Jogging to Elliptical and back again... what happened???

So, I have never been able to jog... never had the endurance for it.  Back in January, I started jogging.  At first I could only go 2 minutes at a time.  But, since this has always been so hard for me, it was the perfect exercise because it allowed me to really gage my progress.  After jogging 4 days a week for 6 months, I was finally to the point that I could do a 2 mile loop and be able to jog the majority of it, taking only a couple short walking breaks.  

But I got to the point where the backs of my knees always hurt when I was sitting down.  My hubby is a doctor and said that this could be a bad sign, and that I should take a break.  I took a couple months off, but that made me feel like a slug, so I started doing the Elliptical.  I've done 40 minutes, 3 times a week, on a fairly high intensity and resistance setting. I had read on here that the elliptical is just as good of a workout, actually burns more calories, and can even make jogging easier if/when you go back.

So, this morning, I got it in my head that I would go jogging again since I had given my body a break.   I was all excited because I thought that since I had been doing resistance and inclines on the Elliptical at a good pace that jogging a flat surface would come easier and that I might even be able to do the full 2 miles.

I jogged 5 minutes (literally, I was timing it) and felt like I was about to die.  I was having those side cramps and couldn't breathe well and my legs were burning and I was sweating and it was just all bad.  Where did my endurance go?????? I worked so hard for 6 months to get it and now it is just gone? Really?

Could it be for my body that jogging is just better exercise?  I don't want to have screwed up knees by age 25, but I want to be fit. And getting off that treadmill, I felt anything but "in shape." 

Advice? Help? Thanks!

Have you ever been fitted for running shoes at a store that specializes in running? I ask this b/c they also do a little analysis of watching you run first / determine your your pronation. Perhaps you need better shoes that match your style of running as well as your needs (extra cushioning, or balance, etc.)

Also, have you ever had anyone observe you running and provide feedback? I have seen numerous people with poor form and wonder how they aren't in pain afterwards...perhaps you have formed some habits that you haven't realized and a little feedback could help correct it.

As for calories burned, elliptical are really good but running is still way more efficient. I primarily alternate between the two and use a strapped heart rate monitor for both (never go by the readout on the machines, by the way - - they are way off, even the ones that are programmable and with HRMs).   I don't want to diminish the elliptical - it is a great workout when you keep up the incline and resistance.  But I burn over 600 calories per hour running a 10 min mile, and only about 425 per hour after a REALLY hard elliptical workout. The elliptical  does use different muscles - it can help with running but isn't the same.  

Have you tried a couch to 5K program (there's one here on the fitness forum that's great)?  I'm sure if you take it slow and steady, you will quickly rebuild your ability.  But I would limit the running to a few days a week and use the elliptical or other cardio the other days -- you don't want to overdue it.  Good luck!

Ellips are easier than running. Ellips are considered low impact. Running is high impact. People often use the handlebars as leverage, pushing themselves along..not to mention..using them to rest, even as they are still moving. One way to increase your burn on an elliptical is to do interval training. Alternate High intensity and speed with low for set amount of time. Try doing it without holding on to the handlebars...helps strengthen your core since you are constantly trying to stay balanced.

Besides the elliptical being easier, I think they make you overstride. Your body gets used to it, so then when you actually run you end up over striding.

Try shortening your stride and keep a high turnover. 180 steps per minute is ideal. The closer you land to under your center of gravity the better. This should feel more efficient, because it is.

A lot of runner's agree that running slowly (jogging?) promotes bad form. Forum talking about it.

the elliptical does nothing for your cardio, all it does is pretty much warm your body.. because the elliptical is not a natural movement your legs or body makes, it isn't as effective as running. i try to stay away from the elliptical

Paulinka, cardio= aerobic exercise= your heart rate being between 70-80% of it's max.

You can thrash around on the floor and if your rate reaches 70-80% of it's max you are doing cardio.

I'm actually having the same problems now with the knees. I love using the treadmill and alternating between running and walking, but I've had to opt for the elliptical lately because my knees have been killing me for about 3 weeks after a good regular run. I don't really have any advice other then I know your frustrations. I just say to myself that it's better to get "some" activity in rather then none at all. Either way you are doing your heart/mind/ and body well.

It may be the shoes you are using, I am questioning mine, but who knows? It could be something worse then I can imagine and I'm not going to have my knees snap in half until I know for sure. Heh. I'm also flat footed which I have read is more troublesome for runners. Are you as well, perhaps?

Like I said I can't really give you any advice, but to lend support and let you know that I totally feel your pain. (quite literally. :/)

Original Post by paulinka:

the elliptical does nothing for your cardio, all it does is pretty much warm your body.. because the elliptical is not a natural movement your legs or body makes, it isn't as effective as running. i try to stay away from the elliptical

 This makes no sense.

