Jogging and running may not be as trendy now as it once was, but it's still one of the best overall cardio pursuits you can do. You don't have to be a superstar to be a runner: Many communities accommodate a range of abilities with popular 5K runs, 10K runs and marathons, which can draw runners from hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Even though running and jogging have a reputation for being joint killers, there's no reason for you to get injured if you take the proper precautions. Good shoes are a must. Starting off slowly and gradually building up your mileage by no more than 10 percent a week can also help keep you from developing overuse injuries. You might want to take a few sessions with a running coach to fine-tune your technique and weight train at least twice a week.

Always warm up for a few minutes before pushing into your main workout. Finish up with cooldown and a stretch. At the very least, your stretching routine should hit the thighs, lower back and shoulders.

"I am 45 years old and I have been running for five years. I love it! I enjoy running all kinds of distances and terrain, from a 5k to up to a half marathon." -- iVillager cazgreer

"After two months of jogging, I didn't see any difference in my body -- although I could sure run better than when I started! Seeing no change in my shape let me down, and I slowly stopped jogging all together." -- An iVillager

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