How to build running endurance quickly

I would suggest Couch to 5k but that requires 3 days a week.

Are you running that 5k straight, like running the whole time?

Check out Jeff Galloway's run walk program: http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/walk_breaks.html

there isn't a shortcut to endurance..you have to put the miles in and learn to utilise your body's energy reserves as efficiently as possible.

You could try c25k or even a 10k programme to help you build up the miles.

As a relatively new runner who has come through the c25k ranks and training for a marathon, I have found that logging in honest miles and adding cross-training like swimming/bike rides/elliptical etc added in will help you develop endurance.

You will enjoy your runs much more once you arn't going flat for broke...unless you are looking to develop speed, whhich would involve speedwork as well as..endurance and logging in the miles.

you are already running a 5k distance..that is no mean feat!

good luck :-)

Just do long runs on one of your days. I suggest more - but if you have 2, make one 10K or more.

HATED running when I started. Hated it in high scahool and always have had knee issues. But the hubs asked more than a few times if I would run the 5k with him this year. When he wouldn't stop asking I took it as a sign it would mean a great deal for him to make that a fitness goal of mine. Snce he has been EXCEEDINGLY supportive of my journey I decided tht to train and try to do this for him was the least I could do to return his support. We are trying to find a 5k to replace the usual one he runs since our daughter graduates the morning of that event this year.

I started using C25K: OMG I thought I was going to die the first week but kep pushing. I started and stopped a few times and restarted again. Maybe about 3 times I did this... Finally i just decided to start running the full 5k to see if I ran one today where I might be on time. Now, I just run the laps until the weather breaks. I make goals... Jog5 laps before one lap walking... I keep pushing and find my pace to make those goals succeed :drinker: You Got this!

Oh and I really enjoy running now. Almost as much as my elliptical... ALMOST

Gradually increase the distance of one run each week until you get to 8 or 9 miles. A 10K will feel easy at that point. Walk/run if needed, but gradually diminish the walking.

Do sprints for the other run with a mile of easy warmup and cool down. Vary the sprint distance, 400m, 600m, 800m, 1000m, 12000m, 1600m (a mile), keep the total distance at about 3 to 4 miles, time the rests between. You can find workout programs online for this.

consider adding a third run each week.

More miles, more miles, more miles and run more days for sure.

Run slow and easy until you build up your endurance, then the speed will come naturally.

Exactly This


Quickly? There are no shortcuts. There is only running, and running, and more running.

You know what they say about the runners in the Olympics. We don't send the best runners to the Olympics. We send the runners with no injuries to the Olympics. Don't be in a major rush. Do it the right way. If you're not able to do a full 10k without walking you don't need to be doing sprints. You need to be doing more easy casual running.

If you're already at 5k, then I'd do the "Bridge to 10k" program... tons of them online! I downloaded one with a Zombie theme... gives you cues about being chased by Zombies!!! HiLaRiOuS!

Anyway... there are also some online that just give you times... that's cool too. It's how I got up to running 60mins. I'm going to stretch that out to train for my first half-marathon in April!

I disagree with C25K

If you can already run 5K then this program will not really help you.

As others have said there is no quick way to aerobic endurance / aerobic fitness. It is gained over many hours of consistent work in the correct heart rate zone.

If you can really only run 2 days per week you are going to make very slow progress. That is just enough to maintain current fitness. 3-4 days per week is really needed to make gains.

The approach to building up miles / endurance is really pretty simple. Run all of your miles slow (if you feel like you are going to die you are running way to hard) You should be in the aerobic zone, and should still be able to talk.

Add miles at a rate of about 10% each week. Every week should consist of 2-3 medium - short runs (probably about 20-30 minutes for you) and one long run where you concentrate on building up your distance.

Hal higdon and jeff galloway both offer good beginner running plans for most distances that take out the guesswork

Take the proper time and put in the effort to build a decent base. Running is a beautiful sport, but can be an injury nightmare for beginners because your aerobic efficiency increases much faster than your soft tissues/connectors can. Hasten slowly.

More miles, more miles, more miles and run more days for sure.

Run slow and easy until you build up your endurance, then the speed will come naturally.

I disagree with the previous poster, one long run and one day of sprint seems like a recipe for injury for a new runner - just my $.02.

Why is that?

What I am about to give you is gold. This is the best advice I have ever seen on running, anywhere. I followed it and am up to about 6 miles per day 3x per week.

http://www.reddit.com/r/USMC/comments/uwb3r/i_need_help_passing_my_ist/c4z5jm2

You're welcome.

Love that link! I'm dying.

I found HIIT a couple times a week improved my endurance and improved my speed more than running 5k every day.

HIIT will help your speed. it will not help your aerobic endurance

I did only HIIT for about 8 months. When I decided to just run again, my pace was faster and I could run longer. I found the HIIT made me in better shape which helped my endurance.

It sounds to me like everyone is giving you advice on how to be a runner and from your initial post and your follow-up on your regimine that you are really interested in training more like a triathlete. If that's the case, then forget about looking at running programs and start to look into triathlon programs, especially those for Sprint tris. Gale Bernhardt has written an excellent book of training plans called "Training Plans for Multisport Athletes". Each chapter has a plan and and athlete profile so there are plans for people who want to check the sport out for the first time and more hard core racers. She has a couple of Sprint plans in the book. The one geared for those with limited training time averages 2-4 hours of total training a week with the 2 runs/week. It's a 12 week plan starting out in week one with a 5 and a 7 min run, the next week, 9 & 11 min runs, and so forth up to 30 & 35 min. She throws in a few acceleration workouts a couple of bricks (bike followed by run, etc.); as you can see, nothing too intense but plenty to prepare you for doing a Sprint tri. I'm sure there are other Sprint plans online but just know that you can stick with 2x/week runs especially if you are doing a variety of other aerobic and strength workouts...and you'll decrease the risks of injury all the strict runners have to be much more conscious of!

Ease210k is good