The difference between jogging and running can be boiled down to a few defining factors, such as pace, movement, and mindset. Running, for example, requires longer strides, while jogging is characterized by a bouncing motion.
Various experts and some studies have evaluated the differences. One study, in particular, showed that jogging may be better for your health than running at a faster pace. Professional runners have even been known to take offense if someone tells them they are jogging. People often say that jogging is not as good for the body as running. So what is the difference between running and jogging?
jogging vs running
Jogging and running, both considered aerobic exercises, are often used interchangeably, but take a closer look and you'll be able to spot the differences. For starters, running is faster. The key difference between running and jogging has to do with intensity. Running requires more effort from the muscles, the heart and the lungs. In other words, runners generally have a higher level of fitness.
We could say that the differences between running and jogging go beyond the physical. Runners may also have a different mindset. For example, runners may be more goal-oriented, while joggers have a more casual approach. They may be happy to stay at a leisurely pace, while runners are wary of their speed and committed to a specific goal.
speed and intensity
The most obvious differences that can be seen between jogging and running is in speed and intensity. One can see just by looking that jogging is a less strenuous exercise. Experts say that the speed that defines a runner of a runner is about 10 kilometers, or a pace of 1 kilometers in 5 minutes. Runners run at a more moderate pace, easy enough that they can breathe properly and carry on a conversation while jogging. They could even jog for hours if the pace is easy enough. With light movements, jogging is easier on the knees because runners don't have to lift their legs and knees as much and their steps are shorter.
Running would have to be much more intense and require faster speeds. It requires you to have a steady pace because to achieve the time or mileage you want, you have to focus on your breathing. Any speed greater than 12 kilometers per hour, or 1 kilometers traveled in more than 5 minutes, is considered a race. Running requires more energy from your muscles, lungs, and heart to keep up with the faster pace. In addition to longer steps and faster arm movements.
Differences in mindset
Runners and joggers tend to have different mindsets about exercise. Runners tend to be more focused on getting runs regularly and often compete in races. Joggers just go outside or get on the treadmill because they love it.
Runners tend to focus more on speed and other goals, while jogging is for more casual exercisers. In other words, it may take more mental energy to be a runner, rather than a jogger. This informal approach may actually be better for your health. Because you're not putting as much mental stress on your body by jogging instead of running, we'll be able to release some physical and mental tension, which can lead to reduced anxiety. Psychologists believe that jogging is an excellent option to deal with depression.
Brain researchers have found that those who even go for a short jog in the morning are more productive at work than their peers who don't exercise. These two types of physical activities also help boost creativity when you're feeling a mental block.
Jogging is better for health
Now you know that running and jogging have their differences, but is one better than the other? The answer: yes. A 2015 study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that jogging can add years to our lives, while running does not.
The study followed 5.000 participants and analyzed their pacing. The health and mortality of the participants were followed for the next 12 years. The results: 28 of the joggers and 128 of the runners died. The researchers concluded that moderate-intensity runners had a lower risk of mortality than strenuous runners.
Furthermore, the fact that the sedentary participants had the same death rate as the fast-paced runners suggests that the benefits of aerobic exercise reach a certain limit, after which they diminish. The bottom line: Going for a moderate-intensity run a few times a week can improve life expectancy, among other benefits.
Differences in body movement
One of the main differences between jogging and running has to do with body movement. Jogging has a bouncing cadence, while running is made up of longer strides and faster arm movements. Because running requires longer strides and the arm movements that accompany it, it often requires more physical effort.
Jogging, on the other hand, can be compared to brisk walking. The impact on the joints and muscles is less harsh. Also, you may be able to keep running over longer distances and times.
If you're new to exercise and want to do more than just walk, you might be wondering what the difference is between running and jogging. For starters, people who don't run tend to consider themselves runners. The main thing that runners do is move enough, to the point that they are not considered walking. They don't lift your legs as much because jogging requires less energy from your body than running. It's known that runners move with more bounce than joggers because they don't have to use the ball of their feet when landing.
Runners have a more distinctive shape as they require more power from the body. To begin with, the knees should be more in line with the toes. Professionals are trained to put their feet on their heels, but doctors have shown that it can increase the chances of a foot injury. It causes less injury when landing on the midfoot and also helps improve speed. Also, runners should make sure to exhale correctly through the lungs and deliver more power to improve their speed, their arms should not cross their lungs while running, and should remain at a 90 degree angle to the sides. The head, shoulders, and back should also be straight to preserve momentum and speed.
What are the common benefits of jogging and running?
Despite their differences, running and jogging have a lot in common, starting with the health benefits:
- muscle strengthening
- Help maintain weight
- burn calories to lose weight
- Strengthening of the muscles
- build strong bones
They also overlap in several other aspects, including sports equipment (sneakers) and safety precautions (use plenty of sunscreen and stay hydrated).
Although there is research linking faster running to greater health benefits (including a reduced risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes), experts are quick to point out that the results don't prove cause and effect. That means running faster doesn't necessarily cause better health.
In fact, most health experts will tell you that the best exercise for optimal health is the one you're willing to do regularly. And many running coaches combine sprint training (training at a faster pace) with days when your runs involve running a long, slow distance.
The bottom line is that when you decide to call yourself a broker is really a matter of personal preference. There is no pace test or threshold that you must pass to prove that you are a runner. And you don't need to run a race or wear special shoes to become a runner.
If you've been jogging for years and plan to continue jogging, then continue to call it jogging. But if you love the sport (even if you sometimes don't), no matter your pace or experience level, you can proudly call yourself a runner.
