Jumping rope vs running…
In this article
Is one better than the other for getting in great shape?
Well, if you’ve been indoctrinated by decades of cardio-loving experts, then you might be surprised to find out that running, unless you’re training for a specific race, is wasting your time and even increasing your risk of injury compared to jumping rope.
Before I get ahead of myself, let me answer a couple of common questions about jumping rope vs running…
Is Jumping Rope Good Cardio?
Absolutely! If you’ve jumped rope for just a few minutes, you’ll understand how challenging it is. Just a few minutes will have you huffing and puffing and that’s because it engages more muscle than running does (think arms, core, and legs).
Since muscle requires oxygen (ideally) to produce energy, the more muscle involved in an activity, the more oxygen you need to bring into your body. That’s why you start breathing more heavily.
From a time perspective, it takes less time for jumping rope vs running to achieve the same benefits. And because jumping rope requires greater technique, it incorporates more muscles, which also leads to a greater number of calories burned in less time.
Total time jumping rope is far less than total time in a continuous running workout. This results in greater workout intensity and reduced stress from impact on your body.