Now that warmish weather is upon us, it’s time to think about how to get back into the jogging habit! I’ll admit it. During the winter I slacked off completely on jogging and all of that pesky cardiovascular stuff. I mainly went snowboarding. Well, I also made snow angels, but I don’t know if that counts as a cardiovascular type of sport. Wait? Does that count? Winter aerobics??? …Never mind.

Tangents aside, if you’re like me, it’s time to consider getting back into jogging. It’s a bit of an awkward transition, but it’s worth it. (If I remember correctly.) Here’s some techniques to get back into jogging shape and make those sessions as comfortable as possible.

Jogging is good zombie apocalypse preparation, by the way.

-Start slow. One of the tendencies of people getting back into jogging is that they push too hard the first time, and then ruin the experience for the rest of the season. Starting slow and steady lets the body warm up, and makes the initial sessions less uncomfortable.

-Pick out a special time. Making a specially designated time is a great way to add motivation to the proceedings. Hey, you alreay put aside the time, so you might as well jog. Am I right?

-Jog with others. One of the most fundemantal parts of human psychology that we don’t fully understand is that people will push themsleves harder and farther in the presence of others. We don’t ask questions here, though. Find a jogging buddy, and get better results.

There. There’s a few basic tips. My personal return to jogging is likely to be laughable, so I’ll provide updates and further insights as I progress. Who knows? Jogging is a great way to increase cardiovascular fitness and endurance, so maybe I’ll give myself over to the process and hope for the best.