Jogging For Beginners – Top Ten Tips

Sex, according to English poet Philip Larkin, began in 1963. He might have added that jogging began about 20 years later, at the beginning of the personal fitness boom in the Eighties. Of the various places in Manipal to run, End Point is probably the best.

So why go jogging at all? Partly it’s the sense of achievement. Partly there are the numerous health benefits, from a general feeling of well-being and freedom from stress to improved circulation and help against heart disease. Almost anyone of any age and state of fitness, providing they are in good health, can get fit enough to go jogging regularly.

What you wear is entirely a matter of choice. Whether it’s skin-tight lycra or Chariots of Fire britches and long-sleeved, white shirts, the key is to be comfortable, with something that will let your body breathe and move freely. The most important thing is what you wear on your feet.

Running/Jogging shoe technology has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, providing the runner with maximum comfort, stability and grip, and it’s really worth investing in some decent jogging shoes if you want to avoid problems later on. There are a wide range of good shoes costing between 1000 and 6000 rupees. This might seem expensive to the occasional jogger, but they will repay your investment in the form of comfort and injury-free running.

Many runners suffer from pronation or, less commonly, supination of the foot, where the foot rolls onto its inside (pronation) or outside (supination) edge during the transfer of weight. Jogging too long without correcting these faults can result in extreme problems to the ankles, knees and even back. Shoes are available that compensate for either condition by strengthening the relevant side of the shoe, and in extreme cases special insoles can also be fitted. After a session of joggin, you can relax with the aid of the best foot and calf massager.

So here are the Top Ten Tips for Jogging Beginners

1. Start gently. Fifteen or twenty minutes of combined brisk walking and slow jogging three times a week is plenty for the beginner, and you will soon begin to note a difference. Then you can gradually begin to increase how much you do, and the proportion of jogging to walking.
2. Make sure you warm up well, with 5 to 10 minutes of brisk walking or slow jogging, plus gentle bending and stretching.
3. Wear the best shoes you can afford before jogging.
4. If it hurts, stop. It’s OK to walk.
5. Expect to be stiff the next day, especially when you begin. A bath or a massage can help, or even a brisk walk. Otherwise, you will be even stiffer the day after that.
6. Don’t expect instant results.
7. Listen to your body. If it says it really doesn’t want to run, pay attention. On the other hand, you don’t always want to listen to your brain. When it says it really doesn’t want to run, sometimes it’s just being lazy.
8. Find someone to train with. Talking can take your mind off things, and it’s easier to keep to your planned schedule when someone else is involved. If you can’t find a friend to go with you, try putting up a notice in your local gym or swimming pool.
9. Drink plenty of water both before and after your jogging session.
10. Don’t plan on jogging after a heavy meal. Eat something light, and leave at least a couple of hours before you start. But don’t run on an empty stomach either. Eat plenty of complex carbohydrates, such as pasta, bread, fruit and vegetables. Avoid “instant-hit” foods like chocolate or snacks.