jogging/running progression

So I am currently jogging on the treadmill at 4.5 mph for 20 minutes total and walking at 3.5 mph for a total of 10 minutes. I do intervals of 5 minutes of jogging and 2 minutes of walking. I was wondering if people could suggest what my next increase should be, speed or endurance? I am thinking endurance but not sure how much I should up it each time. Just curious because I am trying to make fitness goals that include my running.
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Replies

  • cbeckl
    cbeckl Posts: 79
    Would also love some information about increasing speed/distance!! I try to run daily in the morning and I'm consistently running 10-10.5 minutes miles. Running a 10k in April and a half-marathon in October. Feel free to add me for some "running buddies".
  • ntdrive
    ntdrive Posts: 105 Member
    What is your ultimate goal? Are you hoping to run in 5k, etc?
  • blacklabelbabe
    blacklabelbabe Posts: 48 Member
    I don't have an "ultimate" goal right now, but sure let's say to run a 5k is what I want to get to.
  • So I am currently jogging on the treadmill at 4.5 mph for 20 minutes total and walking at 3.5 mph for a total of 10 minutes. I do intervals of 5 minutes of jogging and 2 minutes of walking. I was wondering if people could suggest what my next increase should be, speed or endurance? I am thinking endurance but not sure how much I should up it each time. Just curious because I am trying to make fitness goals that include my running.

    ENDURANCE!!!

    If you work on running farther more often your pace will naturally increase. This happens as a consequence of becoming more aerobically fit. You can go faster at the same level of effort. If you run to hard to early you skip this aerobic development and severely limit your pace
  • graceylou222
    graceylou222 Posts: 198 Member
    You should increase your indurance. The couch to 5k app that I am using does that and it works. Your speed will progress as your endurance does. Don't worry about how fast you are, just go at the pace that you feel the most comfortable with! good luck
  • graceylou222
    graceylou222 Posts: 198 Member
    endurance***** wow. OOPS! lol
  • TAsunder
    TAsunder Posts: 423 Member
    My trainers always tell me never to run below 5mph. Not sure why. I would suggest setting 5mph as your goal based solely on their ideology.

    Aside from that, do a lot of intervals. Increase your speed by .2 every 30 seconds until you are 1.0 higher than your normal speed, do that for 1 minute, back down to your normal speed. And/or increase your incline by 2 every 30 seconds until you get to 6 or so and then do that for 1 minute. Stuff like that.

    Speed and incline will lead to endurance.
  • ntdrive
    ntdrive Posts: 105 Member
    Endurance
  • My trainers always tell me never to run below 5mph. Not sure why. I would suggest setting 5mph as your goal based solely on their ideology.

    Aside from that, do a lot of intervals. Increase your speed by .2 every 30 seconds until you are 1.0 higher than your normal speed, do that for 1 minute, back down to your normal speed. And/or increase your incline by 2 every 30 seconds until you get to 6 or so and then do that for 1 minute. Stuff like that.

    Speed and incline will lead to endurance.

    This is all wrong

    ETA more info

    The effort required to run at a particular pace is very different for every individual. What you should be concerned with is running at a particular level of effort. The most objective (although still imperfect) way to measure this is heart rate. Barring heart rate you should use perceived exertion.

    speed trains foot turnover, fast twitch muscles fibers, lactic acid system, anerobic system. None of which have anything to do with endurance

    Incline targets different / more muscles and reduces the pace you can run at the same level of exertion but again does nothing for endurance
  • TurtleRunnerNC
    TurtleRunnerNC Posts: 751 Member
    There are many, many, many more knowledgeable runners here than I will ever be but...... I am currently training for my first half marathon & it is all about endourance. Runs at a slow / easy / conversational pace. From reading beginner advice on some running forums it seems what they encourage as well. I am doing these 'easy' runs @ low mileage Mon, Thurs. My Wed run alternates between 'easy' pace & 'race' pace & increases in mileage every couple of weeks. My long run is Sat & that is s.....l.....o.......w.........
  • IreneAdler221
    IreneAdler221 Posts: 185 Member
    I would use this chart and start at week 5. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
  • krissynicole787
    krissynicole787 Posts: 121 Member
    i started the same way you did! if you can, try to start running outside. it is alot harder. but after running outside for a few weeks and then going back on the treadmill you will notice you can run faster and for longer periods of time.

    i started at 4.5 for 5 minutes and walking 2 minutes at 3.5. then i would try to run for a few minutes longer. after a couple of months i could run on the treadmill for an hour at 4.5.

