Jogging is a big ‘waist’ of time
Running for fat loss is a big waist of time (get it?). Let’s clarify that statement a bit. Sprinting is a fantastic tool to be used in the arsenal of the intermediate to advanced practitioner, who want to use it to either ditch some excess bodyfat or to build a V8 engine that can dole out some powerful athleticism. But what happens when someone who doesn’t run regularly decides that they want ‘to lose some weight’? The common practice is to start putting some miles in on the roads around their house or work. But is going from zero miles to pounding the pavement, to lose bodyfat, a good idea? The answer is no. Increased bodyfat percentage, shin splints, sore ankles, knee trauma and low back pain are just a few of the prizes you can win if you decide that you’re going to use running as your initial fat loss strategy.
The big problem from a mechanical point of view is that when someone runs, even at a slow pace, they can be receiving the equivalent loading of two to four times their bodyweight with every foot strike. So for each knee and ankle that is four to eight times the load it is normally used to when walking, whilst the lumbar gets off lightly with only two to four times the load it normally carries. At a moderate pace you’d be achieving 120 – 140 foot falls a minute, which brings a whole new understanding to the term ‘pounding the pavements’. If you’re already carrying ‘extra mass’ then the loads that your joints are subjected to can be quite brutal.
On top of all of that, if the running mechanics aren’t up to par you can be doing all manner of damage to your chassis. And just think of how many people you know who put in three to four 6 mile runs a week and are still packing excess padding. Surely if distance running was good for fat loss these guys would be ripped? And then think of the more dedicated runners you know, who don’t bat an eyelid at doing three or four 12 milers a week. They tend to be a bit on the skinny side for doing the beach parade.
At this point you may be thinking that I’m part of the anti-running brigade, but that isn’t the case. During the sunnier times of the year I’ll include in my own training sprints (hill and grass) and 3 mile runs for best time. I have a personal belief that if Sabretooth tigers were to somehow, Jurassic Park style, be placed in urban populations that we should all have the ability to run to the nearest tree/lamppost and get up the damn thing (same goes for the Zombie Apocalypse!).
We evolved to be able to run fast for short periods or to walk, pretty much, forever. But the general population have become so de-conditioned that we need to ‘train up’ to being able to run. Our mechanics and connective/shock absorbing tissues just aren’t up to the job if we were to just decide, after a year of watching X-Factor, to do a 3 mile run outside our house.
So, my personal belief is that running both for distance and speed should be considered ‘life skills’ that everyone can access if needed. But if we’re looking to use running as a fatloss method, we need to primarily be using sprinting and most of us need to build up to that with some form of progressive resistance training.
Be StrongFirst, and fast forever!