Original Post by paulinka:

the elliptical does nothing for your cardio, all it does is pretty much warm your body.. because the elliptical is not a natural movement your legs or body makes, it isn't as effective as running. i try to stay away from the elliptical

Huh? What? If elliptical does nothing, then how come after 3+ months of using it 6 days a week I have increased endurance and my heart rate doesn't skyrocket anymore from light exercise? Not to mention I've lost 25 pounds so far ... I love the elliptical! It doesn't give me side cramps I get from running.

Did you get this information from somewhere crediable or pull it out of thin air?

Original Post by anemos:

Original Post by paulinka:

the elliptical does nothing for your cardio, all it does is pretty much warm your body.. because the elliptical is not a natural movement your legs or body makes, it isn't as effective as running. i try to stay away from the elliptical

Huh? What? If elliptical does nothing, then how come after 3+ months of using it 6 days a week I have increased endurance and my heart rate doesn't skyrocket anymore from light exercise? Not to mention I've lost 25 pounds so far ... I love the elliptical! It doesn't give me side cramps I get from running.

Did you get this information from somewhere crediable or pull it out of thin air?

 I'm guessing Cosmo.

Original Post by silentdeadlyrose:

I'm also flat footed which I have read is more troublesome for runners. Are you as well, perhaps?

YES!!!! I am actually.  I have collapsed arches.  I've heard that Nike makes special shoes for people with this, and I may just have to break down and buy them (I'm a PhD student and have managed to not starve to death thanks to coupons and happy hour dinner specials...I can hardly bring myself to spend $130 on running shoes when they always have some on clearance for $40!)

Wow, that makes me really happy to know that this has happened to someone else.  Thanks for sharing!  :)  If I do break down and get the shoes, I'll let you know if they help at all. 

Original Post by jessrene:

Wow, that makes me really happy to know that this has happened to someone else.  Thanks for sharing!  :)  If I do break down and get the shoes, I'll let you know if they help at all. 

 I would like that. Thank you. :)

have you ever actually compared them? i have..

i used to be able to run for about 20 minutes straight on 6.0mph

i did the elliptical for about 4 months and did only a short warm up on the treadmill..

then 4 months later, it was very hard to do 20 minutes straight on 6.0mph.. i could only do about 12. btw, there have been tons of debates which is better. its not like its obvious ellipticals are just magnificent and perfect. although they are low impact, they dont help your running ability, especially if you already aren't in shape. if you are training to run and become a better running, its obvious that a treadmill (since it is basically running) will be much more effective than an elliptical. maybe i just have a bias towards ellipticals because they dont help me at all. sure i did lose weight when i was on that elliptical, but its not like my cardio vasular endurance improved. it actually decreased. keep doing it sure. i'm just puttng in my 2 cents. why mess with perfection. go run outside, or on a treadmill. plus, the treadmill made me feel better. 

btw i have problems with my shins (shin splints) and it is true, the elliptical helps but.. maybe i'm just addicted to real running.

Nobody is saying there isn't a difference between the two. We are just disputing the fact that you said the elliptical isn't cardio. Anything is cardio if you elevate your heart rate.

Personally I have seen my endurance increase dramatically from using the elliptical. Between last years soccer season and this years, the elliptical is pretty much all I did for cardio, and I guarentee I have noticed a vast difference between this year and last. But of course, everyone is different.

I think the problem is a lot of people also don't up the resistance on the elliptical. It's obviously not going to be a great workout on a low level. I use about a level 12 resistance and trust me, it's way harder than running for 30 minutes.

Couple of points...

No offense to your husband, but if my doctor told me that I should take a break from running due to knee pain, I'd question more about what exactly was wrong.  If I couldn't get an answer that I liked, I'd ask for a referral to a sports medicine specialist.  Or I'd just go find my own specialist in the first place.

Second, if you haven't been fitted properly for shoes, I'd advise talking to a store that specializes in running equipment.  Someone that can watch your gait as you run, and can advise you on the correct shoes for your feet.  You don't have to buy from there if you can't afford it, but they should be able to steer you to some appropriate shoes and give some reasons why.  Other people might suggest barefoot running, but I'm not one of those types.  :)  Plus the 2 inches of snow this morning would have been much less comfortable to run in...

Third, running is a high impact activity, the elliptical is low impact.  They also use different muscles, I'd assume.  So just because your cardio system can handle it, doesn't mean your legs and joints are ready to pick up where you left off.  Start with the basics again, and you should be able to get back up to where you were before pretty quickly.

So I'm agreeing with a few other posts out there... :)  With the suggestion to speak to a sports medicine specialist if you continue to have problems.

Clint

Not going to address your knee problems from a distance, but training effects are very activity specific. There is some general  carryover in cardio fitness from one modality to the other (which you would probably discover if you stick with the running. So, you are going to be able to jump into a new activity at the same level as the one you are accustomed to--that would be true for stairmaster, bike, swimming, etc.

I once spent a winter training on my regular road bike on a wind trainer. I was sure that when I hit the road in the spring I would be in full gear, so to speak.

Didn't happen. There was just enough of a difference in body angle, in "bracing" against the wind, that it took a couple of weeks to really feel comfortable on the road.

It could also be that you are not working at the same intensity on the elliptical as you do when you run.