Improving my stamina... - Beginners

Alan Chan 4

22/12/2006 at 11:28

Hi, can anyone give me some good tips for building stamina (i'm a total begginer). I'm using treadmills at the gym rather than road running, and if you put me on 12-13kph i can run as long as you'd like me too, and it doesnt really do much for me. I'm looking to build stamina / lung capacity / CV fitness rather than calorie burning for weight loss. i've been put on a program at 7.3mph upping the gradient by 0.5 every 20 seconds and hit the brick wall at about 7 minutes, usually remaining on gradient 9.5 for as long as i can.
I'm a non smoker, 5'6", 9 1/2 stone, good stregnth fitness, well hydrated with good blood pressure. However i'm getting puffed out climbing stairs, and the rowing machine seems like torture, my CV fitness is appalling.
Is this a good way to build stamina, or should i change my training ragieme? I want running to be mostly to improve CV fitness, i dont want to loose too much weight. My running forms part of my overall gym program which mostly consists of resistance machines. What benefits will building my legs on machines offer (which again is the bain of my life as they are like twigs)?

Siance

22/12/2006 at 13:19

Alan, it depends what you're training for. Steady state cardio is fine and does have health benefits but you'll soon plateau so to get a better training effect you'll either have to run faster or longer.

If you want to race, some speed and hill sessions will build stamina and I'd definitely recommend weights for building endurance (upper and lower bod). Choose free weights over machines as they train more muscles and in a more functional way.

Rower is good providing your technique's good (seen bad backs with improper form). You don't have to beast yourself on it. Row at a pace that leaves you breathless but still able to talk a bit. What about stationary cycling or swimming?

M.ister W

22/12/2006 at 13:35

If you want to just improve your CV system then I'd recommend running at 70% of your max heart rate for increasing amounts of time.

Alan Chan 4

22/12/2006 at 14:08

ok thanks, sound like i'm probably pushing a bit too hard then, as by the end of the run i have to sit down and am completely out of breath for a good few minutes. The brick wall i hit is not down to lack of motivation, as i genuinly enjoy running.

I've always thought that unless i'm pushing myself so its uncomfortable, i'm not going to get anywhere (as is the case in weight training)?? Doing a hill climbing running session seems to push my boundaries a bit, long distance puts me off as i think i will burn too many calories.

Does anyone know if its safe to run with aching legs post build-up sessions? For eaxmple i know you are not meant to weight train if your muscles still ache, but can i still run OK if my legs ache from a leg workout the day before?

I don't really do much on the bike machines, but do also do a hard workout on the cross trainer (level 14 out of 20, random program for 11 mins). I find this good stuff.

M.ister W

22/12/2006 at 15:02

Alan, trust me.... if it's CV improvements you're after then you need long slow runs at (or below) 70% of max HR. Pushing yourself hard will give you strength and speed benefits but it isn't going to improve your fitness in the same way.

Dave Cochrane

23/12/2006 at 16:18

Alan, I'd say CW's advice is sound. You want to calculate your max heart rate (as a rough guide 220-your age) and then pound along at around 70% of that for increasing periods of time. You'd be amazed how quickly you'll get inside an hour for 10k on a running machine, provided you stay hydrated, motivated, comfortable, and dedicated.

I'd also HIGHLY recommend mixing your treadmill running with some outdoor runs...for me, this provides a similar benefit to using free weights in that your musculature is constantly challenged in lots of ways by undulating surfaces, wind resistance etc.

Think more about time than speed. Get 30 mins comfortable under your belt as your first goal - easily reached goals are the way to go. Start off with 10 mins now, do that for a couple of weeks, than add 1 or 2 mins (or whatever you reckon) a week. You'll improve in leaps and bounds, way faster than you might expect.

Heart rate monitors are really good for base training and will give you instant visual feedback on whether you're training at the most useful level or not...which is often amazingly slow.

Best of luck and merry xmas!
Dave

sean T

23/12/2006 at 17:03

To build stamina you need to work at anywhere between 55%and 90% of your max heart rate for a minimum of 30 mins each session. But as people have already mentioned if you work at around 70% you should get a good workout but not too hard. You will find yourself primarily working in the aerobic zone but if you find it getting too difficult you are probably entering your anaerobic zone and will tire very quickly , probably within a few minutes. If you manage to do this for a minimum of 3 times a week you will soon see improvements. Heart rate monitors are excellent for performing this type of exercise and also seeing the results in front of you as you improve . This is because you should find that you can perform the same exercise at the same intensity but your heart rate will be lower over a period of time. Then to improve further you need to as already mentioned either run further or faster to continue improving. If you do not have access to a monitor then run at a speed that you can hold a conversation maybe speeding up so that you can say only a few words as you progress . Basically the answer to your question is aerobic exercise which uses a large number of muscles (body movement) to perform. So as well as running you could swim , cycle of mix all three for variety. Remember a minimum of 30 mins , so if you cannot make the 30 min mark you are working to hard!

Stepford Wife

23/12/2006 at 21:26

And if you are worried about using too many calories then just eat more!

