The Nashville Joggler

I have been leading joggling practices for Team Catch It Early the past several weeks.  In the process of teaching jugglers how to run while juggling and teaching runners how to juggle while running, I have come up with some pointers for the new joggler.

1. Practice juggling without looking at the balls

The key to joggling is being able to juggle without looking directly at the balls.  Most jugglers will focus their eyes on the rising ball as it reaches its peak in front of the eyes.  This is fine when you are juggling while standing still, but if you are trying to joggle (or are performing in front of an audience), you will need to be able to look through the balls and focus on your surroundings at various depths of field.  You can easily practice this without going out to run.  Try juggling while watching TV.  Or pick several objects in your room and shift your focus rapidly between the objects while juggling.  Or try turning your head from side to side while juggling in front of you.  Whatever it takes, learn to juggle without having to focus on the balls in front of you.  This is not only great for joggling, but it will improve your juggling skills.

2. Relax and find your pace

If you are a new runner, you may want to practice running without juggling for a bit.  Make sure you are relaxed when you run, so that your arms are moving naturally in opposite synchronization with your legs.  This should happen automatically, but I have seen some new runners concentrate so much on running that they become stiff.  Having your arms move smoothly as you run will allow you easily juggle while running.  The two motions go together, that it will soon feel strange to run without juggling!

3. Don’t rush after a drop

If and when you drop, don’t try to rush your start.  Strictly speaking, you must always be juggling when you move forward, but as you are learning to joggle, it may be beneficial to start running slowly before starting to juggle again.  After picking up the dropped ball, start jogging and approach the pace you were running at prior to the drop.  Let your arms start their natural swing, and then start juggling.  This will prevent you from accidentally juggling with your arms moving in the same direction as the corresponding leg.

4. Watch your pace

If you are a new runner like me, you may find that you tend to joggle faster than you normally run.  This can be a good thing, to a certain extent, and I definitely find that the juggling helps me focus on something other than how tired and out of breath I am.  However, if you get carried away and go too fast, you may run out of steam before the end of the race.  Just be aware of your body and how fast you are going as much as you can.

5. Always be aware of your surroundings

Especially at a race, you should always have a good idea of where people are around you.  The last thing you want is to stop to pick up a ball and impede a runner behind you.  Listen for people around you.  As a new joggler, you may want to stop juggling at crowded spots at a race.  If there is a chance that you may drop and cause an accident, hold your balls while you navigate through the other runners and try to find some open space.  It may help to stay close to the side.  If you do drop with runners closing in on you, don’t immediately bend down to pick the ball up.  You may need to go off to the side and wait for a chance to retrieve your ball.

6. Have fun

Most of all, enjoy yourself.  You are juggling while you run!  No one else (unless there are other fellow jogglers at the race) is doing that, so you will come in first in the joggling division!