By Christine Luff
If you're trying to run a mile without taking a walk break or feeling like you need to stop completely, here are some tips to help you reach your goal:
1. Make sure you're breathing properly.
Many people start out running assuming that they need to breathe in through their nose and out through their mouth. That's not the right approach. You should breathe in through your nose AND your mouth to make sure you’re getting enough oxygen.
Breathing that way will also help you avoid side stitches, which are often caused by improper breathing while running.
2. Watch your posture.
Keep your shoulders back and practice good posture. If you’re leaning forward, it’s much harder to breathe and you'll feel winded much sooner. Staying upright will keep your lungs open so you’ll breathe much more efficiently. Stay relaxed and make sure your shoulders aren't creeping up toward your ears.
3. Slow down.
You may be running out of steam because you're going too fast. Keep your pace under control and you'll find that you can go a lot longer. Run at a "conversational pace", which means that you should be able to talk in complete sentences as you’re running. If you find yourself getting out of breath, slow it down. As you build your fitness, you’ll be able to increase your speed. It's more important that you build your confidence and endurance before working on pushing the pace.
4. Use your arms to move you forward.
Keep your arms in a relaxed position. They should be at a 90-degree angle as you're running. Rotate your arms at your shoulders. Try to keep your arms at your side, so they're not crossing over your chest. If you do that, you're more likely to start hunching over.
As you pull one arm back, pull the other one forward. This arm movement will help to propel your body forward, so your legs don't have to work so hard. Your arms help lighten your legs' workload, so use them.
5. Follow a training schedule to build up to a mile.
Many beginner runners find that following a training schedule allows them to build their endurance safely, avoid injuries, and also helps them stay motivated. Checking off workouts as you go along will keep you on track. You'll need to alternate between running and walking, and gradually increase the distance of your run intervals. Try this 4 Weeks to 1 Mile training schedule. And, if you want to keep going when you're done with that program, you can follow this 4 Weeks to 2 Miles training schedule.
source: verywell
If you're trying to run a mile without taking a walk break or feeling like you need to stop completely, here are some tips to help you reach your goal:
1. Make sure you're breathing properly.
Many people start out running assuming that they need to breathe in through their nose and out through their mouth. That's not the right approach. You should breathe in through your nose AND your mouth to make sure you’re getting enough oxygen.
Breathing that way will also help you avoid side stitches, which are often caused by improper breathing while running.
2. Watch your posture.
Keep your shoulders back and practice good posture. If you’re leaning forward, it’s much harder to breathe and you'll feel winded much sooner. Staying upright will keep your lungs open so you’ll breathe much more efficiently. Stay relaxed and make sure your shoulders aren't creeping up toward your ears.
3. Slow down.
You may be running out of steam because you're going too fast. Keep your pace under control and you'll find that you can go a lot longer. Run at a "conversational pace", which means that you should be able to talk in complete sentences as you’re running. If you find yourself getting out of breath, slow it down. As you build your fitness, you’ll be able to increase your speed. It's more important that you build your confidence and endurance before working on pushing the pace.
4. Use your arms to move you forward.
Keep your arms in a relaxed position. They should be at a 90-degree angle as you're running. Rotate your arms at your shoulders. Try to keep your arms at your side, so they're not crossing over your chest. If you do that, you're more likely to start hunching over.
As you pull one arm back, pull the other one forward. This arm movement will help to propel your body forward, so your legs don't have to work so hard. Your arms help lighten your legs' workload, so use them.
5. Follow a training schedule to build up to a mile.
Many beginner runners find that following a training schedule allows them to build their endurance safely, avoid injuries, and also helps them stay motivated. Checking off workouts as you go along will keep you on track. You'll need to alternate between running and walking, and gradually increase the distance of your run intervals. Try this 4 Weeks to 1 Mile training schedule. And, if you want to keep going when you're done with that program, you can follow this 4 Weeks to 2 Miles training schedule.
source: verywell
