As a Orange County personal trainer, I've noticed that when people run or jog for cardiovascular exercise, they usually don't pay attention to technique. In fact, the idea that that there is a right way and a wrong way to run actually sounds weird to a lot of people. But the truth is that how you run can actually have a big impact how effective your cardio time is.

While running, don't stomp your feet hard on the ground, as a personal trainer it about gives me a panic attack when I see people do that. That puts unnecessary stress on your joints and is usually a sign that you have an awkward stride. If you tread more lightly, it helps you put more emphasis on forward momentum and reduces the strain on your knees.

Make long deep breaths when you get into the peak of the exercise. Short, shallow breaths give you less energy push through that tough part of the run.

Try not tense up too much while you are running. Keep everything loose and relaxed. A smart warm up and stretching routine can go a long way in making this easier.

Proper arm swing is sadly neglected by a lot of runners. Sometimes runners start swinging more heavily with one side than the other. There can be numerous reasons for this, but it it's important to stay symmetrical in your arm swings.

Often inexperienced runners start to hunch over when they run low on energy. Proper posture, with your back straight and chest out, will make you running movements more efficient, and more effective in burning off fat.

Running should be approached like any other exercise in your personal training regimen. The only way to get the most out of it is to educate yourself on the proper technique.