Endurance and Speed
(Note: This is the continuation of my series on fitness categories. See the previous posts for more information.)
"We should run together sometime!"
This phrase fills me with anxiety.
People sometimes find out that I had a period of my life when I would run often. If that person is a runner, they will offer to run with me sometime. I almost always decline. It's not because I'm trying to be rude — quite the opposite! I am trying to spare them the misery of running with someone who runs at my considerably slow pace. And I'm trying to spare myself the misery of answering the comments and well-meaning suggestions that come with my slow pace.
[I decided to provide proof of my short-lived life as a person who could run long distances: I attached my 2020 Spartan Super photo. (Spartan Super is a 10K.)]
I'm actually a fairly fast runner… if we are going any less than a quarter mile. After that, we have transitioned into an entirely different type of running that my body interprets as a feat of endurance.
Endurance is hard for asthmatics like me. The fitness category of endurance encompasses all prolonged physical activity, which usually can test your cardiovascular and aerobic capabilities — activities that require the heart and lungs to work hard. The heart part is unproblematic for me; the lungs, however, hate me. So, I kind of dread cardiovascular activities. (This fear turns into fuel that helps me train to overcome my limitations, but that's probably a post for another time.)
Other activities for stepping up your stamina and enhancing your endurance include:
Walking
Cycling / Biking
Hiking
Climbing stairs
Rowing
While I love to dump on the activity of running, I’m usually just joking. Many people find great joy and peace in these types endurance activities. The Boston Marathon had 28,000+ people participate in 2022. Why would people put themselves through this if it didn't bring some measure of joy or satisfaction? Some people find great peace or even the coveted “runner's high” while on a long run. Some people enjoy the focus of one activity over a long period. Some enjoy the solitude or the quiet. And some people (like me running that Spartan race) just want to know if they can do it.
I mentioned that I'm not bad at running short distances. I'm great for short bursts of intense activity. This fits in the fitness category of speed. This category of fitness usually focuses on explosive and rapid motions over a short period of time. Speed is related to strength.
The main difference between endurance activities and speed activities is the energy source. The type of muscles used for endurance are called slow-twitch or type 1; they use lots of oxygen. (You see how that might be a problem for someone who has issues with their lungs?) Speed activities utilize fast-twitch or type 2 muscles. These muscles use anaerobic energy, meaning they don't need as much oxygen and burn fuel quickly.
Fast, short bursts of explosive movement are my absolute favorite things to do. Sparring for 2-3 minutes: yes, please. Lifting something heavy very quickly: I am your man. Hit something hard with my fists or feet: I can do this all day (as long as you let me rest between sets…)
Some speed-enhancing activities include:
High-Intensity Interval Training
Olympic Weightlifting
Boxing
Sprinting
Both Speed and Endurance are excellent fitness categories; neither is superior to the other. However, I find more joy in the speed category; this leads me to pursue more of these activities.
What brings you joy? When you figure that out, pursue your fitness.
I still have more fitness categories to dig into. Soon we'll discuss kinesthetic intelligence, a category so big that it needs its own post. Until then, work hard at your goals, but also take time to enjoy your life as well.
Disclaimer: Statements on this blog reflect the author’s personal opinions and do not represent the author’s employer, past or present, or any other organization with which the author may be affiliated. They are for the purpose of general knowledge. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting fitness and nutrition programs. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any activities or ideas from this site. We do not receive any commission from the brands listed above.