Jogging

[bazfaz]

I go for a walk every day. I can think about my work or plan meals or just look at the hills and trees. I enjoy it.

A while back I tried jogging but gave it up. I found I could think of nothing except how little I enjoyed it.

I am reading Letters from America, the collected radio talks that Alistair Cooke did for the BBC. I was struck by this letter he quoted from the London Times. "May I point out that if one jogged ten miles a day then, having lived to the ripe old age of eighty, one woild have jogged for approximately nine years...Is it worth it?"

Cooke comments: "Here in a nutshell is revealed the absurdity of seeking to prolong life by a process that shortens it by nine years, during which you might better have been reading, playing games, flirting, shutting windows or drinking martinis."

I am not sure how "shutting windows"got in there.

[bixaorellana]

Jogging breaks two of my Major Life Rules:

1. Don't do anything that makes the bosom bounce.

2. Don't do anything that requires a special costume.

Also, I greatly prefer exercise that simultaneously renders product -- digging in the garden, for instance. Walking also renders product, as you point out. Even not thinking on a walk can clear the mind and calm the spirit. And one seldom sustains injury while walking.

I love the "shutting windows" bit. It succinctly places jogging in Cooke's scheme of things.

[Deleted]

I'm not much of a jogger, but I do go for long walks (usually with the dog). And I lift weights and do other types of exercise too. I find that living out in the countryside and all the work that needs doing around here (sometimes quite heavy work), really helps to keep you trim.

It's not a new thing for me though, I've always exercised/been active.

[spindrift]

I loathe jogging. Thinking that I had to do what my friends were doing I used to jog around Hyde Park in London. I used to feel like death both during and after. I don't have much lung power at the best of times. I soon gave up the effort forever.

Since then I've been known to use the treadmill in gyms. I don't mind doing that although I have to be dragged into the gym.

[bazfaz]

My (ex)sister-in-law had the right attitude. She said: "I would rather jig once a night than jog once a day."

[imec]

As my boss would say, the only time I'd run, is if I was being chased - by a wolverine.

[Deleted]

I have never jogged and never will. The last time I ran was to catch a plane. Bicycling,walking,swimming and of course gardening are it for me. Nothing competitive. And I won't do anything to risk injury. Sadly,even dancing is risky to me right now.

[nic]

There's a certain amount of fitness that is even wanted or even desirable; anything beyond that is sheer and utter vanity.

I'll run -- when the police are chasing me. Or, a velociraptor. Otherwise, I prefer to get my exercise through some sort of actual sport;i.e., fencing, baseball, rugby, rowing, sailing.

[Deleted]

I am a non jogger as well, but a massive walker. So far, I have not found anyone that I cannot outwalk, at least in Paris.

(I must admit that I was ready to collapse on the one official trek that I ever made, in Sapa, Vietnam. But I was generally in the first 5 of the group of 30 to arrive anywhere (lots of steep climbs), and most of them were at least 25 years younger than I. One thing I really hated was that at every difficult location there were young Vietnamese men with motorbikes ready to take away anybody who gave up for a fee. They would look at me and openly snicker, but they never got my money!)

[Jazz]

I hate jogging. (thudding along on the concrete)...I like exercise that is 'built into my life', walking and gardening. There is a huge public swimming pool nearby that I sometimes use. But, since I was brought up in the country, with our own beach on a river, swimming pools seem strange. Whenever I am near water- rivers, lakes, oceans, I swim...love it!

[gyro]

Thing is, what do you do to get a reasonable level of fitness that doesn't require a gym membership or any additional cost, when your normal daily life isn't 'active' enough to give you any real fitness benefits ?

I need to get a bit fitter and do something about my spare tyre, and aside from kayaking (which I do far too infrequently at the moment) I can't think of anything else that would give some sort of overall fitness other than jogging/running. Swimming, I suppose, but it's still not as accessable, and the North Sea is very rarely welcoming.

[Deleted]

A daily exercise routine and dietary modifications are a beginning. So many people think they need a gym or fitness center to exercise and work out or nowadays a yoga center. These yoga centers are everywhere here. I guess some people need that structure. If one is truly motivated then it can be done without having to a.)go and drive somewhere and b.) pay money to do so. There are endless alternatives.

[bazfaz]

Close textural examination of Gyro's post leads to the conclusion that he doesn't actually jog.

So, mate, is it what our devious politicianscall an aspiration?

[bixaorellana]

Yeah, but he sounds willing! If I had access to those gorgeous beaches where Gyro lives, I would definitely build brisk walks into my daily routine.

Correct me here, but isn't walking at a good clip for at least two miles supposed to give you many of the benefits of jogging?