    After running outside I can run on the treadmill at 5.5 for 3 miles on the treadmill. Yesterday I actually broke my own record and ran at 6 mph for 20 minutes! it took me 31 minutes to run 3 miles, and it normall takes me 34 minutes.

    last weekend i ran my second 5k and it took me 34 minutes (10.44/mile) :smile: my new goal is to run a 5k in 30 minutes!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Endurance...speed will come naturally with increased endurance. Also, recommend doing some running outside...completely different world and much more difficult. If you really want to run a 5K, do some training outside...not saying you can never use the treadmill, but running outside will get you where you want/need to be for a 5K.
  • jasminetoi
    jasminetoi Posts: 62 Member
    the Couch to 5K app helped me go from not being able to run 30 seconds without a struggle to running atleast 20 mins on 6 mph as just a warm up....3 days a week.and it increases your time every day.....after you master that you go back and increase your speed....it works if you are consistent...but hey what doesnt lol
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    Run longer and run easy. Easy may or may not be slow depending on a person's aerobic development. If you use a heart rate monitor easy is around 75% max heart rate and below. As you become more fit easy becomes faster at the same heartrate.

    Build up to the point you can run 2 hrs once every week or two.
  • also if you can already run 20 minutes without stopping I would skip C25k. Simply start increasing the time you run by 5 minutes every week.
  • TAsunder
    TAsunder Posts: 423 Member
    My trainers always tell me never to run below 5mph. Not sure why. I would suggest setting 5mph as your goal based solely on their ideology.

    Aside from that, do a lot of intervals. Increase your speed by .2 every 30 seconds until you are 1.0 higher than your normal speed, do that for 1 minute, back down to your normal speed. And/or increase your incline by 2 every 30 seconds until you get to 6 or so and then do that for 1 minute. Stuff like that.

    Speed and incline will lead to endurance.

    This is all wrong

    ETA more info

    The effort required to run at a particular pace is very different for every individual. What you should be concerned with is running at a particular level of effort. The most objective (although still imperfect) way to measure this is heart rate. Barring heart rate you should use perceived exertion.

    speed trains foot turnover, fast twitch muscles fibers, lactic acid system, anerobic system. None of which have anything to do with endurance

    Incline targets different / more muscles and reduces the pace you can run at the same level of exertion but again does nothing for endurance

    Do you have a source for this? Intervals worked for me. I could run really slowly for 40 minutes but couldn't increase my pace for more than 1 minute or so before. I just ran a 10k on the treadmill at a faster pace than I ever did before interval training. Also, I'm not talking about sprinting. A 1.0 increase is not going to put you in an all-out sprint. As for the 5.0 number, as I said I don't know why they recommend that but every trainer I've had (which is granted, only 3 of them) have said that. They have never explained the logic so I don't know what the reasoning is.

    As for interval training, I see the following articles online when I google interval running or incline running.

    http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Interval-Training-Tips-for-Runners
    http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/whats-difference-between-fartlek-tempo-and-interval-runs
    http://blog.runnerslounge.com/2009/03/getting-faster-part-ii-interval-training.html
    http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Use_interval_training_to_hit_your_5K_and_10K_potential

    http://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/hill-running-5-reasons-love-incline
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/73716-treadmill-incline-vs.-speed/

    In fact, I tried googling "interval training does not build endurance" and all that came back was articles saying it DOES build endurance.
  • blacklabelbabe
    blacklabelbabe Posts: 48 Member
    Thanks everyone! I think endurance is definitely what I am going to be focusing on!

    I want to run outside ultimately but the reason I am on the treadmill right now is because I wanted to find a pace and get started. Also, I am waiting on a HRM to be delivered and the one I ordered tracks the last 16 workout sessions and I plan on using that to help me outside (and to track the calories). At least the treadmill I can set my weight, age, etc. and get a count that is much lower than MFP but probably more accurate.

