Running
Sure. Form is important - stride length and posture all matter. There are a lot of great articles on these topics out there!
VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
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Generalized aches & pains are normal when beginning any change, but it's a good idea to get your form analyzed if you've been running a while and still have specific pains - PT can address specific form & structural issues. It took me a year for my knees to stop aching when I initially started run/walking...
First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.
I find for me that there is a fine line between a fast walk and a slow jog. I can do both at about 4.2 mph on the treadmill. For now, sounds like you would be better off to continue walking if jogging is hurting your back and you can walk faster than your jog. Do you do this at home or a gym? Someone at the gym could probably give you some pointers on jogging form. Where are you at in your weight loss? Before I lost weight, jogging gave me all kinds of aches and pains (mostly my knees and feet, but also my back at times) and I think my body just wasn't ready for it. Now that I'm down 75+ pounds, I feel no pain aside from my muscles when I do an extra hard workout.
I agree with others that form is important. Shoes are too. Have you been fitted at a running store with a good shoe? That can make a big difference. As a former runner, I took up race walking as my knees could no longer handle the pounding (even when I was thinner). I still needed to have good shoes. Like you, my normal walk was faster than my jog, which is the other reason for taking up race walking. I was able to do that for a while, but unfortunately the damage to my knees and hips was already done and I have had to give that up too. If running is uncomfortable for you, perhaps walking may be better tolerated. it's still a workout as long as you get your heart rate up.
