Is Running In Minimalist Shoes A Good Idea?

                                                               



When you read books on running the subject of minimalist shoes often comes up.As the term implies this means running either barefoot or with the minimum foot protection possible. Is it a good idea? Well obviously there is the possibility of injury when your feet which have been supported and protected by full running shoes are suddenly without any support or protection. Here is a quote from  Runners World  and written by  Jenny Hadfield on the subject:


Shoes are like cars. They are a convenience and provide comfort, style (in most cases), and efficient travel from point A to B without having to think about every single step or worry about the elements along the way.
And like cars, there are a variety of shoes that run along a continuum from the least amount of protection (shoes that look like gloves for your feet) to the most protection (heavy stability shoe).
The more minimal the shoe, the more the foot, ankle, and lower leg actively supports and stabilizes your body in motion. The bulkier the shoe, the more the shoe does the work for us. It's very much like driving a stick shift car versus an automatic. Neither are bad, both are driving, and both have unique benefits.
Newsflash: We are born into the world barefoot. From there we learn to crawl, then walk barefoot, and then we go through the awkward transition to walking in shoes. Eventually that leads to running in shoes and wearing high heels and other fun foot accessories.
If you start with the premise that we were all made to move from one place to the next shoe-free, you'll begin to see how shoes come into our lives for the benefits mentioned above. Although it may look and feel weird to run in less underfoot, it is a very natural skill.
But, does that mean every runner should switch to minimalist shoes? It depends.
It depends what type of shoes your body is used to running in now—the more support, typically the longer the transition time to running with less. Be cautious. If you switch from a supportive shoe to a minimalist shoe and keep running like nothing has changed, you're likely to get hurt. Taking it slowly in the minimalist world means starting with just seconds of running at a time, and spending months, if not years, transitioning. The benefits are incredible, but it isn't a free ride—you have to earn the strength to support your body to run in less.
The above material was published in Runners World
Running without shoes or with minimal shoes is a very interesting possibility for many runners. Always consider however the type of surface you are running on and what dangers there may be to bare feet. Anywhere that broken glass or sharp rocks may be encountered is not the place for this type of running. A sandy beach or a running track would be the best place to try it out.You can find out more about running and jogging in our ebook:  http://www.amazon.com/Running-Jogging-Health-Fitness-ebook/dp/B007MFTLS8/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333752729&sr=1-2
You can also view an interesting video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMlsZyAh2LY

How To Jog The right Way

                                                             


Jogging is the popular name for non competitive recreational running. It is very often used by people who wish to lose weight or simply to remain fit and healthy. You will see joggers daily on city streets as well as in parks and on country trails. Jogging and running are great ways to keep fit as well as to lose weight and keep the heart and lungs strong and healthy. Here is an article from  Ehow which details how to jog:

Instructions


1. Begin running at a slow pace.


2. Raise your knees with each step.


3. Land on your heel and push off for the next step with the ball of your foot.


4. Keep your arms relaxed and bent at no less than a 90-degree angle, and swing them gently by your sides with each step.


5. Swing each arm in tandem with the opposing leg.


6. Keep your hands cupped but loose.


7. Breathe easily and deeply and keep your head up.

The above material is quoted from  Ehow

Seems pretty simple doesn't it and indeed it is. An easy running method which will produce great results in promoting your health and weight loss. You can do it anywhere,rain or shine if you wear the right clothing for the weather. A good pair of running shoes is advisable to protect your feet from injuries which they may suffer if you run in ordinary shoes. See our video for more information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMlsZyAh2LY
Also check out our informative ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Running-Jogging-Health-Fitness-ebook/dp/B007MFTLS8/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332874431&sr=1-3

Running And Jogging In Springtime

                                                                     

The coming of Spring and the warmer weather is a time when many of us want to get out in the open and run or jog our way to fitness. A good running or jogging program can do wonders for our general health. Here is an interesting article which was published in About.com: http://running.about.com/od/injuryprevention/tp/springrunning.htm and authored by Christine Luff http://running.about.com/bio/Christine-Luff-35471.htm

Spring into Running
If you took a bit of a running break during the winter, don't expect to be running at the same level as you did in the fall. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you head outside to take advantage of the nicer weather and ease back into running.
Now that the weather is starting to get warmer and there's more hours of daylight in the evening, you may be itching to get outside and run. But if you took a bit of a running break during the winter, don't expect to be running at the same level as you did in the fall.
Here are some tips to keep in mind as you head outside to take advantage of the nicer weather and ease back into running:
Make slow increases.
If you haven't run consistently all winter, start your spring training with short, easy runs -- no more than 3 or 4 miles at a time. Don't run two days in a row. One of the easiest ways to get injured is to increase your mileage too soon, before you've established a good running base. Don't bump up your mileage by more than 10 percent per week.
Watch your intensity.
Be patient with your running -- it could take as long as 4-6 weeks to re-build your running base. Don't introduce hill running or speed training until you have a solid base. And make sure you give yourself enough recovery time in between hard workouts.
Pick a race.
A great way to stay motivated through your spring training is to pick a race that's a few months away. It will give you a goal to work toward. Just be realistic and allow yourself the proper time to get ready.
More: How to Find Local Road Races
Follow a training schedule.
If you decide to train for a late spring or summer race, find a training schedule that works for your race distance and running level. Following a training schedule will help keep you on track and prevent you from doing too much too soon.
Track your progress.
As you're building (or re-building) up your fitness, it's helpful to keep a training log. You'll be able to see your progress at a glance, which will help boost your motivation.
Get used to running outside again.
If you didn't run or trained on the treadmill during the winter, you may have forgotten some important safety precautions for running outdoors.
Be prepared for rain.
You should expect to deal with some wet weather during spring training. Follow these tips for running in the rain to stay more comfortable on rainy runs.
Look ahead, don't look back.
If you took some time off from running, you may be frustrated thinking about your previous fitness level. Don’t beat yourself up and put pressure on yourself to get back into shape quickly. You'll have plenty of time to train and improve your fitness before the summer and fall racing season. Just enjoy running as you work on building up your fitness level gradually and safely.

The above article is quoted from About.com:  http://running.about.com/od/injuryprevention/tp/springrunning.htm
Spring is the time to get out there and get back into your running and jogging form. We all need to regain the level of fitness we had before our running ceased for the Winter months. Do it gradually and carefully however. Don't expect to get out there and take up where you left off last fall. For more in formation about running and jogging see this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMlsZyAh2LY and check out this ebook which has all the information you have been looking for: http://www.amazon.com/Running-Jogging-Health-Fitness-ebook/dp/B007MFTLS8/ref=sr_1_103?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332521480&sr=1-103

Running And Jogging For Fitness And Weight Loss

If we want to be healthy, and have a strong healthy heart we need aerobic exercise in our daily or weekly life. It can de brisk walking,bicycling, jogging and running, or other activities, and there really is an exercise routine for everyone.

Aerobic exercise burns fat, strengthens muscles, and helps the heart to pump strongly. It also produces feel good endorphin hormones in the brain which act to make you happy and feel healthy.

Running and/or jogging is certainly one of the better aerobic exercises. It makes the heart pump better, and strengthens and improves it. The heart is made of muscles, and needs to be exercised, just as all other muscles do. By combining running with a healthy diet you will do your heart and arteries a great favor ,and will keep them free from plaque deposits.

Jogging and running also increases stamina, and not only is good for health, but lets you perform athletic games including basketball, tennis, soccer etc with much better power and endurance. This simply makes you a better player.

We all look back to younger days of limitless energy, when we felt we could go on nearly forever with activities calling for plenty of exertion. Ah the days of our youth! Even when we are in our thirties we look back on those great days wistfully, and by the time we reach our fifties they seem gone forever. But is this really the case? The best answer is really NO they are not gone. If we start on a good running/jogging routine we can take back that energy and fitness that seems to be gone forever. We just need to how to get startd and what distance to run, how often we should jog and at what pace should we go?

When starting to run our condition is normally far from what it could be, and we may be able to run for just a couple of minutes before becoming tired or breathless. This is normal so don't worry about it. With regular practice your running times will increase, and you will soon work up to thirty minutes of running at a time. How long it will take to reach this performance level depends on your age, as well as your physical conditioning at the start naturally. But once you can do 30 minutes of running this is all that it takes to reach a high level of fitness and to keep yourself at that level. When you run there is really no need to count laps or miles all you need is the time you are actually running.
Take a look at this running ebook: http://tinyurl.com/79873cs