Adjusting a Jogging Routine | Learn German in English

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Use Adjusting a Jogging Routine to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich habe mit dem Joggen angefangen, aber meine Knie tun nach jedem Lauf weh.

ikh HAH-buh mit daym YOG-en AHN-guh-fahng-en, AH-ber MY-nuh KNEE toon nahkh YAY-dem lowf vay. I started jogging, but my knees feel sore after each run.

Vielleicht steigerst du dein Tempo oder deine Strecke zu schnell.

fee-LYKHT SHTY-gurst doo dyn TEM-poh OH-der DY-nuh SHTREK-uh tsoo shnell. You may be increasing your pace or distance too quickly.

Ich wollte mich schnell verbessern und habe mich deshalb zu sehr angestrengt.

ikh VOL-tuh mikh shnell fer-BES-ern oont HAH-buh mikh des-HALP tsoo zair AHN-guh-shtrengt. I wanted to improve fast, so I pushed myself too hard.

Das kann zu einer Verletzung führen, wenn sich dein Körper noch nicht daran gewöhnt hat.

dahs kahn tsoo EYE-ner fer-LET-tsoong FYUR-en, ven zikh dyn KUR-per nokh nikht dah-RAHN guh-VURNT haht. That can lead to injury if your body has not adapted.

Soll ich mein Training leichter machen und Dehnübungen hinzufügen?

zoll ikh myn TRAY-ning LYKHT-er MAKH-en oont DAYN-oo-boong-en HIN-too-foo-gen? Should I make the routine lighter and add stretching?

Ruhetage und kürzere Läufe würden deinem Körper Zeit zur Erholung geben.

ROO-uh-tah-guh oont KUR-tsuh-ruh LOY-fuh VUR-den DYN-em KUR-per tsight tsoor er-HOH-loong GAY-ben. Rest days and shorter runs would give your body time to recover.

Vielleicht sollte mein Ziel Regelmäßigkeit sein und nicht Geschwindigkeit.

fee-LYKHT ZHOL-tuh myn tseel RAY-guhl-MESS-ikh-kite zyn oont nikht guh-SHWIN-dikh-kite. Maybe my goal should be consistency, not speed.

Das ist für jemanden, der neu mit dem Laufen anfängt, realistischer.

dahs ist fyur YAY-man-den, dair noy mit daym LOW-fen AHN-fengt, ray-ah-LIS-tish-er. That is more realistic for a new runner.

Ein langsameres Tempo mit Gehpausen wäre ein besserer Plan.

ayn LANG-zah-meh-res TEM-poh mit GAY-pow-zen VAIR-uh ayn BES-er-er plahn. An easier pace, with walking breaks, would be a better plan.

Ein Hobby sollte deine Gesundheit unterstützen und ihr nicht schaden.

ayn HOB-bee ZHOL-tuh DY-nuh guh-ZOONT-hite oont eer nikht SHAH-den. A hobby should support your health, not damage it.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means I and is the exact form used for the speaker in “Ich habe mit dem Joggen angefangen”. It identifies the person who started jogging and is commonly used as the subject before a verb.

habe “habe” is the auxiliary meaning have in “Ich habe mit dem Joggen angefangen”. It helps form this completed action with “angefangen”; a reusable pattern is “Ich habe ...” for reporting something you have done.

mit “mit” means with in “mit dem Joggen” and introduces the activity that the speaker started. “Mit” is used with the dative in this construction and commonly appears before an activity or person.

dem “dem” is the dative form of the definite article in “mit dem Joggen”. It belongs to the construction “mit dem Joggen anfangen”, which means to start jogging.

Joggen “Joggen” means jogging in “mit dem Joggen”. It is the activity treated as a noun here, and the construction “mit dem Joggen anfangen” is a reusable way to say that someone starts jogging.

angefangen “angefangen” means started in “Ich habe mit dem Joggen angefangen”. It is the completed-action form used with “habe”; the same pattern can describe beginning an activity or routine.

aber “aber” means but and contrasts starting jogging with the problem that follows in “aber meine Knie tun nach jedem Lauf weh”. It connects two parts of a sentence when the second part limits or contrasts with the first.

meine “meine” means my in “meine Knie”. It shows that the knees belong to the speaker, and the same possessive form is used before the plural noun in this sentence.

Knie “Knie” means knees in “meine Knie tun nach jedem Lauf weh”. Here it is the body part that hurts, and it functions as the subject of the expression “Knie tun ... weh”.

tun “tun” is the verb form used in the expression “meine Knie tun ... weh” to describe hurting. The whole expression conveys that the knees hurt; “tun” is not understood as ordinary do in this context.

nach “nach” means after in “nach jedem Lauf”. It places the knee pain after each run and commonly introduces a time point or event that follows another event.

jedem “jedem” means each or every in “nach jedem Lauf”. Its form fits the dative phrase after “nach”, and it helps describe a repeated situation after every run.

