Quick ways to increase your running endurance?

Hey runners!
I have started running and I would like your ideas and opinions on any ways to increase my endurance when running I have tried couch to 5K and it seemed that when I stopped (like 3-4 min in) it was SOOO hard to get going again, I usually gave up. Although I did end up completing a 5 k years ago!

Are there great books to read on this subject. I have tried a couple things! First I am not eating before because it makes me sick. I am running 6 days a week (I just started 2 weeks ago), today I ran the first mile (13:31), then the second mile was torture to get thru, (because I stopped but I had to cause I was exhausted and my HR was up to 160) it was super hot and humid! I wanted to run two miles in 23: min then build my distance from there and then cut off my time! Is this a good idea?

Any ideas or suggestion would help. I have a goal to run a 5 K in September 10 K in February

Thanks!!!
Oh I am 50 years old!!

Running.

Running.

Running.

That is what increases endurance.

That c25k plan is a great way to start out.

Running.

1st piece of advice......don't run 6 days per week (at least not yet) Your body goes through some very significant physiological adaptations when you start running (bone density, mitochondrial density, tendons, ligaments etc etc). Generally speaking you should run one day on one day off (feel free to cross train on non-running days.....bike, swim, row, walk , weights etc) Sadly for those of us in the half-century club recovery time becomes more important and, typically, fitness improvements come slower (we're not 25 anymore :sad: )

Fatigue is cumulative which is why you were exhausted, you need your non-running days.

You may also be pushing your progress too quickly. I don't know what your fitness level was 2 weeks ago when you started but i can tell you that when i started running in my early 50s by the 2nd week I may have been running (slowly) 4 or 5 consecutive minutes and taking walking breaks and adding a minute or two to the intervals every week or so. Endurance doesn't come quickly, it takes time, patience and consistency.

Focus on building your aerobic base first, don't worry about speed for quite a while.

Many new runners become victims of their own enthusiasm (we've all overdone it...) most injuries are a result of too much. too soon, too fast. Relax, take your time building up and enjoy the process. You have time to prepare for your races (consider downloading and following a training plan eg Hal Higdon's 5K http://www.halhigdon.com/training/50932/5K-Training-The-Most-Popular-Racing-Distance) and have fun!

Hey runners!
I have started running and I would like your ideas and opinions on any ways to increase my endurance when running I have tried couch to 5K and it seemed that when I stopped (like 3-4 min in) it was SOOO hard to get going again, I usually gave up. Although I did end up completing a 5 k years ago!

Are there great books to read on this subject. I have tried a couple things! First I am not eating before because it makes me sick. I am running 6 days a week (I just started 2 weeks ago), today I ran the first mile (13:31), then the second mile was torture to get thru, (because I stopped but I had to cause I was exhausted and my HR was up to 160) it was super hot and humid! I wanted to run two miles in 23: min then build my distance from there and then cut off my time! Is this a good idea?

Any ideas or suggestion would help. I have a goal to run a 5 K in September 10 K in February

Thanks!!!
Oh I am 50 years old!!

Running.

Running.

Running.

That is what increases endurance.

That c25k plan is a great way to start out.

Running.

this just keep running. push your limits. work on that two miles. just keep doing two miles even if you have to walk some of it until you are running the entire two miles. then add 1/4 mile to it repeat process.

1st piece of advice......don't run 6 days per week (at least not yet) Your body goes through some very significant physiological adaptations when you start running (bone density, mitochondrial density, tendons, ligaments etc etc). Generally speaking you should run one day on one day off (feel free to cross train on non-running days.....bike, swim, row, walk , weights etc) Sadly for those of us in the half-century club recovery time becomes more important and, typically, fitness improvements come slower (we're not 25 anymore :sad: )

Fatigue is cumulative which is why you were exhausted, you need your non-running days.

You may also be pushing your progress too quickly. I don't know what your fitness level was 2 weeks ago when you started but i can tell you that when i started running in my early 50s by the 2nd week I may have been running (slowly) 4 or 5 consecutive minutes and taking walking breaks and adding a minute or two to the intervals every week or so. Endurance doesn't come quickly, it takes time, patience and consistency.

Focus on building your aerobic base first, don't worry about speed for quite a while.

Many new runners become victims of their own enthusiasm (we've all overdone it...) most injuries are a result of too much. too soon, too fast. Relax, take your time building up and enjoy the process. You have time to prepare for your races (consider downloading and following a training plan eg Hal Higdon's 5K http://www.halhigdon.com/training/50932/5K-Training-The-Most-Popular-Racing-Distance) and have fun!

Truth.

I would say that there are no "quick" ways to increase your endurance. It takes time and patience if you want to stay injury free.

I would only run every other day, for now. I started with running/walking intervals, back in the dark ages before smart phones and running apps existed. On your running rest days, you can walk, cycle, swim, kayak, lift weights. Whatever brings you joy and keeps you active.

I wouldn't worry about speed yet, either. Increased speed, up to a point, will come with increased mileage. Once you are consistently running 15-20 miles a week, for 3 or more months, then you can look into some organized training plans for speed work.

The key is consistency and taking it slow so you can enjoy it and prevent injuries.

Maybe sign for a 5km race? Just focus on finishing it, at your own pace (mix of running - walking), the fact that you'll be among others will keep you motivated and it is an exciting way to exercise.

I also support the advice that 6 days is too much.. I used to train 6 days, just running, I'm in my late 20s and I noticed that my performance wasn't that great.. I dropped the trainings to two per week and I'm doing better times and have a better endurance!

What everybody else said. It takes time. Concentrate on getting thru the distance using run/walk but try to keep increasing the run intervals. And run slowly. Speed will come naturally as your cardio and skeletal systems adapt to the new demands you place on them.

Similarly, if run/ walk intervals aren't working for you then there are other approaches. Personally I found that C25K worked for me, but after a month or so of continuous running session when I moved onto a run/ walk 10K plan it really didn't work.

In that case just keep pushing your time or distance each session. As you can run for 12 minutes or so, next time push yourself for another minute, then again another minute on the next session. Once you can run for 15 minutes continuously start stepping up in 2 minute intervals, then at 25 minutes stretch that to a five minute increase.

This was the case for me too. C25K worked brilliantly, when I finished that I could run for 40 mins straight. Tried a 10k programme and the intervals and I did not get on. I just do my own plan now - 2 short runs and 1 longer run each week.

Also as others have said, don't run 6 days a week, its too much. And run slower.

Best thing I found for my running consistency was to go slower. As counterintuitive as it sounds, it let me cover distance with fewer walking rests between higher-speed runs.

Once I got that consistency, then I was able to increase speed.

Yep.

Great question and even greater advice!! I took many notes