File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Ok, so I have started running recently. I went from barely making 1 mile a day to where I now can run about 2.5 miles a day. This progression took me 2 months to do. But now I run 2.5 miles every day, feeling tired at the end of the run. Here's the dilemma. I seem to have hit a plateau. By the time I get to the 2.5 mile mark, I am exhausted.

Does anyone know what will help? Is it because I am running the same distance every day with no days off? Do I need to run less, then more, or what? My goal is 5 miles a day, but I just seem to have stopped making progress.

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The Dude abides.
>> Anonymous
Do you time yourself? What is your pace?
>> Saigaguy !n87gAqL9/w
I do 5, and used to be in the same position.

First, cut it back to 3x a week. Your legs need time to rest and heal.

Second, after resting your legs up to the point where they are no longer sore, man up and say "I will jog 5 miles if it kills me." I did that and I nearly did die. On about the 4th mile I stopped being able to feel my legs, and the 5th mile took about 12 minutes to complete.

I barely made it back to my apartment and hurt for a long, long time. But after that I could run 5 miles at a decent clip, averaging about 42-46 minutes.
>> Anonymous
I don't time myself, but it takes 20-25 minutes for 2.5 miles
>> Anonymous
>>34625
I can't run twice a day because I work 8 to 5, then work out, then run at the end of the day.
I tried running at the beginning of the day, but I can't consistently make myself wake up, so I think running two a day is not going to work except on the weekend.
>> Anonymous
Try to control your breathing, time inhales and exhales after every couple of steps, like in-in-in-in-out-out-out-out, spend time filling and clearing your lungs with air.
This usually means a big boost for me, as it gives me enough oxygen to keep those aerobic muscles working without tiring out.
>> Anonymous
>>34639

So you mean slower breathing?
I normally breathe in-in-out-out-etc.
Does slower breathing help?
>> Saigaguy !n87gAqL9/w
>>34642

Do something else, then.

Weight training on your off days, also cut back on calories.
>> Anonymous
>>34649

I weight train five days a week, and my calories are usually between 1500 and 2000 a day.
I'll try resting my legs some days, but I still want to do some good cardio, so now the question is, what is a good solid cardio workout that I can do in which my legs can rest (swimming is out, because I do not have a membership to the pool)
>> Anonymous
>>34630
People will tell you that to train distance you've got to add miles, run longer etc. They probably right, but what I find helps is to mix it up. Take a day out of the week to change your normal routine, and do intervals of sprints. You can still do the 2.5 miles, but just jog or walk to catch your breath between sprints. I found that doing that every now and then really helps my stamina. You may find it easier to up the distance on your next normal run after that. Of course, you still need to give your legs enough rest if you want to see gains.
>> Anonymous
>>34647

Yeah, try to make slower, fuller breaths. It might be uncomfortable at first, but I really have no idea about your current lung capacity. But like I said, I can maintain a faster pace for longer times like that. The sooner you get into a rhythm the better, and be mindful not to slip back into shallow gasps.
Plus, complete exhalations get rid of those stings in your sides.
>> Anonymous
OP here, ok thanks for the help. I've been running/sprinting some to try and change it up, but maybe I sprint too much cause the next day my legs are jelly. I'll try the longer breath thing, and keep working at running/sprinting.
I'm done with work now though, so any more advice . . . will not be heard.