Lauf “Lauf” means run in “jedem Lauf”. It names one running session, and “nach jedem Lauf” is a reusable time expression for something that happens after every run.

weh “weh” means sore or hurting in “meine Knie tun ... weh”. Together with “tun”, it describes physical pain; the expression can be used when a body part hurts after an activity.

Vielleicht “Vielleicht” means maybe and introduces a possibility in “Vielleicht steigerst du dein Tempo”. It is placed at the beginning here and is useful when giving a tentative explanation or suggestion.

steigerst “steigerst” means increase in “steigerst du dein Tempo oder deine Strecke”. It is the form used for addressing one person directly, and the construction can describe increasing a pace, distance, or another measurable amount.

du “du” means you and identifies the person whose training may be changing in “steigerst du dein Tempo”. It is the direct, informal form used when speaking to one person.

dein “dein” means your in “dein Tempo”. It marks the pace as belonging to or being associated with the person addressed, and it comes directly before the noun it describes.

Tempo “Tempo” means pace in “dein Tempo”. Here it refers to running speed, and it is used as the object of “steigerst” in the pattern “das Tempo steigern”.

oder “oder” means or and offers an alternative in “dein Tempo oder deine Strecke”. It links two possible things that may be increasing.

deine “deine” means your in “deine Strecke” and “deine Gesundheit”. It marks each noun as belonging to or concerning the person addressed, with the exact form changing according to the noun’s grammatical context.

Strecke “Strecke” means distance or route in “deine Strecke”. In this jogging context it refers to the distance covered, and it can be used as the object of a verb meaning increase.

zu “zu” means too in the degree expression “zu schnell”. It shows that the increase is excessive in speed, rather than introducing a destination; “zu” commonly comes before an adjective or adverb to express too much of a quality.

schnell “schnell” means quickly in “zu schnell”. It describes how rapidly the pace or distance is being increased, and it can commonly modify the manner or speed of an action.

wollte “wollte” expresses wanted in “Ich wollte mich schnell verbessern”. It presents the speaker’s intention to improve, and this form is useful for describing a past intention or aim.

mich “mich” refers to the speaker in “mich schnell verbessern” and “mich deshalb zu sehr angestrengt”. It is used with reflexive actions here, where the speaker improves or exerts themself.

verbessern “verbessern” means improve in “mich schnell verbessern”. It follows “wollte” in the infinitive and is used here for improving one’s own performance or ability.

und “und” means and in “Ich wollte mich schnell verbessern und habe mich deshalb ... angestrengt”. It joins two related actions or statements and can connect coordinated verb phrases.

deshalb “deshalb” means for that reason or therefore in “habe mich deshalb ... angestrengt”. It links the speaker’s effort to the earlier goal of improving quickly and is useful for expressing a stated consequence or reason.

sehr “sehr” intensifies the degree in “zu sehr angestrengt”. Together with “zu”, it contributes to the meaning too much; the pattern “zu sehr” is used when an action or quality exceeds a suitable level.

angestrengt “angestrengt” means exerted myself or worked hard in “habe mich deshalb zu sehr angestrengt”. It appears with “mich” and “habe” to describe the speaker’s excessive effort, and the reflexive expression is useful for talking about making oneself work hard.

Das “Das” means that or it in “Das kann zu einer Verletzung führen”. It refers to the excessive training just mentioned and lets the speaker comment on that situation as a whole.

kann “kann” means can or may in “Das kann zu einer Verletzung führen”. It expresses a possible consequence rather than a certain one, and the pattern “kann zu ... führen” is useful for describing possible results.

einer “einer” means a or an in “zu einer Verletzung”. It is the article used in this dative phrase after “zu” and belongs to the construction describing what something may lead to.

Verletzung “Verletzung” means injury in “zu einer Verletzung führen”. It names the possible harmful result, and it commonly follows “zu” when describing what an action may lead to.

führen “führen” means lead in “zu einer Verletzung führen”. The construction “zu ... führen” expresses a consequence, and it can be reused when one action or condition produces a result.

wenn “wenn” means if in “wenn sich dein Körper noch nicht daran gewöhnt hat”. It introduces the condition under which the injury risk exists and places the condition in a subordinate clause.

sich “sich” refers back to the body in “sich dein Körper noch nicht daran gewöhnt hat”. It is part of the reflexive expression for becoming accustomed to something, and it changes according to the person doing the action.

