Running Beginners How to Run Without Getting Tired By Christine Luff, ACE-CPT Christine Luff, ACE-CPT LinkedIn Twitter Christine Many Luff is a personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and Road Runners Club of America Certified Coach. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 23, 2021 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John Honerkamp Reviewed by John Honerkamp LinkedIn Twitter John Honerkamp is an RRCA and USATF certified running coach, celebrity marathon pacer, and recognized leader in the New York City running community. Learn about our Review Board Print Verywell Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Before Your Run During Your Run If You Still Feel Tired New runners often feel frustrated when they find themselves getting winded soon after starting a run. While some people may tell you that you're simply out of shape, it's not necessarily your fitness level that's the issue—it's the speed at which you are running and the way you are running. Building running endurance takes time, but with continued practice, you can run longer distances and feel less tired or winded when doing so. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building stamina for running, there are a few key principles to keep in mind. As important as it is to start working out, you will get far more out of a run if you learn proper running form and technique. Equally important is how you prepare for a run, including the foods you eat and the amount of time you spend warming up. The following guidelines can help you build endurance and stamina so you can run longer distances without running out of breath. What is Stamina: Definition, Tips, How to Improve How to Build Endurance: Before Your Run Making sure you're adequately prepared for your run can help prevent you from getting winded while you're running. Understand RPE Many runners get winded too quickly because they run at a pace that is too fast. For this reason, it may be helpful to use a tool called the RPE scale for your runs. RPE stands for "rating of perceived effort." There are different types of RPE scales—the easiest one to follow is a simple scale from 1–10, where the number one represents the least amount of effort and the number 10 represents the most extreme effort. Before you head out the door, it can be helpful to set a target level of intensity for your run. Use the RPE scale to rank your perceived exertion during your running workouts. RPE (Rating of Perceived Effort) Scale RPE Feels Like... Estimated HR 2–4 Light exertion. Appropriate for a warm up and cool down 50–60% of max 4–5 Moderate effort. You're breathing deeply but comfortably. 60–70% of max 5–7 Moderate to vigorous effort. The run is challenging and you're not sure how long you can continue. 70–80% of max 7–9 Vigorous to extremely hard. You begin taking short, gasping breaths and you want to quit. 80–90% of max 10 Ultimate effort 100% of max Easy runs should rank at about a 3 to 4 on the scale. Moderate intensity runs should feel like a 4 to 7, and more challenging runs (such as speed workouts) rank higher. Note that many factors affect the effort ranking of an RPE scale, which means it's not always accurate. But most experts agree that it is the easiest and least expensive way to know if you are working too hard. Finding the Right Intensity for Your Heart Rate Training Zone Warm Up Warming up prepares your muscles for more strenuous activity. This is especially important if you are running in the cold. Start your warm-up with an easy jog or a walk. Aim for about 10–15 minutes of activity to get your blood pumping and to increase your core temperature. If you choose, add a few running drills or dynamic stretches. A Dynamic Warm-Up to Use Before Your Workout Fuel Properly Running requires an ample supply of fuel in the form of glycogen. If you participate in longer runs (lasting more than an hour) you should be especially careful about making sure that you eat well before you run. This is why you hear about carb-loading prior to a marathon; for shorter runs, your usual diet will be sufficient. Glycogen is the stored form of glucose (sugar) which our body warehouses in muscles and liver for future use. The moment you start a strenuous activity, such as running, your body will convert glycogen back into glucose to use as fuel. If you have too little in your body, you will burn out quickly. This is true even if you are in relatively good shape. How to Build Endurance: During Your Run To avoid getting winded during a run, do what the pros do. Check your form, control your breathing, and pace yourself. Monitor Intensity Your RPE rating can help you monitor how hard you're running and also determine your heart rate. For example, a rating of 2 to 4 on the RPE scale would correspond to a heart rate that is about 50–60% of your maximum heart rate. Your maximum heart rate (MHR) is the upper limit (determined in heartbeats per minute) of your cardiovascular ability. The most simplified way