Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
Divorce, Maintenance, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence
When I was younger and more people knew that I did a lot of running, I often used to get questions about running. One of the most common was, “I run all the time, but I don’t really lose weight”. It is hard to find a polite way to tell somebody that instead of running they are just trotting along.
I was reminded of this recently when I spent a bit of time on an athletics track and decided to run some 50 metre sprints as well as 400 metre times. I was shocked to discover that the 57.5 seconds that I could run 400 metres in, and I was not truly fit at that time when I was 16 or 17, has suddenly become 80 seconds – in other words, I am almost half a minute slower. When you do run like that however, you very quickly realise how sore that type of running actually is. Your legs ache, your lungs burn and you collapse as you go over the finish line because you have given it your all. It is exercise where you give it your all, where you push yourself, where you hurt yourself and it leads to progress and development and if you merely trot along you will not achieve very much at all.
I think trotting along is better than doing nothing – maybe it will improve your lung function by 20%, but you are not going to ever get the benefits that everyone talks about that you get when you run. I don’t think that is different though to anything – if you go and lift weights, the only way your muscles will get stronger and certainly bigger, is if you lift a high enough weight to tear your muscle. I am sure that is where the expression, “No pain, no gain” comes from – but it is absolutely true. If the exercise you are doing is something that is not hurting you very much at all, then it means you are not really challenging yourself and you are not really achieving anything. Yes, I think it is better to trot than to just walk and it is better to walk than just to sit, but if you want to try and see what it feels like to run, go to a track and try and run 400 metres as fast as you can, so that when you finish it you, as I did, lie down on your back on the track before you recover and then you will know what it is truly like to actually run!
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Monday 14-Aug-17
Post a Comment
Comments
Prishani said:
on Monday 04-Sep-17 03:16 PM
I agree that trotting along is far better than doing nothing. I am always teased by my family because I am not the best runner and to come to think of it I actually need to take exercising on a daily basis more seriously! Even if it means just trotting along.
Cornelie said:
on Monday 04-Sep-17 08:58 AM
Im not a big runner at all I have always been trotting along, I feel you can go so much further than running your lungs out.
Zanell said:
on Thursday 31-Aug-17 04:58 PM
If you jog and someone is running at a fast pace the person who is jogging will burn more calories because your heart rate goes up and down instead of going at a consist fast pace. You will obviously have to push yourself the better you get and start running further.
Sinead said:
on Thursday 31-Aug-17 04:44 PM
Even if you are trotting, you are one better than the next guy potato-ing on the couch... I still have to train myself to breathe properly while running. I run out of breath so easily and that is really sad because I am not a smoker.
I really need to get back into running. However, I have been told time and time again that cardio is the slowest way to lose weight. You need to do HIIT and that is what is burns fat the fastest...
Ashleigh said:
on Friday 25-Aug-17 08:28 AM
I think a mixture of running and trotting in between is the way to go.
Nicolle said:
on Wednesday 23-Aug-17 08:26 PM
Oh! My! Gosh! I love runners! They are all so enthusiastic and excited about being "one with the road" (road runners right?). They may also tell how how absolutely invigorating, thrilling and satisfying it is to take a run! About how they are working towards beating their best personal time: 'one second at a time.'
You know what I like? I like driving past said runners on my way to work, and, I am always left wondering: "How is it possible that I will make it to work JUST on time, when you are still here, running, like it isn't almost 8 o'clock." ... "OH! that's right, said runners are generally the self-employed, or, otherwise 'home executives' types. I honestly envy them, getting to run like that, freely, without inhibitions.
Liz said:
on Wednesday 23-Aug-17 08:12 AM
I've been preferring to jog lately as opposed to running just because of how hard you actually have to push yourself to get results. I've often heard that running is the only exercise that guarantees results and so the initial pain will be all worth it in the end.
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Tuesday 22-Aug-17 03:39 PM
I was super active in school i did all the sport in school.Running is the best exercise for me i will definitely start running again.at the end of the day any exercise is better than no exercise.
Thabitha said:
on Monday 21-Aug-17 02:19 PM
I must say I prefer to walk or run than to trot more especially if I want to loose weight or when I am sad
Mathilda said:
on Monday 21-Aug-17 10:18 AM
I love exercise, after a long day at work all I need is a session at the gym
I just feel so much better knowing I’m looking after my body and when you see results it motivates you even more
I personally think if you are running you should do it on an incline and also trotting is a waste of time, I will always spring for 2 min and jog for 1 min and I’ll do this for 10 min and then I’ll do steps
Melissa van Tellingen said:
on Friday 18-Aug-17 04:34 PM
I was super active in school. I was part of the athletics team and played netball. I just don't see how people make time for going to the gym. I get home at 18:20 and then I have to start dinner for me and my husband, pack lunch, do dishes and wash the washing. I know I'll have to start making time for it though. I feel like working and being a wife is a 24 hour job.
melindi said:
on Friday 18-Aug-17 04:29 PM
Opposed to running, I think strength training is the best way to loose weight as even when you're done, your body still burns calories. Best way to boost one's metabolism.
