Are you curious about how to become an endurance athlete?
Maybe your questions are,
What are the secrets to endurance?
What sport should I do? Running? Cycling? Swimming? All three?
What’s the best way to train to become an endurance athlete?
If you’ve got these questions right now, then you’re in the right spot.
We’ll dig into what you need to know—from physical training to building your endurance mindset—to help you transform yourself into an endurance athlete.
Let’s get started.
Whether you’re a runner looking for running tips or a cyclist searching for cycling advice, this site is here to help you elevate your fitness game.
Affiliate Disclosure: I’m here to help you grow as a rider and runner. So to keep things running smoothly and the content free, I participate in the Amazon Services program and select affiliate networks. So, when you click on those affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Let’s talk about what endurance is
First, let’s get clear on endurance so we’re on the same page.
It is
- “The struggle to continue against a mounting desire to stop”. (Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance, Alex Hutchinson)
- “The ability to withstand hardship or adversity”. (Merriam-Webster)
This is, by no means, a comprehensive list but the main idea is the same—endurance is the ability to keep going when the going gets tough.
So why would someone choose to place themselves in the tough spot that is endurance athletics?
Running allows me to put all my ‘problems’ into perspective. Everything that I deem overwhelming seems manageable after a good run. 1
10 Reasons Why I Run
Triathlon was something scary and challenging and huge.
Something that could show my kids what mom was made of – even if it was a low speed tipper or a really embarrassing first triathlon. Something to figure out who I was. A place to try and get healthy.
…so many of us swim, bike, and run to get through something, past a problem, or just to be part of a community. 2
Beginner’s Luck: Why we Tri
For the love of riding downhill…riding up hills or over long distances can give you a sense of achievement, but sweeping around bends and cruising down a beautiful quiet lane without pedaling is one of life’s great wonders.3
8 Reasons why we started cycling, and why we should never forget them
Now that we know what endurance is and why people pursue endurance athletics, let’s make it personal—how you can get started with becoming an endurance athlete.
How to become an endurance athlete | The top tips to get you started with endurance training
What sport will you choose?
Do you have an idea of what sport you’d like to do? Running? Cycling? Swimming? All three?
Running, a high-impact, stress-bearing activity can help you build strong bones. Plus, the only gear you really need is a pair of running shoes. (You can always stock up on running accessories later.)
Cycling, a low-impact activity, is easier on your body and gives you the same cardio workout as running. (For even more indoor cycling benefits, come on over to this post.)
As fun as cycling is, it costs much more than running. You’ll need a bike, a helmet, bike lights, and the list can keep growing if you let it. (If you’re ready to start cycling, you may want to read the essential tips on cycling alone.)
Swimming, another low-impact activity, build your strength and cardio system. You’ll need to find an open pool near you that works with your budget.
Can’t decide on one sport?
Triathlons may be your best bet because it combines swimming, cycling, and running so you never get bored with one sport. But if you’re watching your wallet, triathlons can get expensive because you’ll need gear for all three disciplines.
Why do you want to become an endurance athlete?
You’ve heard it all before—you’ve got to know why you’re doing something to stick with it, especially when things get challenging, or you want to quit.
Becoming an endurance athlete means pressing into discomfort to keep going—to endure.
Some athletes pursue endurance sports because they want to know what they’re made of, while others want to set an example for their kids.
What’s the reason that’s going to help you endure?
Find your training plan
A training plan can guide you from your first steps to the finish line, but before you settle on a plan, you’ll have to answer a few questions.
1| What are you training for? Are you planning on running a half-marathon? Riding for 30-miles? Doing a sprint triathlon?
2| What’s your schedule like? How much time can you train? Let’s say that you’ve got your eyes on a fall marathon.
Your long runs might take up to 4 hours on the weekend to complete. And these runs suck the energy out of you, so you might spend the rest of the day couch-bound.
Will you have time and space in your schedule to devote to running and recovering?
3| Need a training book to guide you? Training books can walk you through everything you need to know to get started.
And if you’re looking for some recommendations, these posts will lead the way.
- Cycling training books for beginners to advanced cyclists
- Running training books for beginners
- Triathlon training books for beginners, intermediate to advanced triathletes, and Ironman training
Before you dive into your training plan, you have to be an expert in showing up
Once you have a training plan in mind, you’re ready to put it all into action.
But one of the biggest secrets to becoming an endurance athlete isn’t about the training you’ll do—it’s really about showing up to do the work.
You’ve got to be an expert at showing up.
It’s about creating space and time to show up so that you can do your training.
What this means is, you’ll have a set, defined time in your schedule where you intend to train. And this helps you stay consistent in the long run.
This doesn’t mean you have to do your workout. But show up at your scheduled time, with your gear on to reinforce that this scheduled time is time you’ve set aside to train.
This is all truly about creating space in your schedule to train.
Build your mental toughness
Mental toughness goes hand in hand with endurance sports.
Much like how physically, endurance is about pushing past when you want to stop, mental toughness boils down to finding your determination and perseverance when it’s easier to quit.
Mental toughness helps you push a little harder and endure a little longer. It’s the key trait that propels you toward your goal.
And just as you train physically for endurance, you can train and build your mental strength.
You build mental toughness when you don’t feel like training (but do it anyway) or when you want to cut a workout short (but finish it instead).
We’ve run through a handful of top tips you need to know to become an endurance athlete, but the tips don’t end here.
You’ll find even more advice in this free guide, where you’ll learn 3 practical, easy ways to boost your motivation and build your mental toughness.
Grab your free guide below!