Running question

BrookeRunningMom

Hi there fellow runners. Ive been running for almost a year. I do a 5k a day, I am participating in my first 5k in September and I would love to eventually to half a marathon but I was wondering when runners run for a long time do you ever stop for a breather ? I can go 45 minutes straight but cant seem to go longer without rest period.
Is it cheating if you take a breather ?
I dont know how some ppl can run 2 hours lol

TavistockToad

Run slower.

Walking breaks are fine. I did 10 miles this morning with a few walking breaks on the hills and so i could eat my gel.

Also instead of just doing 5k each run, slowly increase one day to 10k

JustSomeEm

Taking walk breaks is not 'cheating'. And as @tavistocktoad says, you may want to run a bit slower. On any run that's an 'increase' over the distance you're used to, SLOW DOWN. That'll make it easier to increase distance. Once you get used to the new distance you'll find yourself naturally running it a bit faster.

Also - some runs are harder than others (some mentally, some physically). If I need a walk break, I take one. That doesn't mean I'm not a successful runner. It just means I needed a break for a second. :flowerforyou:

richardgavel

Your longer runs aren't supposed to be at the same pace as a 5k run. Good resource is McMillan running.com it will help you determine places for various training runs based on a race effort time.

BrookeRunningMom

Wonderful thank you everyone

dn0pes

1117429 wrote: »

Hi there fellow runners. Ive been running for almost a year. I do a 5k a day, I am participating in my first 5k in September and I would love to eventually to half a marathon but I was wondering when runners run for a long time do you ever stop for a breather ? I can go 45 minutes straight but cant seem to go longer without rest period.
Is it cheating if you take a breather ?
I dont know how some ppl can run 2 hours lol

Congratulations on your upcoming 5k - For training I use walk/run. At the beginning of a training cycle I walk for 8 minutes then run for say 5. The following week I walk for 7 minutes then run for 6. walk 6 then run 7 etc... I do this week after week until my race at which time I am running the entire distance comfortably. I am able to enjoy my runs a lot more and cut down on burn out. Enjoy !!!

macgurlnet

Are you running every single day, or do you just do 5k each time you're running?

Backing off some - doing 3-4 runs per week - will help also.

~Lyssa

spiriteagle99

At this point, taking breaks isn't going to hurt and will allow you to keep going farther. When it's really hot, I'll sometimes take a sit-down break in the shade to cool off and get my HR back under control. (I don't handle heat well.) Otherwise I'll walk while I drink water every couple of miles. While training, what matters most is just getting the miles done. Walking or running - what matters most is time on your feet.

collectingblues

1117429 wrote: »

Hi there fellow runners. Ive been running for almost a year. I do a 5k a day, I am participating in my first 5k in September and I would love to eventually to half a marathon but I was wondering when runners run for a long time do you ever stop for a breather ? I can go 45 minutes straight but cant seem to go longer without rest period.
Is it cheating if you take a breather ?
I dont know how some ppl can run 2 hours lol

Why would it be cheating? Are you cutting the route short? Are you kicking puppies or wildlife?

T1DCarnivoreRunner

I did a 6.5 mile race today and walked part of it. I almost got first place overall, but ended up 2nd by less than 1 min. The person who won ran the entire way (I was just about always close enough to see him even on hills and turns / curves). I'm pretty sure the person behind me ran the entire way too, but I couldn't always see him. I got first place in my age group anyway, and got 1st place in my AG for a 5K in May despite taking a few walking breaks. There is no shame in walking part of it - runners can always walk part of a race; but walkers can't run for a walking race.

Jeff Galloway is a running trainer (use Google) who advocates a structured run-walk approach.

GottaBurnEmAll

Run-walk is how I'm training to build my endurance.

DancingMoosie

Have you tried a 10k or half marathon training plan? That would probably get you to your goal better than just running 5k every run. You need to mix it up with shorter and longer runs at different paces. Of course, it is not cheating to walk a little in the middle of your run if you need it. Just like you can walk part of a race without being disqualified.

nowine4me

I did my first (and only) half last year and ran the whole thing -- there were old people, kids and dogs walking faster than I was running. Just keep at it

BrookeRunningMom

macgurlnet wrote: »

Are you running every single day, or do you just do 5k each time you're running?

Backing off some - doing 3-4 runs per week - will help also.

~Lyssa

Hi there I do a 5k a day

BrookeRunningMom

Thats wonderful everyone ! Thank you !!

coretemp

When I feel the need to take a breather coming on I slow down, focus on breathing in through my nose, exhaling by mouth and push through it for another minute or two. It's an easy way to discover whether I should take a break or if I'm just experiencing a mental block. When it's a break I need, I take it no problem without reservation. Not only does it enhance the remaining part of my run but also the next and the next as well and makes increasing distances easier whenever you're so inclined to do. The body remembers when you listen it and treat it right, lol

BrookeRunningMom

coretemp wrote: »

When I feel the need to take a breather coming on I slow down, focus on breathing in through my nose, exhaling by mouth and push through it for another minute or two. It's an easy way to discover whether I should take a break or if I'm just experiencing a mental block. When it's a break I need, I take it no problem without reservation. Not only does it enhance the remaining part of my run but also the next and the next as well and makes increasing distances easier whenever you're so inclined to do. The body remembers when you listen it and treat it right, lol

Thats wonderful advice thank you

macgurlnet

1117429 wrote: »

macgurlnet wrote: »

Are you running every single day, or do you just do 5k each time you're running?

Backing off some - doing 3-4 runs per week - will help also.

~Lyssa

Hi there I do a 5k a day

That might be too many runs per week if you want to be increasing your distance. Cut out a few of those runs, and slowly add distance to 1 run each week.

Have a look at this 10k training program - you'll see that he only includes 3 runs.http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51122/10K-Novice-Training-Program

If you're running 5 times a week already, you might be able to follow this one: http://halhigdon.com/training/51123/10-K-Training-Guide-Intermedite-Program, which is 4 runs, 1 speed work day, 1 rest day and 1 cross training day.

~Lyssa

TavistockToad

1117429 wrote: »

macgurlnet wrote: »

Are you running every single day, or do you just do 5k each time you're running?

Backing off some - doing 3-4 runs per week - will help also.

~Lyssa

Hi there I do a 5k a day

How long have you been doing that for?

Adding in rest days so you can do a longer run would be beneficial unless you've been running for years.

BrookeRunningMom

TavistockToad wrote: »

1117429 wrote: »

macgurlnet wrote: »

Are you running every single day, or do you just do 5k each time you're running?

Backing off some - doing 3-4 runs per week - will help also.

~Lyssa

Hi there I do a 5k a day

How long have you been doing that for?

Adding in rest days so you can do a longer run would be beneficial unless you've been running for years.

For about 9 months

jjpptt2

As others have said... slow down a bit to better pace yourself. An occasional break to walk is fine, but if it's happening on every run every time at every time increment, then there's something about your training/conditioning that needs work.

Also, when you say you're running a 5k every day, do you mean every single day, 7 days a week? That's pretty serious - no injuries or recovery issues?