Have you taught yourself to run distance?

matt100

matt100

matt100

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Surrey
And I mean more than "to the fridge" :p

I'm a normal weight, I go to the gym (sometimes) but I am aware that pretty much the most effective exercise I can do is running but I just can't.. 5 minutes and I've had it.. I can row, cycle and use the ski thingy for longer than I have time to but running just kills me..

What am I doing wrong? How would I start training if I wanted to do some distance runs for example? I know practise etc but are there any secret tips like breathing stuff?
 
Keep doing it, run for a set distance, keep doing it and it will get easier, then increase the distance repeat
 
its all about breathing just breathe slowly no matter what happens and how fast your going i run to the garage once or twice a week bout 5 min walk and i never get knackered just breathe as slowly as possible ;)
 
I road run every week day, only about 2 miles or so but I vary the pace depending on how I feel so one day isn't the same as the next. Being competitive I've never enjoyed training as you can't win, but the reason I'm still pushing myself is that I need a certain level of fitness for post pub & mid-week frivolities with MissesG;)
 
NiCkNaMe said:
Why can't you carry on running?

Out of breath, or do your muscles just feel physically tired that you cannot carry on running?
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I'd say out of breath to be honest.. but I've always been rubbish at running..

Its funny, its almost like I'm doing it wrong, like I'm stamping! I do get stitch sometimes though so that tip to avoid it might help.
 
Its you:

- You need to run at a slow speed say 8-8.5kph? (5mph)
- Dont think you cant do it otherwise you cant
- Proper running shoes, imo you just need a good grip not the flat shoes
- Music helps

It takes getting used to and running is the most effective/energy demanding out of all gym machines like rowing, cross trainer, etc
 
Get a decent pair of running shoes, and just increase the run length slowly. I run a fair bit but only started last year. At first I couldn't do more than 2-3 miles without being near to death, after 4-5 weeks of going out a few times a week it started to get much better and slowly increaseing the distance is definatly the way to go, I always found it easyer when I knew how far I had left rather than running till I couldn't anymore so maybe try and set yourself a target to get to.

Make sure your not running to fast, when I started I had no clue if i was running fast or slow. Turned out I was running far to fast, try and slow it down and you will get a better distance. Apart from that just get into a good breathing pattern and stick to it, some people say only breath out when you right foot hits the floor which works for me, probibly because it's a good way to keep timeing for your breathing but who knows!
 
Dont be too anxious to get loads of miles in and take things at a steady pace - if you run out of breath you running to hard. Mix walking and running and gradually decrease the amount of time you walk and gradually increase the time runnning. Also don't try running everyday at first

As has been said just keep at it for a while- you should start to see improvements after 3/4 weeks.
 
By the sounds of it - your running to fast and your breathing to hard, breathing too fast makes me worse sometimes - you have to breath just right.
I think you should slow down - jog at walking past if that make sense - if you feel after 10 mins this is **** easy then go faster, once thats tought slow it down - will bring u upto the right level.
 
Yeah just to re-iterate the advice..

Start out at a night slow pace and have a goal - not too high that its unobtainable as you'l just feel as though when you havn't reached it that you havnt improved.

Slow speed, Jogging pace and keep your breathing to a ryhthm. Whilst your running think/do something else ... listen to music whatever. Running, on a treadmill anyway can become tedious fast as it is kind of boring! Just think of something/plan something whilst your doing it.

Set targets, keeps the fun there ;)
 
I don't run too much now since finding I have a leg length discrepency, and the impact puts strain on my hips. Hence why I had a lot of pain when I did the London Marathon. I don't do more than 5-7 milers now, and thats through boxing or the odd one on my own.

When I first started I was too overweight to run one lap of a tennis court. Its about gradual progression. If necessary incorporate walking into it, time your rest periods (say twenty seconds walk then run for two minutes). Gradually build it up.

I'm a big lad, and not super slim but when I was at uni I was doing the odd 15 miler for fun...
 
Did my first training run last week. Managed a shade under 7km in 40 minutes without any walking. That was quite pleasing as I've never been much of a runner (I cycle often). I have a trace from my HRM here.

What I did find was that old socks and trainers result in blisters. I thought my trainers were past it, so plan to get a pair from a good independant sports shop locally (so I get the right sort for my running style).

Looking for endurance rather than speed, as the first Questars adventure race of the year is April. That's a five hour event of running, kayaking and MTBing.
 
#Chri5# said:
I thought my trainers were past it, so plan to get a pair from a good independant sports shop locally (so I get the right sort for my running style).
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Make sure and take your old trainers with you - you can tell a lot from how they have worn and if the is shop staffed by knowledgable people they should ask to see them anyhow.
 
i run 7miles every other day just to keep the blood flowing and to feel refreshed. Pretty relaxed exercise that only takes about 50mins. Would much rather play 5 a side for 2 hours. once u get used to running it becomes dead easy and u can run for hours.
 
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