Define Running
 

I think I'm ready to run. The fastest I've done is 4.2 on the treadmill, but my body has adjusted to is as easy. is 5mph considered running? And if you go by treadmill, at what speed do you run at?

I mostly run at 6. Maybe it depends on the length of your stride?

This is a good question.

ETA: Have you seen the C25K program?

Mmmmm, I think 5mph is still considered "jogging". There are tons of different answers out there, but in general I think the thought is if it takes you more than 9 minutes to complete a mile you're jogging, if takes less you are running. IMO, running is running :) On average I do a 10 min mile or a little more and I'm sorry, but I'm a runner! :)

Damn I must be out of shape.

Webster defines running as the following:
"a) to go faster than a walk; specifically b)to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step."

Let's face it...most of us are NOT running with the hopes of becomming the next "Flo Jo" and competing. That said...we do this to lose fat...right? Well, I've personally lost the fat by running for LONGER periods of time and not by going the FASTEST. I started running 3.5mph actually...and very slowly and gradually graduated to running between 5.0 and 5.5 mph. I alternate every 5 minutes. Works for me and the fat has simply melted off with absolutely no distinguishable muscle loss.

I want this to be "fun"...not to end up dreading it because of running grueling speeds that test my heart's outer limits!:eek: Anyhoot...it's not how much you do on one day...it's how many days you do it!;)

Hope this helps.:)

I "run" at 4MPH. I'm going to try to up it to 4.2 today for my 30 minute run. I joined runnersworld.com and that has helped me mentally a lot. They assure me that I am running, even if it is slow running. They definitely encourage newbies to work on distance before speed.

My goal is to run comfortably at 5 MPH. If I've ever able to get over that, great.

Either you're running or you're walking. If both feet are off the ground at the same time, you're running.

Jogging is a word to use to put your own or others' efforts down as insufficient.

I do 6 or 6.5 on a treadmill. I average a 9:30-10:00 mile and I can run 3.5 miles at this point. I take very small strides so it slows my time down unfortunately.

I started the C25K at jogging 4mph. I am now at 4.2mph and I'm almost at the 5km mark. I run a 15 min mile, which is probably super slow, but once I get to the 5km mark, I'll work more on my speed.

Running is definitely not easy. I really admire joggers/runners because you have to be in some sort of good shape to run. Wouldn't you all agree?

IMO, if one foot is on the ground at all times, that's walking. If BOTH feet are off the ground (even for a very short time), then it's running. The speed will vary depending on stride length and height. I also think that if you go a distance and any part of it is running, then you are "running". If you do a 5K in walk/run intervals -- that's running a 5K.

When I started running, 5 mph was fast. Then 5.5 was fast. Now I start on the TM at 6 mph and go up from there. You tend to get faster with training, but "fast" to you depends on your weight, running efficiency, and natural gait.

My running philosophy is that it's about having fun and moving and burning calories. You are going to burn pretty nearly the same calories over the same distance whether you run fast, run slow, or run/walk. It just takes you longer if your pace is slower, but the end result is just as good. So why stress over speed? :D

Yes!! Consistency is the key ....

Yep, I agree with this. :)

For myself, I feel if I can hold a conversation, I am jogging. If I can't, I am running. But I really don't care except that my current goal is to "jog", I guess, at 6.0. Right now, 6.0 is running. :dizzy: So it doesn't have to do with speed so much as ability, whatever that may be.

But if your feet are leaving the ground...you're a runner. ;)

I only run FAST when I'm being chased by the cops or a pack of pit bulls!:rofl:

What's next for me is SPRINTS...I mean all-out sprints (track team style)...it gives you nice glutes!:D My long runs (5+), I just want to feel my heart pumping, relax my mind and get lost in the beauty of my surroundings...ya know...enjoy it..not view it as work.:) My goal at each run is simply to be completely soaked in sweat. Yup...I gauge my success/progress by how much I sweat. I go for the "head to toe" type sweat...literally. It's worked so far!;)

i cant run that long, i try but the longest i ever ran was about 2 min.. then i end up walking.. i feel like my heart is just beating to fast i get scared and stop.. im doing everything on my own cause i cant afford a trainer.. but i feel like its taking forever for me to lose weight.. i been working out and eating right for a month and i only lost 10 pounds... i know i need to push myself harder but i feel as though my heart is gonna give in.. one of the guys at the gym said i should push though that fear and just keep at it, after a while my body will shift gears and it becomes easy.. what do u guys think?

I consider 5 mph jogging, not running. I am capable of walking up to 4.6 mph, it's a very fast walk but it is still a walk. Higher than 4.6, I have to start jogging.

When you are first starting out, the most important thing is consistency, not speed. You need to find a pace that you can sustain for a reasonable amount of time. Maybe that's walking briskly -- and that's OK!!! If you want to start running, then try walking first, but throwing in a little jog every few minutes. Over time, you will find that you can go faster with less perceived effort.

