AMA December Edition: Am I exercising hard enough; is running uniquely beneficial?
You’ll learn: How to figure out what “vigorous exercise” is for you and how much of it you should get; Whether running is uniquely beneficial, and how to balance running and other fitness methods.
Housekeeping:
- This post is for Members, who are curious people who ask good questions. Want the answer to this week’s questions? Become a Member below.
- There will be NO POST on Monday due to the holiday. Because of that, Wednesday’s post will be free for all subscribers.
In today’s AMA, we’ll be tackling two questions:
Last week, we learned an ideal weekly dose for vigorous exercise like rucking and running. As someone new to rucking (just in the past 7 months), how would you define “vigorous”?
I ask because I don’t always have the time for that mileage. I try to make up for it by being more vigorous: more plates in the ruck, or a faster pace. But that doesn’t feel right all the time.
- Do you think running is uniquely beneficial when compared to other forms of vigorous exercise?
Great questions.
In the first answer, I explain:
- How different studies define vigorous exercise.
- What qualifies as vigorous exercise.
- Some issues with how we think of and approach vigorous exercise and what that means for you.
- How you can determine and measure the intensity of exercise that is vigorous for you (it depends on your age).
- Ideal amounts of vigorous exercise and how to weave it into your routine.
In the second answer, I explain:
- Some upsides of running.
- Some downsides of running.
- How running compares to other popular “cardio” exercises.
- Exercises that may be uniquely good for humans.
- How to use the information to determine what your exercise routine should look like for general health span and longevity.
Recall that we voted to have AMAs be off-the-cuff podcast answers rather than written pieces. Audio is below.
A quick sponsor love fest
Our sponsors make the best products in their categories. I used their products before I launched this project.
- GORUCK: Maker of the best rucking gear (not stuff).
- Maui Nui Venison: Provider of the world’s healthiest meat (the research, linked here, is insane).
- Momentous Nutrition: The company that made me feel good about supplements again. It’s trusted by the US Military and most pro sports teams.
Discount codes: 10EASTER for GORUCK and EASTER for Maui Nui and Momentous.
