The Difference Between Jogging And Running: How To Burn Calories The Best Way

A common belief among people is that jogging or running is a fast way to shed fat. Not only that the belief is somewhat inaccurate but that most people do not pay much attention to the difference between running and jogging—both for their effects and for how they are executed.

Although running and jogging are somewhat similar activities, they differ in the pace. If the activity is performed at a pace or speed of more than 6 miles per hour, then the activity is considered as running. If the speed is below 6 miles per hour, then it's considered jogging.

The confusion stems from the fact that most people do not know that there is a speed difference between the two. A jog at near six mph may be fast enough to be considered as running.

There are other differences between two regarding how your muscles react to each and the number of calories you burn during and after the exercise.

Jogging Vs. Running: The Number Of Calories You Burn

People have hailed jogging as one of the most efficient methods of burning calories. It is a cardio exercise—one that elevates the rate of your heart. Cardio exercises are among the most efficient calorie burners.

Running, however, has been proven by some studies to be superior to jogging when it comes to burning calories. A person who weighs 150 pounds, for instance, will burn 91 calories after jogging for 10 minutes. The same individual, however, will burn as much as 130 calories for the same duration.

A high-intensity form of running has been demonstrated to cause a large caloric expenditure compared to regular jogging. If your goal is to burn as many calories as you can for your weight loss program, then surely running is a better choice.

Post Workout Caloric Expenditure

Workouts, especially cardio exercises, do not just affect the person as he or she engages in it. In fact, cardio exercises allow the body to burn extra calories after the workout.

The number of calories one burns depends on the oxygen consumption during a workout. The more intense a workout is (that is, the more it pushes a person past his or her physical comfort zone and near his or her limits) the more calories one burns from it.

Jogging neither consumes as much oxygen as running nor does it require a person to push past his or her comfort zone. Running, on the other hand, is a very demanding activity and causes a significant caloric expenditure after the workout.

Impact On The Legs

Before choosing between the two, one must first consider how jogging and running differ when it comes to how each impact the legs. The legs have its limits when it comes to the impact it can absorb. Most people do not suffer from the consequences of a short-term impact made on the legs.

Over time, however, this impact causes injuries that are sometimes irreversible.

Between the two, jogging places less a burden to the legs than running. That is because jogging is a consistent and low-impact activity. Running, on the other hand, requires a lot of energy. The force needed to speed a person is the very same force that acts upon the legs.

Older individuals who want to engage in a cardio exercise may opt for jogging instead of run. Remember that an activity is considered jogging when the speed is below 6 miles per hour. People who have issues with the legs and joints can jog at a relatively comfortable pace minimizing the impact to the legs.

Younger people can engage in running although they must take some necessary precaution to lessen the impact on the joints. One such precaution is to limit the activity to 2-3 times a week.

Young people are capable of repairing their bones at a fast rate. Thus, one needs not worry about the microfractures sustained during running as long as it is not performed at a close interval.

Things To Consider

Whether you choose to engage in running or jogging, be sure to always start with a warm-up exercise preferably 5-10 minutes. This will prepare your muscles and minimizes the damage from an impact for a prolonged period.

In addition, you are more likely to sustain the exercise for an extended period if you gradually increase your heart rate through a warm up.

Conclusion

Before choosing either running or jogging, it is important that you know the difference. At its core, they both differ from the speed. Anything done at less than 6 miles per hour is consider jogging. On the other hand, an activity is considered running if it exceeds 6 miles per hour.

Both have their sets of advantages and disadvantages. One can benefit from engaging in both of them. The secret, however, lies in striking a perfect balance between the two.