Telephone Pole Jogging

[20 Minutes]

Jogging is a great way to build the strength and stamina of your heart and lungs. It’s one of the best ways to condition for any sport and almost everyone can do it. The best part is--when you have a buddy to jog with, it’s a lot of fun, too!

You'll need:

• a pair of sneakers • comfortable clothes such as shorts and a tee shirt or sweat pants and sweatshirt • a water bottle filled with cool water • a small fanny pack • a thumb tack • a piece of paper • a pencil

What to do:

1. If possible, print out these directions. Read them through with your child before you begin.
2. With your child, gather everything you’ll need and always remember exercise safety.
3. Look for telephone poles along your road or parkway, choose a course and decide on a start and a finish.
4. Explain to your child that this is not a race. It’s your special conditioning program to get your heart as healthy as possible so it lasts a long time. Also explain that as you continue your Telephone Jogging program, your bodies will get more fit. This means that the jogging will get easier and you’ll have more energy to go even further if you want to.
5. Set a goal for the number of telephone poles you would like to jog back and forth to on your first day. Explain that you will be walking and jogging alternately between poles.
6. On your piece of paper, ask your child to write your names and the words “We made it!!”
7. Put the paper, thumbtack, 1 water bottle in your fanny pack. Let your child decide who will wear the pack.
8. At your starting point, which is be pole # 1, walk moderately at first, gradually picking up speed until you reach the next pole.
9. At pole #2, start to jog very moderately. Try not to talk until you’re halfway to the next pole.
10. Upon reaching pole #3, walk again, either back to pole #2 or on to the next pole. When you reach the pole that is furthest away, pin up your mini-sign to mark your distance. You may wish to take a quick sip of water at this point.
11. When you complete your course, find a comfortable area to stretch out. Refer to the pictures provided for some simple stretches to do after your jog.
12. Drink some water.
13. During your stretch session, talk about your next goal. How many poles can you jog to next time?

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• Do you like to jog? What do you like about it?
• How far do you think the distance is between poles?
• Can you think of another course we could run?