Were you out for a jog or a run this morning? Well, if you find that hard to answer, then you are not alone. Both running and jogging are commonly used terms to describe one of the most natural forms of human movement.
The difference between these two activities is subtle, minuscule rather, say experts. The bottom line: running and jogging complement each other and are ways of connecting with yourself through physical exertion.
Understanding the difference between the two can, however, help you pick the one that suits your fitness level, comfort and goals.
One person’s jog is another person’s run
Jogging is a slower version of running. However, you can’t put a fixed number to pace and use that to define the two activities.
“Jog is slow run,” says Dr Rajat Chauhan, a sports medicine, musculoskeletal and pain management specialist from Delhi. “A jog can be a run to someone, and a run can be a jog to someone else.”
Dr Chauhan, who is also an ultramarathon runner and a coach, elaborates on how the definition of both the activities are relative to each other and connected to pace — the individual pace of the runner, and not any specified minutes-per-kilometer mark.
In running, the physical exertion and intensity involved is higher. Over time, once the fitness levels get better, if the person is not pushing the pace, his run would transform into a jog.
“Say, someone goes for a 10km run every day and does not get any faster in terms of speed and continues to do so for years,” says Dr Chauhan. “After the initial few months, the physical benefits start diminishing. In the initial days it feels like a run but when the body is adapting or getting used to it, that run is converted into a jog.”
In effect, if you are a regular runner, your run will over time become a jog unless you keep pushing the pace.
“After a while, you need to be pushing harder,” adds Dr Chauhan. “You need to run a little longer or a faster to get the benefits. And to learn other things, it is to get good at things and avoid plateauing. And to add strength training into the program. And, if you already do, start lifting more while moving slower.”
Jogging vs running: One a prelude to the other
Jogging, a slower version of running, is ideal for beginners.
“Running requires systematic training and gradual progress to higher speed, distance or duration,” says Rohit Tiwari, a personal trainer from Bengaluru. “Jogging can be used to make the graduation from walking as it is closer to the walking form and posture, and is done with small strides.”
While jogging, the person will have better control over the strides. Once the fitness improves, and the strides become refined, the person can graduate from jogging to running by pushing the pace.
“When you’re starting or learning to run, I tell people to start with walking first for some time and gradually move to jogging,” adds Dr Chauhan. “It is because people will get used to the idea of moving faster without running too much and that in turn helps you become more comfortable [while] running.”
Larger purpose of running or jogging
People do run while preparing for a marathon. However, while you end up saying that you ‘ran’ a marathon, the fact is that despite all the training geared towards running better, there are many who end up jogging or walking in the actual race.
“For example, an ultramarathon runner runs for 100km,” says Dr Chauhan. “Most [runners] can’t run 100+ kilometers fast. It becomes about putting your head down and trying to get to the finish. But the pace is markedly slower than, say, a 10, 21 or 43km pace for those who are trained well.”
Pacing is important in running. However, even if your run becomes a jog or vice versa, it doesn’t matter as long as you are tuned into your body and are not overexerting or underperforming. The important point is to enjoy the activity and keep looking at improvement, in synergy with how the body is adapting.
So, did you run or jog this morning? The answer lies within you.
Takeaways
- A jog is a slow run. Physical exertion and intensity are lesser in jogging, compared to running.
- Jogging can be used to graduate from walking since it is closer to the form and posture of walking but with a slightly longer stride and pace.
- You can graduate to running after refining the jogging stride and then slowly pushing the pace.