Nicky said:
on Thursday 17-Aug-17 04:53 PM
I have experienced that running downhill faster puts lots of pressure on ones knees, so I prefer sprinting over short distances as opposed to longer distance running/jogging.
Jadine Richards said:
on Wednesday 16-Aug-17 02:12 PM
Exercise is a bit of a sore topic for me, no pun intended. I have never been a fan of exercising. However, I am aware that at some stage I will have to start doing so. However , if adequate results can be attained by pushing yourself to the max over a shorter time period then I think I could see that being a possibility.
Helen said:
on Wednesday 16-Aug-17 08:21 AM
I would also agree with this blog, Some kind of walking - trotting is better then sitting and become lazy! And Yes running does not make you loos weight - but it is great cardio and improves breathing too. Running - " trotting" always gave me lots of energy for the day and positivism. I need to stop looking for excuses and start running again!!
brumilde said:
on Wednesday 16-Aug-17 08:20 AM
oh this reminds me again, winter is almost over time to get on those treatmills and try and loose some of the winter fatty blackets we put on. at the end of the day any exercise is better than no exercise
Zindy said:
on Wednesday 16-Aug-17 08:01 AM
I definitely think running makes you lose weight but not running for 5 minutes. You need to at least to get your heart pumping above normal heart rates. Yes any form of exercise is good but not going to help you loose weight if you don't try harder . You get what you give.
Angelique P said:
on Wednesday 16-Aug-17 07:33 AM
It's always so funny to me to see the people that's walking/trotting along the side of the road. Most of them are trotting so slow they can rather walk. I don't think that benefits a person at all. You need to get tired and sweat to know that you have done something to burn some calories. I always feel good if I am sore the next day from my exercise then I know I had a proper workout.
Jadine E said:
on Wednesday 16-Aug-17 07:02 AM
Trotting is better then nothing.
Melissa said:
on Tuesday 15-Aug-17 03:57 PM
I believe that running is the best exercise that one can do to stay fit and it also works every muscle in your body. I also think that running is a stress reliever.
Henrietta said:
on Tuesday 15-Aug-17 01:41 PM
I have to agree with this blog, trotting is better than walking and walking is better than sitting. Basically a little exercise is better than nothing. I also agree that if you don't feel your lungs burning or muscles aching then you have not really done your best and achieved anything. I can remember that feeling when I did cross country running in school. I don't think I will ever be able to do cross country running again.
Michelle said:
on Tuesday 15-Aug-17 10:03 AM
I think any form of exercise is good and just as everything in life that has pros and cons, so does running. But it’s better to do something than nothing at all.
Joyce said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 05:15 PM
I also think if unable to run then at least trotting, better than doing nothing at all.
Jolene said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 03:59 PM
I was more of a short distance runner I never enjoyed long distance running. I dread doing cardio, I will rather do extra weights than to run a few minutes on the treadmill. I don’t mind walking, but really running as you explained is another thing.
Daniella said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 11:18 AM
If someone is running to loose weight I heard that the best way to do it is interval running, by going really fast for 2 minutes and walk to 1 minute by doing so you are increasing an decreasing your heart rate and burning more fat. For me personally I don't enjoy running I feel as though it really does damage your joints and I would rather swim laps as there is no pressure being put on to your body.
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 09:42 AM
Running is the best cardio. I don't really enjoy running after I haven't been running in a while. I find when you smoke your lung capacity makes a huge difference. I find that I usually start out jogging or trotting as it builds up to me eventually being able to run without being out of breath. I think one should also try out the treadmill and do high-intensity interval training - jogging, then sprinting your fastest for a minute, walking and starting all over. Get that heart rate up and continuously do this and before you know it you might be able to run better/faster!
Liesl said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 09:33 AM
I enjoyed athletics when I was at school and always competed in relays, 100 and 50 meter sprints but was not too keen on cross country and so on but still competed therein now and then. It's probably one of the best forms of exercise to gain good results in respiratory fitness
Nina said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 09:07 AM
I enjoy running a few times a week if possible. I also believe it is better to work in a sprint or two in between the jogging if you really want to get fit. But obviously any running is better than nothing.
Alexis said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 08:28 AM
Cannot comment ion same as I do not run. However I have heard that a 20 min brisk walk everyday is good for a person - si I try to get in as much walking as possible
Bianca Ruskin said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 08:23 AM
Running instead of a brisk walk can also be extremely harmful to your knees. One needs to ensure that you are wearing the appropriate shoes for your activity, you would ideally need a shoe that takes the shock away from your feet and knees. I honestly prefer to do a brisk walk on the treadmill or around our estate to a run.
Natasha said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 08:10 AM
I think running is the best cardio you can do and you need to change your route uphill downhill to get results if you run the same path everyday at the same phase you wont see a big result, and it doesn't help you just walk fast
Jessica Apfel said:
on Monday 14-Aug-17 07:56 AM
I do believe that running is the best form of exercise. I personally enjoy running a half or full marathon every now and then, and yes I do agree - you need to up the antic if you want to see any results.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
