Now I know what you’re saying that’s not a fun outdoor activity, that’s just exercise disguised as a fun outdoor activity. Well, yes and no. First, we’ll address the fact that yes, it is exercise. But that doesn’t have to be such a bad thing! Exercise is so good for you. Not only for your heart and your metabolism and your muscles and probs your brain and a ton of other stuff (I don’t know, Jim, I’m a blogger, dammit, not a doctor), but also for that summer bod we all want. You gotsta have that cardio. And for those of you thinking you’ll need 24 hour emergency roadside assistance St Catharines Ontario to pick you up after you’ve passed out trying to run, don’t worry, ’cause one of the great things about jogging is that you can totally dictate your own pace!

And of all the cardio you could do, really, I think that jogging outside is the best. It’s so much better than being on a treadmill or an elliptical or something inside a sweaty gym. And it’s free! Which is a huge bonus. I don’t need to pay to go somewhere to run on the spot, watching some cooking show, when I can run through parks and along gorgeous trails in the fresh air and the sunshine. Further, if I’m not mistaken, it’s actually a better workout to run outside, too, because of the unevenness of the ground. Granted, that can also cause people to fall, so, like … do be careful.

Another great thing about running outside is that you soak up that all-important vitamin D, and also work on a great tan! People honestly pay good money for little bottles of vitamin D drops (trust me, I am one of those people in the winter time … Canada generally doesn’t see a whole ton of sunshine in from December to like … March), and you could be getting it for FREE in the summer sunshine! What a win! And that tan!

Not everyone has time to lay perfectly still in their backyard making sure every bit of them is evenly toasted, and even fewer people (I hope) have the desire to go to a tanning bed. But we all want that sun-kissed glow. So why not go jogging and kill a bunch or birds with one stone, getting the exercise, the body-toning, and the bronzing in all in one go!

Now for the second accusation, that jogging isn’t fun, but just exercise disguised as fun, totes false. I love jogging. And it’s such a versatile activity! You can change up your route, you can listen to music or podcasts or just the sweet singing of the birds, and you can even run with a buddy or two.

Jogging releases endorphins, and when you mix that with being outside in the sunshine, how could you not be the happiest bear in the woods as you make your way casually through your neighbourhood, maybe chatting to the friend you’ve got running beside you. And then, when you’re done, you feel so super accomplished. Like you can get up in the morning and go for a run, and even if you do nothing at all productive for the rest of the day, the day still counts. So get off the couch and go for a jog. You won’t regret it!