Skip your next jog : The benefits of skipping vs running
What activity resembles cardio to you? If you said running you're not alone, most people instantly gravitate towards running for their cardio workouts. But times are changing, skipping is becoming more popular and appreciated as a great potential alternative for cardio. In our first blog since launching, we will be discussing which of the two could be better training options and the specific scenarios which impact this.
Setting yourself a goal of an hour of mindless jogging on a treadmill shouldn't be what you think when someone says cardio. All you need is a rope and a few minutes to really feel the burn and impacts of a full body workout and good cardio session.
Efficient fitness, backed by data
A study was held by the Arizona State University, which comprised of 92 male students that were split into two groups:
- One group skipped for 10 minutes a day.
- Whilst the other jogged for 30 minutes a day.
After six weeks, the men took the Harvard Step Test to measure their cardiovascular gain. The results of this showed equal amounts of gain between the two groups
What does this mean? It means that through skipping you can expect to gain the same benefits as running in a third of the time! How's that for efficient training.
Training for fun, anywhere
When you’re comparing skipping and running in terms of workout variety to keep you engaged, there are a number of things a jump rope can offer that running can’t. Such as, learning new tricks and combinations to keep your workouts fun and engaging. With enough space in your garden, you don't even need to leave your home!
The impact on your body
Ask any dedicated runner and they will tell you there is nothing quite like the runners high that you get from smashing a PB. But there are risks to these runs! Take a minute to read through this section of the blog to really understand the potential risks of skipping over running, especially when it comes down to impact on joints like your knees.
With proper form and on a padded surface, skipping puts less stress on your knees than stomping down the pavement when jogging. Running on hard surfaces like concrete can put your joints under stress and can lead to injuries. This is made progressively worse if you have a bad running technique. Don't be deceived by the treadmill, while seemingly safe they can still pose a threat to injury.
What about the impact of skipping
With a good skipping technique, it can be a safer and a more comfortable option for people with injuries or joint pain than jogging. A good technique would never see you slamming your heels down then your toes. This is a leading cause of long-term injuries from running - instead you bounce on the ball of your feet with a slight bend in the knee.
This slight bend in the knee and bounce on the ball of your feet allows your body to absorb the impacts of skipping, which is why it’s a good alternative if you are worried about your joints.
Do they benefit each other
Cross training with running and skipping is a great way to develop your aerobic and anaerobic fitness, whilst helping you become less injury prone. This means you will be able to run for longer and activate bursts of sprints with less energy, while also developing coordination and rhythm to assist with running.
So, you decide which is better
In this post, we've explored the difference between skipping vs running.
We feel that there are benefits to both training styles, and we're in no way advocating that you completely stop running. Not at all. A nice jog in the park or trail run through the forest can offer a lot of benefits.
Running is great. But it is NOT the only option you have.
