What is jogging?

Like walking, jogging can be done anytime, anywhere, and involves only one person: you. Jogging has all the health benefits of walking-- it conditions the heart, improves muscle tone and strength, relieves stress, and can help with a variety of health problems, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and arthritis. While walking may conjure up all the pleasures of a casual stroll, jogging requires more of a commitment to training and results. It takes discipline to run, but the rewards are measurable improvements in time, distance, endurance and strength.

Advantages of jogging

The number of calories you burn when jogging will vary with the intensity and duration of your workout. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), a 160-pound person will burn around 12.5 calories for each minute of activity. Heavier individuals will burn more calories for the same amount of exercise while a lighter individual will burn less.

Disadvantages of jogging

What some consider being an advantage and others a disadvantage of jogging is the element of competition. Races offer an opportunity to compete with others, not to mention a great opportunity for travelling and socializing. If those aspects of the sport don't appeal to you, you can simply opt out of racing and run with yourself or friends instead.