Hi fellow don juans. I. am trying to lose my gut so I wanted to ask is there any tips to run longer on the treadmill? Do I need good shoes? Do I need to breathe better?
What you need the most is conditioning. Any endurance athlete will tell you that doing long distances in anything is a build-up process.
To your question, there are a few things you can do now to start that build-up process and ramp up:
1) Proper posture - This is huge in long-distance. Improper posture and body movement mechanics will only lead to injuries like tendonitis and even small fractures. Do your research about proper running posture and mechanics. Record yourself from all angles when you run and pinpoint/analyze improper posture and body mechanics so you know what to correct.
2) Breathing - Yes, that is huge as well. Breathing should follow your cadence. It should also follow a proper pattern. With proper breathing, you will build stamina faster and endure longer.
3) Yes, HIIT (high-intensity interval training) will help with endurance and stamina. I just wouldn't go into HIIT until you have proper posture.
4) Shoes - They are not critical for short distances but when it comes to long-distance they will make a difference. Do your research.
5) Last but not least, nutrition. Before and after.
I used to (and plan to get back to) do triathlons and I can tell you that when it comes to long-distance all of the above are important. Long-distance running is not for everyone, but for those that it is you end up feeling those long runs like meditations and you crave them. You don't really feel the run as much, it becomes an automatic movement where you feel like you're floating and your body is on autopilot. Then you simply get into this mindset of meditation and reflection during the runs. At least it was for me.
Most of my long runs were outdoors so it gives you the chance to enjoy the scenery. Long runs on a treadmill sound boring if I am being honest but hey that's your goal, not mine.
Cheers man
Modern Man Advice