Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Jogging For The Complete Newbie Explained

By Melissa Goodwich

If you are thinking about starting to jog, then good for you. I am going to try and help you and make it easier for you to get going. Here are some tips for the beginner that will help you get the most out of your experience in the runners world.

Before you start getting out there and working those legs you must make sure that you have the appropriate running shoes, and that they fit properly. This is probably the most important part of running, and make sure that you get them replaced at least twice a year.

Before you go out jogging I highly recommend that you are properly hydrated. Hydration starts the day before. If you are drinking at least 60 ounces of water a day then you should be in good shape.

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.

Find a place for you to jog. I would not recommend starting on treadmills as they can put extra stress on your joints that you do not need. I would try and find a trail or a nice path to jog along. If their is a park near your home that would be a good place to start.

Don't try and go too far your first week of running. If you are in decent shape already you may want to start off at a mile and a half to a mile. Your muscles will get stronger as you progress in time, there is no need to push yourself as this could lead to injury.

Ensure that you have a plan. For a beginner I would say jogging around 2-3 times a week is plenty. You want to eventually get up to 4-5 times a week, but that should take a couple of months depending on the person. Just make sure you are not doing it every day as your body needs time to recover and build muscle.

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.

By following these tips you should be on your way to becoming an excellent jogger or runner. You will also start to get into great shape and boost your endurance far more than you could have ever imagined. Remember the shoes, stretch, stay hydrated, and do not eat before you jog. - 16887

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