Hi, I'm looking for tips to increase the distance I can run before having to stop and walk.
I've been running for 3x a week for about 3 months now. After a breif warm up, I run as far as I can without stopping, and then I alternate walking/running for a total distance of 2.5 to 3 miles. (I also run each subsequent interval for as long as I can before walking). When I first began, my endurance for the first leg of my run steadily increased each week. But I haven't made any progress in the last 4 weeks and I'm not sure how to overcome this plateau.
Right now, I typically make it 0.5 to 0.7 miles before I have to stop. My short term goal is to run 1 mile before needing to stop the first time (I have actually hit this benchmark on 3 occasions, but I want to be able to do it consistently) and eventually I want to run a 5k without stopping.
My husband suggested running slower, but I already run at the slowest pace I can tolerate--approx.11:00 minute mile. When I try running slower, it feels like I'm jogging in place, which is very uncomfortable and no fun! Plus, the shorter stride causes my leg muscles to tighten and cramp up, forcing me to stop even sooner than usual. Also, I dont know if this matters, but I usually stop running the first time because my legs are burning and/or feel like lead, not because I'm out of breath. Of course, eventually I do stop running because I'm out of breath on subsequent intervals. But oddly enough, I find my legs have stopped hurting by then! (usually around the 2 mile mark).
I thought about increasing my total mileage, but every interval I run gets shorter and shorter. I feel like I'd just be walking more, and how will that help me run longer? Anyone have any ideas?