Just one more block - Columbo’s simple tip for extending your running mileage
An important part of learning to run is knowing how to increase what you are getting out of it. If you don’t improve you will get stuck in a rut and will lose the faith.
The only two factors are: improve your speed or improve your mileage.
A simple tip for improving your mileage once you are capable of running for 20 minutes is to use the “just one more block” mentality. You can even say it in a “Just more thing…” Columbo style if it helps.
I live in an area that has blocks of around 300 yards all round. I have a few routes that take me well away from the house for around 5K. As I’m coming back to the house I tell myself “I could stop now and that would be OK but if I do one more block it’ll be easier next time - surely I can manage one more block”. At the end of that block I’ve added another 300-400 yards to my total and I think “that wasn’t too bad - maybe just one more….” and it honestly becomes addictive. Before you know it you have added a couple of K to your run and it now becomes standard.
This is my plan to get me from being able to run a 10K race to being able to run a half marathon comfortably in 6 months.
Let’s see how it goes.
Cheers, Mark.