[BigIain]

I have over the years jogged many many miles. When I played sports I would have been running four or five nights a week, an hour and a half each night. Which would help to explain why my knees have been under the knife quite a few times and every joint from the hips down is "clicky" when I walk or get up from a low chair!!!
I still do it from time to time as it is easily the best short workout that one can have. (with clothes on)

[Deleted]

Jogging on sand is a lot less aggressive and healthy than doing it on the pavement. Gyro should go for it! (Oh, gee, no sand in Paris -- what a shame. )

[gyro]

Quite correct, Baz, I never claimed I WAS jogging, just wanting to do something.

So, no real answers aside from jogging then. 'A daily exercise routine' doesn't exactly give any detail other than the obvious. I can't see brisk walking having much of an effect, but obviously could be wrong.

[livaco]

I have found that the exercise that works best for me is bicycling. Ever since I got good paneers for the back of the bike, I use it to go shopping and just to ride around. The thing is that jogging is no fun, but bicycling is fun. And you can travel much farther and it can be practical. So I find myself actually doing it. Whereas jogging just sucks....

There can be weather issues of course, especially where I live, but it works well much of the time.

[Deleted]

It's time for me to jump on a bike right now to go into the center of town.

[gyro]

Yeah, was thinking of maybe trying to find a bike (obviously not paying for one...). You're right about jogging/running being a bit boring, but in all honesty there's no difference between that and walking for exercise's sake. You just get less knackered walking briskly, which would seem to indicate to me it's not doing as much, exercise-wise.

[bazfaz]

Right out of our front door we have lovely countryside so I don't find walking boring. In a busy town it might be different.
But with jogging I found that I wasn't looking at scenery or thinking of anything ecept how much I disliked jogging.

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2009 8:35:35 GMT gyro said:

Yeah, was thinking of maybe trying to find a bike (obviously not paying for one...). You're right about jogging/running being a bit boring, but in all honesty there's no difference between that and walking for exercise's sake. You just get less knackered walking briskly, which would seem to indicate to me it's not doing as much, exercise-wise.

Some of it depends on what you are hoping the exercise will do -- I'd say there are 3 principal categories: getting some new muscles, getting rid of some fat, or strengthening your heart and lungs without knocking the other bits out of place by accident. I'd say that walking and (recreational) biking are mostly in the 3rd category.

A lot of us would probably kill ourselves if we tried to work on all three categories at the same time.

[Deleted]

Also,if you're not accustomed to regular exercise it's advisable to start off slowly. Many people will jump headlong into an exercise regimen and overdo it. The next day their muscles are so sore and achy that they avoid continuing.

[traveler63]

Jogging is about the most painful, boring thing I have ever done. Besides it really isn't too good for your knees, especially women. Anyway Kirk was a runner/jogger for a number of years when we lived in Portland,, Oregon. Rain or shine, out the door he went. He even did 5K runs. Later, when we moved here, guess what, he had to have knee surgery. When he asked if he could continue running the surgeon said, sure, and then you will be back to see me. So now, it is walking or treadmill at the gym.

Bixa, yes walking at a good clip really is better for you and you don't sweat as much and you can take more of your beautiful pictures!!!

[gyro]

Some of it depends on what you are hoping the exercise will do -- I'd say there are 3 principal categories: getting some new muscles, getting rid of some fat, or strengthening your heart and lungs without knocking the other bits out of place by accident. I'd say that walking and (recreational) biking are mostly in the 3rd category.

I'd say the 2nd too are what's needed for me. Muscles, old or new, are pretty much strangers to my body ....

[bjd]

It looks as though I am the only one on here who does jog! When we moved here, not far from the Canal du Midi, I used to see people running/jogging along the canal and think "not for me, they all look like they are suffering!". But then I found that going to the gym (not a fancy thing, just a municipal cheap thing for some exercise) was not enough so I started running with some friends. And that, in fact, is the trick. When you run with somebody else, it takes your mind off the running. I have been running for 14 years now -- maybe doing a bit less now, but still try to do 10K twice a week. It depends on working hours and company.

The friends I run with are 10 years younger than I am, some run races, others don't. Now I just think that I will finish the shoes I have, but the other day I was talking with my son's former trainer (he is a runner), who told me, "Keep it up until you feel you can't any more."

There are days when it's a pleasure, others when it's tough. Like any other exercise. And although my knees are not in good shape, I find they hurt much more when I cycle than when I run.

For me, jogging is simply a way of getting some exercise and socializing at the same time. I used to run on my own but now I find it harder to do so, so I guess the socializing is more important. I am a walker too. Always walk for miles when I go anywhere, rarely use the car at home.

[gyro]

Good for you. I wish I had more will power.