It never really gets *easy*, but you reframe and learn to feel the exertion as positive rather than negative. It certainly gets easier. But I advocate starting moderately and building up gradually --- rather than killing yourself and hoping for a breakthrough. You will naturally improve through consistent effort.

And, losing 10 pounds in a month is great!! If you had previously been gaining weight steadily, not only have you reversed that trend, you made progress in the right direction. Don't be discouraged!!

For me personally, if both feet are off the ground at the same time, I'm running. I might be running slowly, as I'm recovering from knee surgery and I'm thrilled to hit 5mph, but I'm still running. My father, a life-long runner, insists I am jogging until I'm doing 6mph, but I just ignore him. To me, if you're consistent and enjoying it, call it whatever you want!

I run @ 4.6 mph.. and for me this is running! I "jog" at 4mph .. I think it's personal based on height and fitness level.

Exactly how I see it too. :)

bliss3244 -- I don't know if you've already heard of it, but the Couch to 5K running program has helped me immensely. When I first tried to start running, I was a lot like you. I'd set out with high hopes, but by the end of the second minute (or first minute!) I'd be out of breath and feel my heart beating too hard.

Couch to 5K starts off with a lot of fast walking with short run/jogs sprinkled in. Every day and week, the amount of jogging increases. I'm up to the 25 minute runs now, and I know there is no way I could have gotten here without using a program like C25K. Check it out!

I am doing womens health magazine 6 week program, I just started it yesterday.
I did C25k last year but only got to week 6 and then holiday's came and never got back on track. I decided to start from beginning on another program. You can find it by typing womens health run walk program in yahoo or google.

I've been trying to do the C25K program and I "run" at 4mph. According to both the dictionary and my personal trainer, running is when your movement is such that both feet are off the ground at once. Speed has nothing to do with it. If running were defined only by speed then it would be impossible for a small child to run due to their short little legs, and anyone who has ever been in charge of any small children knows that they can definitely run! I also use the if I can talk then I'm not running method, but I do that for all my workouts. If I can hold a conversation then I need to work harder.

joyfulloser - I love the "it's not how much you do on one day...it's how many days you do it!" comment. That is an awesome way of looking at things. I have put it on a post-it note and added it to my wall of neat quotes, reminder, etc.

bliss - 10 pounds in a month is actually pretty darn awesome. As for the fear, I agree that as long as it is only your head messin with you then you should push on through it. You will be amazed at what you can do if only you will let yourself do it. At the same time, don't push yourself too hard in the beginning. If you take all the fun out of it then you won't stick to it and the last thing you want to do is risk hurting yourself and not being able to workout at all. Do what you can when you can and take it one day at a time.

I'm up to a 9 for my tabata sprints on the treadmill!!

I think it is different for everyone and it is hard to say what exactly is running for everyone. Some are working their way up and going 5 mph is running, while avid runners may still consider a 6mph a jog to them.
In the end as long as your working up a sweat on the treadmill it doesn't matter who classifies it as running or jogging! Just keep up the good work you'll get up there!!!

I average 5.5 mph. I know some people don't consider that running, but I don't care. I'm not doing it for other people. ;) Every time I see someone running faster than me, I remind myself how far I've already come. And that chances are high they aren't training for the distances I am either. I'm 9.5 weeks from my first half marathon and 51 weeks from my first marathon. :D

i am 5 foot, 4 inches...the fastest i can walk on a treadmill is 4.0 and that's pushing it for walking...my hips dont like to rotate well either because of past lower back/hip problems...anyhow...i started to run at 4.6 and now i run at 5.5 and that's an easy run for me...i will always do intervals due to my asthma but i havent let that stop me yet :)....i feel like i'm not really working at running at 5.5 right now, i feel like i'm starting to really work at it around 6.3-6.5 mph and when i do sprints i can hit 7.3 and 7.5...ive never pushed the speed higher than that because i'm afraid i will lose balance and fall off and get injured LOL

but i run nearly every day and work up a good sweat...i only do treadmill though because outdoors my asthma flares up to where i have to stop, it's manageable on a treadmill

I usually run between 5mph-6.5mph depending on the length of the run, the terrain, weather, and my energy level. I consider anything that is 5mph or more running. It depends on a lot of things.

I think "jogging" is bogus - I RAN my first half marathon at 9:30 pace - I didn't tell people after I "jogged" it - I RAN it because I didn't bike or walk it! Running is running - it's moving faster than walking in my opinion!

Running then walking (or running faster, then slower) is interval training. It's very effective in building up endurance and in time, overall speed. I've never found that running slower without stopping has had greater effect on calorie burn or weight loss than interval running. I think it's just easier to measure.

One more!! SO true.

This is the one I have on my motivational board:

http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com...VHgpx1jv_c.jpg