Three ‘easy’ runs

A guide to making things less difficult

Everyone knows the secret to building an aerobic base is running a large amount of miles at a relaxed pace that doesn’t overly strain your muscles or place undue tension on your joints. (Everyone knows this, yes? If not, may I refer you to Base Building 101 from our archives.)

The problem with easy running is that it’s not as intuitive as, say, simply running like you always run every time you step out the door. The problem with the one-pace-to-fit-all runs approach is that doing so can lead to burnout, stagnation, and general malaise. What we’re looking for is the sweet spot between chill and productive.

Unlocking an easy pace that makes you feel comfortable will help take your running to new heights. Not only that, easy running can actually be a lot of fun because they’re not as intense as hard training runs. Instead, they offer less pressure, lower stakes, and more chances to zone out and enjoy your run.