to estimate your MHR is to subtract your age from 220. When you first start out with running, it's a good idea to keep your heart rate around 65% of MHR or lower. If you are able to run at this pace without getting winded, you can gradually increase until you reach 85% of your MHR. If you have a heart rate monitor such as a watch, you can also use the heart rate reading provided on your watch as an indicator of your intensity level while you're running. Run at a Conversational Pace Another way to track your intensity is to keep your pace moderate enough so that you can talk in complete sentences, not just one-word responses. If you're running by yourself, you should be able to sing "Happy Birthday" without gasping for air. If you can't complete a full sentence without a gasp, slow down and take a walking break. (In fact, a run/walk approach is often a great way to build endurance when first starting out.) When you catch your breath, begin again at a more manageable pace. Check Your Posture Always hold your torso upright and avoid bending at the waist while running. Proper posture will help you breathe more efficiently by preventing the compression of your diaphragm. Slumping or hunching decreases your lung capacity while increasing your breathing rate. 8 Quick Fixes for Running Form Belly Breathe During your runs, breathe from your belly as opposed to your chest. Try to use your diaphragm to completely fill and empty the lungs. Belly breathing gives your lungs much more room to expand and helps avoid side stitches that can develop when you breathe too quickly. Swing Your Arms Keep your arms at a relaxed 90-degree angle while running. They should swing naturally from the shoulders without swaying across your chest. As you step with your right leg, the left arm will naturally move forward. The pattern reverses on the other side. This contralateral movement will help propel the body forward so that your legs don’t have to work as hard. Relax Your Breathing If you allow yourself to breathe deeply but comfortably, you may notice that your breathing starts to sync with your footstrikes. This is called locomotor-respiratory coupling (LRC). All mammals do it, but humans have greater flexibility in the way that they use it. Many runners fall into a natural 2:1 LRC pattern, meaning that for every two steps they take one breath. Try not to force yourself into an unnatural pattern, but simply find your natural rhythm and relax into it as you run. Focus on Endurance Use your breathing as a guide and think about running further (or for a longer period of time) rather than running faster. If you are able to run a certain distance without getting winded, you can gradually pick up the pace as long as you follow the same rules regarding form and breathing. Should New Runners Try to Improve Their Distance or Speed? If You Still Feel Tired If you try each of these approaches and you still get winded during your runs, don't worry. It happens to everyone, even the most seasoned runners. In fact, you may notice that you have days when you get winded no matter how slowly you run. It's normal to have good days and bad days. If you have a bad day, simply scale back and take steps to rest and regroup. Don't worry too much about a single workout. Instead, focus on your overall training plan and stay consistent with your workouts. Change happens incrementally. If you stick to your plan, you'll see results over time. Mental Strategies for Long-Distance Running Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Whether you're looking to run faster, further, or just start to run in general, we have the best tips for you. Sign up and become a better runner today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Scherr J, Wolfarth B, Christle JW, Pressler A, Wagenpfeil S, Halle M. Associations between Borg's rating of perceived exertion and physiological measures of exercise intensity. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013;113(1):147-55. doi:10.1007/s00421-012-2421-x Helms ER, Cronin J, Storey A, Zourdos MC. Application of the Repetitions in Reserve-Based Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale for Resistance Training. Strength Cond J. 2016;38(4):42-49. doi:10.1519/SSC.0000000000000218 Additional Reading Ciolac EG, Mantuani SS, Neiva CM, Verardi C, Pessôa-Filho DM, Pimenta L. Rating of perceived exertion as a tool for prescribing and self regulating interval training: a pilot study. Biology of Sport. 2015;32(2):103–108. doi:10.5604/20831862.1134312 Faulkner J, Parfitt G, Eston R. The rating of perceived exertion during competitive running scales with time. Psychophysiology. 2008;45(6):977–985. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2008.00712.x Muyor JM. Exercise Intensity and Validity of the Ratings of Perceived Exertion (Borg and OMNI Scales) in an Indoor Cycling Session. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2013;39:93–101. doi:10.2478/hukin-2013-0072 By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies