Is there ANY training benefit to JOGGING?

awe, that's cute.

You put way too much thought into every step you run, a problem not uncommon among distance runners but one that is ultimately just kind of stupid.

Forget about it man. You're having a nice jog with your girlfriend. Just don't worry about it.

put down artist

make you feel big insulting others ?

Perhaps I am thinking too much......but please humor me. Can anyone here actually ANSWER my question?

I'm no EP guy, but unless I missed something and the jogging is effectively replacing any of your normal training, my take is that of course there is SOME benefit to the jogging. All aerobic activity is going to stress the cardiovascular system above the resting state. The benefits may be minimal, but they exist.

Increased blood flow in your legs helps recovery. Stick with it (and her).

I've had great lengthy debates about this with a number of people. Personally, I do a fair bit of slow running (typically 9:30-10:00/mile) with my wife, sometimes up to 40 mpw (in a week of 80-100 mpw, say). I believe any and all easy running, pretty much regardless of pace (provided it's not too fast) provides an aerobic benefit and improves your general aerobic fitness.

There are a lot of people who believe the opposite. Kevin Sullivan has stated that he thinks any run slower than Daniels' E-pace provides no specific training stimulus. Professor Daniels himself was gracious enough to answer questions on this topic. His answer was more or less that he also didn't see any specific training benefit of running slower than his E-pace range, but he could see other benefits (there's no arguing against the potential payback for accompanying your significant other if he/she asks, is there?).

One of professor Daniels' points was he didn't really object to running slower than his E-pace provided it didn't have a negative impact on running form, meaning you weren't just shuffling along.

Without any scientific basis (and only my personal experience to draw from) I don't agree that this is a concern. I shuffle along when I run with my wife, and I haven't noticed this having any kind of negative impact on my form at faster running paces. So I think that's a false argument. But it's just my opinion, not a scientific fact.

You might consider that the Japanese are known to do a lot of their mileage at very slow paces, and this seems to produce very good long distance runners. Of course, they don't do well at 5k or below, so I suppose an argument could be made that jogging a lot isn't good for MD runners. It hasn't seemed to harm my own 800/1500 times, but then again I'm fairly mediocre.

So there you have my opinion.

then don't stick with her at all

I try to advise that you know the purpose of every session you do and that there are many purposes -- to improve cell adaptation, aerobic power, speed, endurance, economy, and that a perfectly justifiable purpose is to spend some time with a friend (in your case a very dear friend), even if none of the above is accomplished. You might even call "jogging" or walking with your wife, "cross training" and one of the benefits of cross or supplemental training is to burn a few calories and allow you to eat a little more. Who knows, this slower-than-usual pace for you may provide strengthening in some part of your body that will help you resist injury better and allow you to run more or harder, which will lead to better performance. Some would also say jogging with your wife is much better use of your time that sitting in front of the TV with your wife (although that can be justifiable as well). Time with your spouse, family or good friends is at the top of my list.

Since you are only going 2-3 miles and the pace is very slow (for you) you can break up the run into drills as you move along. Add in lengths of running up on your forefeet, butt kicks, high knees, etc. I've seen Sal Allah (Masters WR in the 800m) run his warmup at a slow pace but up on his forefeet. In effect this move is like jumping rope.

My point is that there can be plyometric benefits realized - such as tendon, ligament and muscle conditining - even though you aren't taxing your aerobic or anaerobic systems.

Thanks everyone so far for their interesting responses. Anyone else?

I'm fairly new here, so is jtupper actually Jack Daniels?

Just be glad you have the oppurtunity to run with your girlfriend... I'll never get the chance, mine was born without legs.

from loper to shuffler wrote:

Thanks everyone so far for their interesting responses. Anyone else?

I'm fairly new here, so is jtupper actually Jack Daniels?

Welcome to letsrun. And Yes, he is.

Have you ever seen sprinters jog for a warm-up? They go about 12 minutes/mile and it doesn't seem to hurt them.

Jtupper beat me to it but any activity can at least burn some extra calories.

fgfg wrote:

put down artist

make you feel big insulting others ?

Yeah. Piss on you!

I'm slightly taller now. All the way up to 5-2.

Dr. Daniels - Wouldn't jogging at a pretty slow pace still provide cell adaptation and aerobic improvements? I will occasionally read an article about an elite runner that runs a lot at 8:00-minute pace or slower. Certainly there is some benefit to their easy runs.

Are there any studies that have studied jogging and its effects? When is slow too slow for the benefits you describe resulting from "E" pace?

Thanks! If anyone else can answer these questions, feel free to chime in as well.

It can't have no benefit because, let's say you were injured and could only run 10:00 pace for several months without exagerrating the injury, you would be fitter when you got ready to train again after 2 months of 10 min./mile jogging than no running at all. No whether it has enough benefit to account fo the fatigue it might produce when added to normal training, that is another matter.

I've done this a couple times--ran with a friend's high school team (at the back of the pack). I felt like total crap the next day. The reason seems to be because you have to make a conscious effort to shorten your stride. For me, the change of stride length and frequency leaves me feeling bad--heavy legs--the next day.