4 ms·

Everything about running is efficient: - you can't cheat and ignore it, you run or you walk (you can coast while biking, you can swim slowly, etc...) - you ca

Everything about running is efficient: - you can't cheat and ignore it, you run or you walk (you can coast while biking, you can swim slowly, etc...) - you can open your door and star running. Mist other sports, you need to go somewhere before you start doing the sport (swimming pool, mountain, dojo, etc...) - no other sport I have done build cardio in a few weeks like running does. Keep in mind that I don't try to promote running, I literally hate it, I just enjoy the results given the low time investment.

randxx 11y ago
I wonder how much longer you'll have to run before you stop repeating your "I hate running" mantra.
douche 11y ago
Running isn't terribly efficient. I can walk at the same rate that most people jog, and I use half as much energy.
- kbenson 11y ago
  The assertion is that it's an efficient exercise, not an efficient form of movement. It's actually an efficient exercise because it's less efficient in terms of movement than alternatives (which were listed).
  - douche 11y ago
    It's boring, painful, and promotes over-use injuries. Most people don't wear proper shoes, or run with proper form, putting extra stress on their joints or striking on their heels. Endurance running isn't great training for anything besides endurance running - any sort of sport-based activity includes lots of short sprints, lateral changes in direction, back-pedaling, jumping, not extended straight-line, moderate-pace running. If pure cardio is what you want, jumping rope is more efficient.
    - dorfsmay 11y ago
      I think jumping rope is even more boring than running + you can cheat by slowing down. I have seriously looked into "running properly" and have tried to run barefoot a lot (which forces you to not heel-strike etc...) but I'm in a cold climate and it physically impossible ot run barefoot in the winter, and I never managed to get used to pebbles! I keep my distance to about ~ 21 km / week max (typically less), which I am thinking is low enough not to do too much damage. All other form of sports you are talking about require me to go somewhere, etc... which burns a lot of time. I enjoy other sports (hiking, swimming, skiing to certain extent, used to sail and do martial arts, ice skating) when I can, but not as regularly, and I'll argue not enough, because of time constraint.
      - joshrotenberg 11y ago
        There are at least a few great shoes out there that will let you run with (more) proper form and still give you some protection from the cold and rocks. Have you given any of them a try? Admittedly, you'll never have as good form in a shoe, but you can get close.
        dorfsmay 11y ago
        Yes, I use slightly oversized Vivo barefoot running shoes.
    - kbenson 11y ago
      I don't really disagree with your points, but I think you are still arguing something slightly different than the original statement. The original supporting points make it obvious that efficiency is referring the the whole of the exercise routine, not just the portion spent exerting yourself. A sport based activity may be a better workout, but you generally don't start that workout as soon as you step out your door. > If pure cardio is what you want, jumping rope is more efficient. I imagine it is. I suspect getting the majority of your exercise doing something the human body has evolved to be extremely efficient at is not the most efficient use of the time, depending on your goal. I think one of the major benefits of running (even though I hate doing it) is its convenience (which sort of ties into how efficiency was being used previously).
dghughes 11y ago
Actually there is a third option the Young Shuffle.
WalterBright 11y ago
I started running regularly about 30 years ago. I hated it for about 5 years, and then began to enjoy it. Now, I look forward to it, enjoy it, and miss it when for some reason I can't. It's not time wasted, either, because I work on my most difficult programming problems while running.

randxx 11y ago

I wonder how much longer you'll have to run before you stop repeating your "I hate running" mantra.

douche 11y ago

Running isn't terribly efficient. I can walk at the same rate that most people jog, and I use half as much energy.

kbenson 11y ago
The assertion is that it's an efficient exercise, not an efficient form of movement. It's actually an efficient exercise because it's less efficient in terms of movement than alternatives (which were listed).
- douche 11y ago
  It's boring, painful, and promotes over-use injuries. Most people don't wear proper shoes, or run with proper form, putting extra stress on their joints or striking on their heels. Endurance running isn't great training for anything besides endurance running - any sort of sport-based activity includes lots of short sprints, lateral changes in direction, back-pedaling, jumping, not extended straight-line, moderate-pace running. If pure cardio is what you want, jumping rope is more efficient.
  - dorfsmay 11y ago
    I think jumping rope is even more boring than running + you can cheat by slowing down. I have seriously looked into "running properly" and have tried to run barefoot a lot (which forces you to not heel-strike etc...) but I'm in a cold climate and it physically impossible ot run barefoot in the winter, and I never managed to get used to pebbles! I keep my distance to about ~ 21 km / week max (typically less), which I am thinking is low enough not to do too much damage. All other form of sports you are talking about require me to go somewhere, etc... which burns a lot of time. I enjoy other sports (hiking, swimming, skiing to certain extent, used to sail and do martial arts, ice skating) when I can, but not as regularly, and I'll argue not enough, because of time constraint.
    - joshrotenberg 11y ago
      There are at least a few great shoes out there that will let you run with (more) proper form and still give you some protection from the cold and rocks. Have you given any of them a try? Admittedly, you'll never have as good form in a shoe, but you can get close.
      - dorfsmay 11y ago
        Yes, I use slightly oversized Vivo barefoot running shoes.
  - kbenson 11y ago
    I don't really disagree with your points, but I think you are still arguing something slightly different than the original statement. The original supporting points make it obvious that efficiency is referring the the whole of the exercise routine, not just the portion spent exerting yourself. A sport based activity may be a better workout, but you generally don't start that workout as soon as you step out your door. > If pure cardio is what you want, jumping rope is more efficient. I imagine it is. I suspect getting the majority of your exercise doing something the human body has evolved to be extremely efficient at is not the most efficient use of the time, depending on your goal. I think one of the major benefits of running (even though I hate doing it) is its convenience (which sort of ties into how efficiency was being used previously).

dghughes 11y ago

Actually there is a third option the Young Shuffle.

WalterBright 11y ago

I started running regularly about 30 years ago. I hated it for about 5 years, and then began to enjoy it. Now, I look forward to it, enjoy it, and miss it when for some reason I can't. It's not time wasted, either, because I work on my most difficult programming problems while running.