to keep your core stable.

Pay Attention to How You Swing Your Arms – Really moving your arms to the rhythm of the run will help you burn more calories. It might also encourage you to bring your knees up more, which will burn even more calories.

Double Knot Your Shoes – It stinks to have to stop in the middle of run to re-lace your sneakers. Make sure you invest a really good pair of running shoes and lace them tightly before you go out.

And as always, take a bottle of water with you to make sure to keep hydrated.

Dessert
For my clients who like to jog but have difficulty finishing those last five minutes, I sometimes suggest using mind games to push through that last leg. For example, they might imagine that a magnet is pulling them forward, or that they are running away from a predator. It might sound silly (and trust me, sometimes they feel silly doing it), but playing pretend can be a surprisingly effective way to stay in the fat burning zone.