    And it has been 2 weeks so far for me running at least 3 days per week and I feel like I just need to up it but wasn't sure how to do so!
  • blacklabelbabe
    blacklabelbabe Posts: 48 Member
    i started the same way you did! if you can, try to start running outside. it is alot harder. but after running outside for a few weeks and then going back on the treadmill you will notice you can run faster and for longer periods of time.

    i started at 4.5 for 5 minutes and walking 2 minutes at 3.5. then i would try to run for a few minutes longer. after a couple of months i could run on the treadmill for an hour at 4.5.

    After running outside I can run on the treadmill at 5.5 for 3 miles on the treadmill. Yesterday I actually broke my own record and ran at 6 mph for 20 minutes! it took me 31 minutes to run 3 miles, and it normall takes me 34 minutes.

    last weekend i ran my second 5k and it took me 34 minutes (10.44/mile) :smile: my new goal is to run a 5k in 30 minutes!


    That is awesome! Congratulations on your progress and thanks for responding :) Definitely motivation/inspiration for me! I just want to be able to go for a run and enjoy myself outside!
  • RonandDi
    RonandDi Posts: 120 Member
    This is what I did...I started last October on the treadmill and had never heard of C25K. I walked for 10 minutes, ran as long as I could, then walked till I had been on it for 30 minutes. I gradually got to where I was walking 5, running/jogging (4mph) for 20, then walk for 5. After I got to where that felt comfortable, I bumped it up to 5mph. Then after that felt ok I went to running for 30 min, keeping the 5 min walk before and after. After that felt ok, I raised the incline to 1%, and that is where I am at now. I run in the morning before work, so I don't want to increase the time much more than where I am now, so I will probably increase the speed a little more, then just keep it at that. For me, 30 minute run is a good workout for the goals I have set.

    As for running outside, I have only ran outside twice and both times I ran longer and faster than I do on the treadmill, with the same effort.
  • kr0nikk
    kr0nikk Posts: 12
    So I am currently jogging on the treadmill at 4.5 mph for 20 minutes total and walking at 3.5 mph for a total of 10 minutes. I do intervals of 5 minutes of jogging and 2 minutes of walking. I was wondering if people could suggest what my next increase should be, speed or endurance? I am thinking endurance but not sure how much I should up it each time. Just curious because I am trying to make fitness goals that include my running.

    wait what are your goals? like fat burn? heart rate? endurance? muscle tone? or all ?
  • Thanks everyone! I think endurance is definitely what I am going to be focusing on!

    I want to run outside ultimately but the reason I am on the treadmill right now is because I wanted to find a pace and get started. Also, I am waiting on a HRM to be delivered and the one I ordered tracks the last 16 workout sessions and I plan on using that to help me outside (and to track the calories). At least the treadmill I can set my weight, age, etc. and get a count that is much lower than MFP but probably more accurate.

    And it has been 2 weeks so far for me running at least 3 days per week and I feel like I just need to up it but wasn't sure how to do so!

    If you are concerned about tracking pace there are some great phone apps to help you track / set your pace outside (using the gps on your smartphone). I use ismoothrun.
  • kr0nikk
    kr0nikk Posts: 12
    Endurance

    I agree with guy few posts above... work on ENDURANCE first.... the interval trainingonly helps you loose weight or burn fat. and honestly before you even get there trainers suggest to take it slow and build ENDURANCE first!!! Interval training does wonders if you can stay on the treadmill anywhere from 60-90 minutes. Doesnt like this is the case for you.... so i would build up my endurance till you could get there and then start on interval training :) hope this helps... feel free to pm me if you ever need help :)
  • My trainers always tell me never to run below 5mph. Not sure why. I would suggest setting 5mph as your goal based solely on their ideology.

    Aside from that, do a lot of intervals. Increase your speed by .2 every 30 seconds until you are 1.0 higher than your normal speed, do that for 1 minute, back down to your normal speed. And/or increase your incline by 2 every 30 seconds until you get to 6 or so and then do that for 1 minute. Stuff like that.

    Speed and incline will lead to endurance.