Körper “Körper” means body in “dein Körper”. Here it is the body that has not yet adapted, and it is the subject of the clause introduced by “wenn”.

noch “noch” means still or yet in “noch nicht daran gewöhnt”. Together with “nicht”, it emphasizes that the body has not adapted by this point; the pattern “noch nicht” is useful for an expected condition that has not happened yet.

nicht “nicht” means not in “noch nicht daran gewöhnt”. It negates the body’s state of being accustomed, and with “noch” it describes an incomplete change.

daran “daran” means to it or to that in “daran gewöhnt”. It refers to the training increase or routine being discussed and is used in the construction for becoming accustomed to something.

gewöhnt “gewöhnt” means accustomed or used to in “noch nicht daran gewöhnt”. It describes the body’s state in relation to the training, and the pattern “an etwas gewöhnt sein” expresses being used to something.

hat “hat” is the auxiliary form meaning has in “gewöhnt hat”. It completes the clause’s perfect construction with “gewöhnt” and appears at the end because the clause begins with “wenn”.

Soll “Soll” means should in the question “Soll ich mein Training leichter machen”. It asks whether the speaker ought to take the proposed action, and “Soll ich ...?” is a reusable way to ask for advice about one’s next step.

mein “mein” means my in “mein Training”. It identifies the training as the speaker’s, and it appears directly before the noun it describes.

Training “Training” means training or routine in “mein Training leichter machen”. It refers to the speaker’s exercise routine, and it is the thing being changed in the construction “etwas leichter machen”.

leichter “leichter” means lighter or easier in “mein Training leichter machen”. It describes a reduced level of difficulty or intensity, and the pattern “etwas leichter machen” is useful when adjusting an activity.

machen “machen” means make or do in “mein Training leichter machen”. With “leichter”, it means make the training easier; after “Soll”, it remains in the infinitive.

Dehnübungen “Dehnübungen” means stretching exercises in “Dehnübungen hinzufügen”. It names an additional part of the proposed routine and is used as the object of “hinzufügen”.

hinzufügen “hinzufügen” means add in “Dehnübungen hinzufügen”. It describes including something extra in the training, and it commonly takes the thing being added as its object.

Ruhetage “Ruhetage” means rest days in “Ruhetage und kürzere Läufe”. These are days intended for recovery, and the plural form names several planned parts of a routine.

kürzere “kürzere” means shorter in “kürzere Läufe”. It compares the proposed runs with the earlier runs and modifies “Läufe” to describe a reduced distance or duration.

Läufe “Läufe” means runs in “kürzere Läufe”. It refers to running sessions, and the adjective before it shows that the proposed sessions should be shorter.

würden “würden” expresses would in “Ruhetage und kürzere Läufe würden ... geben”. It presents the suggested rest and shorter runs as a possible result or recommendation, and the pattern “würden ... geben” is useful for describing what a plan would provide.

deinem “deinem” means your or to your in “deinem Körper”. It marks the body as belonging to the person addressed and has the form required in this phrase after “geben”.

Zeit “Zeit” means time in “deinem Körper Zeit zur Erholung geben”. It is what the rest days and shorter runs would provide, and the construction “jemandem Zeit geben” is useful for saying that someone or something allows time for a purpose.

zur “zur” means to the or for the in “zur Erholung”. It is the contracted form used before “Erholung” and expresses the purpose for which the time is provided.

Erholung “Erholung” means recovery in “Zeit zur Erholung”. It names the purpose of the time given to the body, and the phrase is useful when describing time needed to recover.

geben “geben” means give in “würden deinem Körper Zeit zur Erholung geben”. It describes providing the body with time, and the reusable pattern is “jemandem Zeit geben” followed by a purpose.

sollte “sollte” means should in “Vielleicht sollte mein Ziel Regelmäßigkeit sein”. It presents consistency as a recommended goal, and the pattern “Mein Ziel sollte ... sein” is useful for stating what one’s goal ought to be.

Ziel “Ziel” means goal in “mein Ziel Regelmäßigkeit sein”. It names the result or standard the speaker wants to pursue, and it commonly appears with a possessive such as “mein” when discussing personal aims.

Regelmäßigkeit “Regelmäßigkeit” means consistency or regularity in “mein Ziel Regelmäßigkeit sein”. It identifies regular practice as the desired goal, and it can be used when emphasizing repeated, steady activity rather than speed.

sein “sein” means be in “mein Ziel Regelmäßigkeit sein”. It links the goal with what the goal should consist of, and it remains in the infinitive after “sollte”.

