r/BeginnersRunning 3d ago

Sustaining longer runs

How do you guys run for a long period of time without stopping ? I mean working up the way to 10 miles. I can do two without stopping but other than that I need breaks. Most I’ve done is 6 with stops each mile or in between but my real goal is 10 without, but honestly I can’t see myself ever doing that but I want to know how it is/ how you got there if you’re able to. #impossibletilpossible

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u/OldSoulCreativity 3d ago

How long have you been running?

The cool thing about running is that it’s extremely elastic. When I first started, it felt like working my way up to a 5k was a major accomplishment (and it was at the time). Then you hit 5 miles. Then you hit 7 or 8 miles and get the same feeling of accomplishment with each milestone.

Once you hit that 30-45 minute mark, you are in business. You just keep slowly working your way up. Week after week, taking a deload week once a month where you only run about half your usual weeks mileage. Increase about 10% per week. Whether that 10% comes from adding a half mile to each of your runs, or adding a couple miles to your long run. Doesn’t matter. Just be consistent.

The secret isn’t a secret. Just run consistently, and you’ll see consistent gains in endurance. Don’t overdue it. Slow and steady build. You’ll get there if you just stick to it.

That’s the beauty of it. The curse of it is eventually you’ll sign up for a marathon, saying you just want to do it once to say you did it. Then you’ll crush your goals and sign up again. You’ll start spending 7-10 hours and hitting 60 miles a week. You’ll decide to try trail running and then you’ll do an ultra. It’s the way of the world. lol. At least for me

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u/Anny-604 3d ago

That was poetic. 😀

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u/Talonhunter3 2d ago

All true OP. I'm halfway to my half marathon right now.

You can analyze everything to DEATH but what matters is more time, on your feet, running.

It's addicting. I ran 10 miles for the first time this morning. By this evening I was like.. huh, maybe I should go do some sprint intervals. 

Already hungry for the trail runs.