With the good weather we all long for fresh air and try to get fitter by jogging and runing. The two are actually very different activities: “jogging” refers to a slow-paced run, carried out with minimun effort, that aims to increase the wellness feeling without the physical stress of an actual run. Running has to be practiced only following an adequate preparation and some basics prerequisites: a medical exam, a normal weight, suitable clothing and a good pair of shoes.

How to start

A lot of sport stores and sport associations can offer the basic theoretical advice on running. It is important to remember that, to obtain a real physical change, the excercise must be paired with a controlled diet rich in proteins, fruit and vegetables. According to a recent research, the best results are achieved while training in the countryside or in a field.

It’s also very important to check your BMI (Body Mass Index) before you start running: it should be under 27 (for men) or under 25 (for women), otherwise you may want to star with a less intense training. You can calculate your BMI dividing your weight (in kg) by the square of your height (in metres). Based on this formula, the World Health Organization classifies the BMI into 4 categories:

• underweight (BMI under 19)
• medium (BMI between 19 and 24)
• overwight (BMI between 25 and 30)
• obesity (BMI over 30)