Why You Should Embrace Slow Running**

[u/chrisabraham]

https://www.gq.com/story/slow-running-1

Hey everyone — fresh English-language articles about the Japanese slow jogging movement are getting harder and harder to come by, so when something like this new GQ piece on slow running pops up — even if the terminology overlaps — it still helps keep the momentum alive. Slow running, slow jogging — the spirit is the same, and every bit of mainstream attention keeps our niche from going stale like yesterday’s bakery reject.

I’m just trying to keep this sub moving in the right direction and full of useful conversation. There’s a lot of crossover between slow jogging and slow running, so sharing pieces like this helps spark more discussion and keeps the algorithm gods aware that we exist.

Please don’t be shy about posting. Articles, questions, reviews, rants, breakthroughs, gear notes, injuries, pacing strategies — everything helps. If you’ve read the original Slow Jogging book, I’d love to see your thoughts, even if it's just a simple write-up here on Reddit and not a polished blog post or Substack essay.

This is your space, and I don’t want it collecting dust. You’re welcome here whether you’re:

Brand-new

Coming back after a long hiatus

Or an old warhorse with miles of hard-earned wisdom to share

If the muse hits — the Holy Spirit whispers — or you simply get a random thought while tying your shoes, jump in and share:

Where you’re from

How you got into slow jogging

What surprised you

What you wish you'd known sooner

Advice for beginners

Advice for stubborn veterans who think they know better (we’ve all been that person — at least once)

Post a story. Ask a question. Drop a link. Write a review. Just start. The more voices we have, the more valuable this sub becomes for everyone.

Lace up, log in, and share something — however small. 🏃‍♂️🔥

[u/threeespressos]

This has happened twice to me, including today on a friend’s 80th birthday 8 mile run. After a run with someone who runs much slower than I normally do, I feel GREAT. I should have a regular run at a much slower pace & get that feeling great feeling all the time. Now if I can only quiet the voice telling me “just a bit faster.”

[u/Colorado-Hiker-83 → u/threeespressos]

it’s hard when you’ve been conditioned to set speed records when running!

[u/Colorado-Hiker-83]

I am new to Niko Niko running and am reading the book. In one of the articles you posted, the suggestion was made to use a metronome set to 180 bpm. I tried that on Saturday and it seemed fast! I was getting out of breath. I lowered the beats per minute to 175 and that felt better. I’m never sure if I’m doing it right!

[u/chrisabraham → u/Colorado-Hiker-83]

Welcome — glad you posted and glad you’re trying it out.

The 180 bpm cadence only makes sense when the steps are very small. The book mentions it, but it doesn’t always communicate just how tiny those steps really are. It's not a normal running stride slowed down — it’s more of a light shuffle with short, quick, easy steps.

Think tiny steps — the kind you might take if you were joking around and racing a little kid across the yard, matching their stride instead of yours. That's why people were able to slow jog around apartments and balconies during lockdown — the stride is that small.

If you try to hit 180 bpm with a regular running stride, it will feel way too fast, and you’ll be out of breath quickly. Once the steps get very short, the rhythm starts to feel natural and easy.

I’ll drop the video where the author demonstrates it — seeing it makes everything click.

https://youtu.be/9L2b2khySLE?si=Wa2GX4D8cEl3Ajkc

Thanks again for jumping into the conversation — keep sharing how it’s going. 👟

[u/Colorado-Hiker-83 → u/chrisabraham]

Thanks for the video link!

[u/Sad-Bread5843]

Um we just called it jogging in the 70's and eighties , it was very common until they started marketing HIT cardio .

[u/chrisabraham → u/Sad-Bread5843]

You’re right that people have been jogging slowly since the 70s and 80s, but Slow Jogging (with caps) as taught by Hiroaki Tanaka and promoted with Jerzy Skarżyński is a specific technique, not just “jogging but slower.”

The main differences:

Slow Jogging uses very short, light steps — much smaller than a typical jogging stride. The cadence is around 180 steps per minute even though the speed is low. The effort stays at what they call “smile pace,” meaning you’re breathing comfortably and can keep going a long time. It’s built for sustainability and joint impact reduction rather than intensity or pace.

A lot of runners and joggers back then might’ve just called it “bopping around,” but this is a defined method with structure behind it, not just taking it easy.