Effective Ways to Increase Your Stamina for Running

Do you often dream of running and completing a marathon, but huff and puff and feel your heart pounding after running half a mile? Then, you need to work on your stamina and muscle endurance. It comes with practice and a few tricks. 

1. Warm Up

A great deal of your running form depends on whether or not you did warm exercises. Warm up is necessary, not an option. Give yourself a good 10 minutes to warm up the muscles so that they are ready to take on the challenge. Start by doing neck rotations, arm circles, shoulder rotations, waist rotations, side lunges, spot jogging, jumping jacks, and ankle rotations.

2. Maintain Proper Posture

Maintaining proper posture will help you run better and for a longer duration. Plus, it will protect you from injury. Roll your shoulders back, look ahead, push your chest up, loosen your neck and arms, clench your fist, put your thumbs inside the hollow made by the four fingers and start running slowly.

3. Check Your Breathing Technique

Running is like meditating. Concentrate on your breathing, and it will become easier. I can say this from first-hand experience. Slow, steady, and continuous running is not easy for beginners.

4. Land Softly

When you start running, do not stomp your feet on the ground. It will only hurt your knees and make running difficult. Land softly by putting your heels first. Of course, you must wear shoes that will support your feet.

5. Interval Runs

This is a great way to build stamina. All you have to do is run and walk at equal intervals. This way, you will you able to cover long distances without feeling worn out. Plus, it will give you an idea of how long you can run continuously without feeling exhausted. And you will be able to set targets for the next week.