A friend recently sent me this question about running:

Hey Pat. How have you been? I know this may seem random, but I have started running and can’t seem to get past 1.5 miles. It has been like that for a couple of weeks. You are one of the only people I know who enjoys running yet doesn’t do marathons. So I was wondering if you would have any advice if you don’t mind.

Here is my response.

How long have you been running? Being stuck for a couple of weeks isn’t long.
My number one rule: just keep at it.

How often are you running? And for how many minutes?
Don’t worry so much about the mileage at the beginning. Try to build a good habit of running regularly for 20-30 minutes. You’ll see improvement come.
A while ago I posted 8 Keys to Unlock New Habits, looking at how running became a habit for me. Perhaps something there will be helpful.

And don’t feel like you have to run all the time.
It’s OK to throw some walking in. Just keep moving.

I quit running for 6 months to get my dissertation finished. It’s been hard to get back to consistent running and I’ve lost a lot of stamina. But I’ll keep at it.

What about you? Do you have any suggestions? Let us know in the comments.