Guest Blog: Spinning or Running – What’s A Healthier Workout Regimen? by Jordan Spindler

Spinning or Running: What’s A Healthier Workout Regimen?

This article was authored by Jordan Spindler, a freelance writer and avid fitness enthusiast.

There are many benefits to having a good cardio workout. It is a well-known fact that cardiovascular exercise is very good for your body, though many people don’t think of a cardio workout’s excellent effects on your mind as well. Cardiovascular exercise is good for your heart, it speeds up your metabolism, it helps your body produce more energy, it increases hormones that help with depression and fatigue, it improves your recovery time for other types of exercise, and it helps you to better manage anxiety and stress. No wonder cardio activities like running and Spinning are so popular! So which of these activities is the healthier workout regimen?

The Benefits of Running

When you run, your heart begins to work harder to supply your lungs and the rest of your body with blood due to the increased demand for oxygen and energy output. Continually working your heart will make your heart stronger and ultimately healthier. Running also speeds up your metabolism, which helps with losing weight and maintaining a healthy body weight. Combine these physical benefits with increased hormones that promote feelings of well-being and an increased production of mitochondria that helps your body make more energy, and you’ll be feeling great.

There is something to keep in mind however: running can be a high impact activity, especially on pavement. What this means is certain joints like your knees and ankles are subjected to serious wear and tear over time as they absorb impacts from your feet hitting a hard surface, which can lead to chronic joint problems. For this reason, many cardio enthusiasts turn to outdoor cycling or indoor Spinning.

The Benefits of Spinning

Indoor cycling has become an especially popular activity today, with cardio enthusiasts taking to indoor exercise bikes in order to bypass the weather variables and outdoor obstacles often encountered with outdoor cycling. You can get all the excellent cardio benefits of running mentioned above with Spinning. Most important however, by exercising on an indoor bike, you are placing less stress on your joints.

Though running is considered a higher weight-bearing activity with more muscles worked out and more calories burned as a result, bike activities like Spinning are much better for your overall joint health in the long run. With Spinning in particular, there are many ways to improve your cardio workout and increase benefits as a result. For example, Spinning shoes can help with pedaling power, efficiency and your ability to target specific leg muscles. Also, trained instructors can push you to surpass your current cardio abilities by providing encouragement and motivation in a controlled setting.


Though running results in more muscles worked and more calories burned in the short-term, Spinning and cycling are much better for long term joint health. You want to be able to comfortably exercise throughout the course of your life for the best long term health benefits.

Whether you prefer jogging along the dusty terrain or pedaling with reckless abandon, the important thing is to stay active. So get out there and get into the best shape of your life.

Jordan Spindler

About Jordan Spindler

After graduating from UCR with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Jordan Spindler has been writing fitness and health related articles for 8 years. When he’s not writing about fitness, he’s active in the gym pursuing his personal goals.


Email Address:

Related posts:




  2. Progressively build up to at least 30 minutes
    of vigorous walking five times a week. This training
    is one component to helping you do just that. But please understand that burning a higher percentage
    of fat is not the ultimate end goal.

  3. I agree. I find running to be too hard on the knees in particular, whilst cycling and spinning are a lot easier on the knees and are therefore suitable for all age groups.

Speak Your Mind