跑步是jogging或running。在各种运动中，跑步似乎是最容易的一种。跑步是天生的本领，学行之后就会学跑。跑步也不需要什么特别的器材、特别的场地。
Running is a great way to get in shape and just about everyone can do it. You don’t need access to a fancy gym, expensive equipment, or other people to do the workout. You can simply throw on your sneakers(运动鞋) and head out the door for a run. Easy as that!
Shape解形状、外表、状态。 In shape是状态良好；out of shape是状态不佳，例如︰I am out of shape because I haven’t exercise for a long time.(我很久没有做运动，状态不佳。)In shape或in good shape都解in a good state of health or in a good condition，健康状态良好；get in shape就是进入好的状态。
穿上波鞋，走到公园就可以跑步，所以这是最多人做的运动，看看每年的marathon参加人数之多就可得知。但就是因为容易“上手”，所以容易掉以轻心而犯错误。
操之过急
Tina Haupert在”Six common mistakes new runners make”一文中就指出：
Given that it’s so easy to take up the sport, a lot of beginners jump right into running without actually knowing what it takes to establish a healthy routine. Many make a number of common mistakes, which can interfere with(干扰) training or lead to injury.
最常犯的错误是”doing too much too soon”(操之过急)。
初开始跑步令人兴奋，但应循序渐进，”novice(新手) runners need to ease into the sport by building up a mileage base before increasing the distance, intensity(激烈程度) , and frequency(频率) of their runs.”专家认为跑步距离每星期只可以增加一成。
“Not taking rest days”是第二个错误︰
Beginners might think they need to run every day (or nearly every day) to meet their fitness or weight-loss goals, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Running is a high-impact(高影响的) activity which can be really hard on your body, especially for novice runners whose muscles and bones haven’t yet been conditioned for such intense exercise. So it’s important to give your body ample rest between workouts. Follow a training plan that includes rest days.
虽说跑步不需要什么特别、复杂和昂贵的器材，你亦不会赤脚或穿拖鞋去跑，但不是每种运动鞋都适合跑步，所以你需要一对适合跑步的运动鞋。
要达到目标就要吃得苦，运动会造成疼痛，虽说小小苦楚等于激励，但身体给你的警告信号却不可掉以轻心。 “Running through pain”，边痛边跑可以伤害身体︰
Running can be uncomfortable at times, especially for new runners. That feeling is all part of becoming a better runner, but pain is a different story altogether. If something hurts when you run, you need to stop and treat the pain.
寻求改变
Peter Sagal就觉得跑步如人生，他在40岁才开始认真跑步，其后也参加过很多个marathon。他在The Incomplete Book of Running有这个观察：
Every year for the last decade in the United States, some two million people have taken up running, and whether they succeed or don’t, they are all looking for the same thing: change. People run from their problems or toward some idealized(理想化的) solutions.
