There are few things that are more effective for losing weight, overall fitness, or pure enjoyment than running or jogging. You can run almost anywhere there is ground - grass, hills, pavement, sidewalk, dirt, whatever. In this article, we'll be looking at some important principles to keep in mind when running.

One of the best things you can do to stay motivated is to run with a friend or even a group. There's nothing wrong with jogging alone, but sometimes it can be very helpful to have someone with you to keep you motivated. You are more likely to give it your all when you run with someone else. While talking can become a distraction if you're not careful, it is fun to have someone to talk to. Then again, you may want to save the conversation for when you're finished and just focus on jogging. Having a running partner can keep jogging fun. If you want to be as healthy as possible and stay away from injuries when you are jogging, make sure you take note of the surfaces you are running on. Make sure you keep away from running on steep inclines or on surfaces that are very rocky or that have lots of obstacles. While hills can make your running and jogging routine a little more interesting, you should never run on hills if you aren't skilled at it because you will likely only get hurt. Running up and down steep inclines can really put some pressure on the joints in your legs and feet, and that's why it's best to start out on regular terrain when you begin your routine.

Make sure you drink enough fluids, especially water when you jog. You should give yourself time to digest if you have eaten something - about an hour or two. No confusion about the best thing to drink for hydration - simple water, nothing more or less. Before you begin your jog, you should drink some water but never to the point where you feel bloated in your stomach. If you're properly hydrated and in good health, and you're not running a marathon there's really no need to carry the Gucci water bottle with you unless you're stylish. Post jog hydration is a good idea, and you should only drink water - forget juice or vitamin water or all that other junk - pure water. Proper hydration can prevent all kinds of problems, especially when it's baking hot outside.

In closing, use these running techniques that you just learned about to remain as fit as possible and to keep your motivation up so that you never stray from your running routine plan. Just keep in mind that you always need to keep running as part of your normal routine if you hope to get the most out of it. That's why you must keep your wits and your senses about you when you are running so that you can avoid many of the problems that cause most joggers to give up.

Author's Bio: 

Rick spends a lot of time in Serre Chevalier, France, which is an excellent place to go running and jogging. The air is pure and the weather doesn't get too hot. Read more about Serre Chevalier at http://www.serrechevalier.org .