    This is all wrong

    ETA more info

    The effort required to run at a particular pace is very different for every individual. What you should be concerned with is running at a particular level of effort. The most objective (although still imperfect) way to measure this is heart rate. Barring heart rate you should use perceived exertion.

    speed trains foot turnover, fast twitch muscles fibers, lactic acid system, anerobic system. None of which have anything to do with endurance

    Incline targets different / more muscles and reduces the pace you can run at the same level of exertion but again does nothing for endurance

    Do you have a source for this? Intervals worked for me. I could run really slowly for 40 minutes but couldn't increase my pace for more than 1 minute or so before. I just ran a 10k on the treadmill at a faster pace than I ever did before interval training. Also, I'm not talking about sprinting. A 1.0 increase is not going to put you in an all-out sprint. As for the 5.0 number, as I said I don't know why they recommend that but every trainer I've had (which is granted, only 3 of them) have said that. They have never explained the logic so I don't know what the reasoning is.

    As for interval training, I see the following articles online when I google interval running or incline running.

    http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Interval-Training-Tips-for-Runners
    http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/whats-difference-between-fartlek-tempo-and-interval-runs
    http://blog.runnerslounge.com/2009/03/getting-faster-part-ii-interval-training.html
    http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Use_interval_training_to_hit_your_5K_and_10K_potential

    http://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/hill-running-5-reasons-love-incline
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/73716-treadmill-incline-vs.-speed/

    In fact, I tried googling "interval training does not build endurance" and all that came back was articles saying it DOES build endurance.

    The entire principle of all of the interval training in running is to build speed, raise lactate threshold, and vo2Max. Intervals are done at a heart rate that cant be sustained. vo2Max intervals can only be sustained for a few minutes. Tempo runs maybe around an hour.

    Aerobic endurance is an entirely different system and needs to be trained differently.

    I am not really in the mood to go google sources, but I can tell you with certainty that almost any running coach, running plan, running book will tell you to build endurance with long slow runs prior to adding interval based speed work
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    Run outside. Far greater experience and far less boring then sign up for a 5K.
  • AmazonRDH
    AmazonRDH Posts: 203 Member
    BUMP.... curious about this too. I started doing 2 days a week increase speed but less distance and then two days a week increased distance at my normal turtle speed, wasn't sure which was the better of the two either.
  • AmazonRDH
    AmazonRDH Posts: 203 Member
    Run outside. Far greater experience and far less boring then sign up for a 5K.


    I don't think jogging on a treadmill is boring at all. i pump up my fav music and have a great time. I'm very shy and don't much like people staring at me outside, although I do 5K's all the time w/my BFF. To each their own, it's a matter of preference and whatever makes you feel like a zillion buckers. :bigsmile:
  • morticiamom
    morticiamom Posts: 221 Member
    Intervals worked for me too. I'd built up to being able to run 50 minutes or more at a stretch, but couldn't get much over 5mph -- my best day was 5.2. After a few weeks, I was tired of it, so I did several modified interval training sessions, where I ran for a half hour, but with eight one minute long intervals where I'd run as fast as possible, then go back to my regular pace for 90 seconds. When I next did my regular run, I jogged for 50 minutes at 5.8 mph.
  • RonandDi
    RonandDi Posts: 120 Member
    Run outside. Far greater experience and far less boring then sign up for a 5K.


    I don't think jogging on a treadmill is boring at all. i pump up my fav music and have a great time. I'm very shy and don't much like people staring at me outside, although I do 5K's all the time w/my BFF. To each their own, it's a matter of preference and whatever makes you feel like a zillion buckers. :bigsmile:

    I'm with you...I read all the time "treadmills are boring....have to run outside, treadmills are too easy..." yada yada yada. And I thought I had a short attention span. Don't get me wrong, I would rather run outside also, but it isn't always an option, and running on a treadmill is better than doing nothing.
  • Fartlek!! Sounds silly but it works.

    http://runners-resource.com/fartlek

    On the treadmill, when I was getting "up to speed" during the winter I would do "speed intervals" and run .10 of a mile at a jog and then .10 of a mile at a sprint. After I could do 3 miles like that I would up the sprint speed, up the jog speed, up the length of the interval. Now I can run 3 miles at what used to be my sprint speed.

    Woo speed play!