Geschwindigkeit “Geschwindigkeit” means speed in “und nicht Geschwindigkeit”. It names the quality that the speaker is choosing not to prioritize, and it provides the contrast with “Regelmäßigkeit” in the sentence.

ist “ist” means is in “Das ist ... realistischer”. It links the situation to the evaluation that follows and is used here to describe the plan as realistic for a beginner.

für “für” means for in “für jemanden”. It introduces the person for whom the goal is more realistic, and it commonly comes before a person or group affected by an evaluation or plan.

jemanden “jemanden” means someone in “für jemanden, der neu mit dem Laufen anfängt”. It refers to an unspecified person and appears after “für” in this description of a new runner.

der “der” means who or that in “jemanden, der neu mit dem Laufen anfängt”. It introduces a relative clause describing the person mentioned before it and serves as the subject of “anfängt”.

neu “neu” means new in “der neu mit dem Laufen anfängt”. It describes someone who is new to running, and the phrase gives a practical way to identify a beginner.

Laufen “Laufen” means running in “mit dem Laufen”. It is the activity that the person is beginning, and it appears as a noun after “mit dem” in this activity expression.

anfängt “anfängt” means starts or begins in “der neu mit dem Laufen anfängt”. It describes the person beginning to run, and it is the finite form used at the end of the relative clause.

realistischer “realistischer” means more realistic in “Das ist ... realistischer”. It compares the consistency-focused goal with the earlier, more demanding approach and is useful when evaluating whether a plan is practical.

Ein “Ein” means a or an in “Ein langsameres Tempo” and “Ein Hobby”. It introduces a singular noun as the subject of the sentence; the capital letter is used because the phrases begin sentences.

langsameres “langsameres” means slower in “Ein langsameres Tempo”. It describes a pace that is less fast than before, and the adjective directly modifies “Tempo” in the suggested running plan.

Gehpausen “Gehpausen” means walking breaks in “mit Gehpausen”. It names breaks during which the runner walks, and it is used after “mit” to describe an accompanying feature of the slower pace.

wäre “wäre” means would be in “wäre ein besserer Plan”. It presents the easier pace as a proposed or hypothetical plan, and the pattern “Das wäre ...” is useful when making a suggestion.

besserer “besserer” means better in “ein besserer Plan”. It compares the suggested plan with the previous approach and modifies “Plan” to express a more suitable option.

Plan “Plan” means plan in “ein besserer Plan”. It refers to the proposed way of continuing the hobby, and it is commonly used after an adjective when evaluating a course of action.

Hobby “Hobby” means hobby in “Ein Hobby sollte deine Gesundheit unterstützen”. It refers to an activity done for enjoyment, and here it is the subject of a general statement about its effect on health.

Gesundheit “Gesundheit” means health in “deine Gesundheit unterstützen”. It names what the hobby should help, and it is the object of “unterstützen” in this general statement.

unterstützen “unterstützen” means support in “deine Gesundheit unterstützen”. It describes helping the person’s health, and after “sollte” it appears in the infinitive as the main action being recommended.

ihr “ihr” means it or to it in “ihr nicht schaden”. It refers back to “deine Gesundheit” and has the form used for the thing affected by “schaden”.

schaden “schaden” means harm or damage in “ihr nicht schaden”. It describes the negative effect a hobby should avoid, and the construction uses the affected thing in the dative, here represented by “ihr”.

Grammar Points

sich an etwas gewöhnen

sich an das Training gewöhnen

zikh ahn dahs TRAY-ning guh-VUR-nen

to get used to the training

The verb is reflexive: sich refers back to the person who is getting used to something.

Komparativ: leichter, kürzer, realistischer

leichteres Training

LYKHT-er-es TRAY-ning

lighter training

German forms comparisons by adding -er; adjective endings can change when the adjective comes before a noun.

German Vocabulary

führen verb

FYUR-en to lead

kann zu einer Verletzung führen

Joggen noun

YOG-en jogging

mit dem Joggen

Knie noun

KNEE knees

meine Knie

Lauf noun

lowf run

nach jedem Lauf

schnell adv

shnell quickly; fast

zu schnell

sich anstrengen verb

zikh AHN-shtreng-en to exert oneself; to push oneself angestrengt

habe mich deshalb zu sehr angestrengt

sich verbessern verb

zikh fer-BES-ern to improve verbessern

mich schnell verbessern

steigern verb

SHTY-gurn to increase steigerst

steigerst du dein Tempo

Strecke noun

SHTREK-uh distance

deine Strecke

Tempo noun

TEM-poh pace

dein Tempo

Verletzung noun

fer-LET-tsoong injury

zu einer Verletzung

weh adj

vay sore; painful

tun ... weh

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

distance

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Strecke

pace

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Tempo

jogging

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Joggen

to increase

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steigerst