Someone Finally Explained What Joggers Should Do When Stopped At A Red Light

I know it's cliched, but I love a good run on the streets of New York City. The only thing is, I end up hitting a ton of red lights.

Usually, I come to a full stop at a red light to catch my breath and switch up my music. But I'm not doing my body any favors by stopping.

Jogging in place or stretching seems like the next best thing to do, but do I really want to be that person?

Actually, according to experts, I totally do.

Michele Olson, professor of exercise science at Auburn University Montgomery, told Shape that jogging in place is the best option.

She said,

By all means jog in place. [...] You burn about eight calories a minute jogging in place. So, if you keep moving, you'll keep the calories burning and cardio effort going.

Jogging in place is great for keeping your heart rate up and moving blood to your core and legs. That way, when the light turns green, you're ready to go.

On the other hand, stopping completely slows your heart rate, which makes reaching your ideal running pace more difficult once you start again. It can also cause the blood to pool in your legs, which can make you feel lightheaded. Not fun.

Stretching a bit at a red light is fine, but ultimately, stretching too much during a run makes you more prone to injury. It's not as bad as stopping completely, but it's not as good for you as jogging in place.

Save the stretching for before and after running.

So, next time you hit a red light on a run and you're asking yourself what to do, just be that person and jog in place. Your legs and heart will thank you for it.

Citations: The #1 Thing Runners Should Do When Stuck at Stoplights (Shape)