DoctorK

24/12/2006 at 14:13

Alan -it is true that slow longer runs build stamina, but it takes time to get it. I started 3 yrs ago on treadmills but it is nothing like running outside. Now I find a treadie hard to bear.
Also a combination of other things -like club track sessions for building speed -and stamina, and spinning classes I find are great for building lung capacity, you could try some aerobic classes or stuff like body attack too. Variety is good too to prevent boredom and repitition even if it is only varying routes when you are out -simply running a route in reverse makes it different. Good luck with it.

_Kieren

24/12/2006 at 14:55

I always thought the longer slower runs build endurance.

To build stamina I think doing something like fartleks would be good or intervals - where you run at a fast pace for a minute, recover for 2

you could mix up these times to suit you with longer fast paced bursts & shorter recoveries.

I could be wrong though - sometimes it's hard to make the distibction between endurance & stamina - at least i find it hard

Nam

26/12/2006 at 00:11

My friend and I started running three months ago. We just steadily built on our distance, adding an extra ten minutes or so every week. Now we can run for a couple of hours! I NEVER thought in a million years that I would EVER be able to run for two hours!!! Now we started to map our runs online to figure out how far we're going. I used to go off like Penelope Pitstop and then turn purple after ten minutes but I've just learned to pace myself somehow. Running with my friend helps. I push the pace and she pushes the endurance so we're a good team. We're trying for three runs a week now. One fartlek/pace run, one strength run (hills) and one long distance run. The hills have made quite a difference in building up leg strength. We avoid boredom by not planning our routes too much and just head off down various roads. We have added a few miles by getting lost on occasions. We did our first 5k fun run a few weeks ago which felt great. We're signed up for a 10k in February and a Half mara in March. Initialy I thought "who are you trying to kid?!" but we recently managed 11 miles and I'm beginning to think we can do it. Just want to survive it, not in it to win it so to speak. Running has always been my nemesis and I've been exstatic to have got my head around it. Looking forward to 2007 with our first proper timed races and many miles to come. Merry Christmas all.

Alan Chan 4

26/12/2006 at 12:14

Thanks everyone, i know that this advice is going to help 100%, and as everyone seems to be giving the same advice. Its really encouraging to hear other success stories. I particularly like the idea of a variety of different training such as hill, road, long distance if this will make the difference. I had a go at a general run on the treadmill with 0 gradient at around 11.5kph (any slower feels a bit to awkward, too much like a trot) and kept going for about 13 mins, so as you can all see this gives a genuine idea that i'm not that fit at present. Question though - even if i'm doing a long run on the treadmill, should i still put it on a gradient to help build stamina, and in general terms which gradient is a substitute for road running? Around 2-3?

Plodding Hippo

26/12/2006 at 12:23

about 1.5-2%
but running outside is totally different anyway
id slow down to that trot, and slower-if you want to go for longer

Nam

26/12/2006 at 16:18

Agree with SWH. My experience was that like you I'd run on the treadmill on what I thought was a reasonable speed for someone my height but I'd still wear myself out after ten minutes. I just couldn't understand it because my general fitness was really good, as I'd breeze through RPM classes etc but I just could not run for toffee!!! Then we just went out on the road and took it really easy, as in REALLY easy! Not much fast than walking pace, gentle jog... Suddenly it didn't feel as if my lungs were going to jump out of my chest and my breathing was much less "desperate" and hey presto we'd been going for half an hour!! Three months later we can do a couple of hours and we really didn't push ourselves hard as we're really not competitive, it just kind of crept up on us. Unlike on the treadmill I don't feel as if I'm going to fall over my own feet if I run slowly, but on the running machine it just feels really weird. I just use treadmill for sprints now if its freezing outside but enjoy running outside much more. Keep at it! Just take it easy.

*Tinks*

27/12/2006 at 11:40

Its really inspiring to read all the advice on here, I also am a relatively new runner, and set myself an initial target to run for 30 minutes without breaks, and when i started and could only do about 2 minutes, i thought that day would never come! But now 8 weeks later I am running 3 x 30 mins a week, and 60 mins at the weekend (but still with some walk breaks!) Once I got to the 30 minute mark I felt like I "should" run much faster - I tried a couple of sessions pushing it and only managed to run for 10 - 15 mins without stopping. Then I came on here and read the threads and realised that endurance and stamina is the way to improve as a beginner, and so I am now back to a steady pace and pushing my distance out. I must admit I am LOVING it, and can't believe I havent started running years ago - I hope the feeling lasts!! Any tips on goal setting for a newbie to keep motivated would be very much appreciated!!

Plodding Hippo

27/12/2006 at 11:40

enter a race

you know you want to----------

*Tinks*

27/12/2006 at 11:46

haha! i do but am a bit scared! I think i will get over excited with the adrenaline and be all done after 2 miles!

Alan Chan 4

27/12/2006 at 11:55

Funnily enough the only race i have ever entered was when i was about 13 years old, and it was a 12 mile charity run, and i managed to complete the entire race. Not bad!! I'm going to join a running club i think.

*Tinks*

27/12/2006 at 12:00

Thanks for starting this thread Alan, you have really inspired me to keep on running!

Plodding Hippo

27/12/2006 at 12:02

Blonde chick-i always strart too fsast
you learn pacing with experience
go for it!