running techniques? running without a purpose?

Endurance running may be boring but it should not be extremely hard. If it is hard then you are running too fast.

I think the problem is that you are confusing two kinds of running. The kind of running done in basketball is sprinting. You need agility and good acceleration and you need to be able to do this repeatedly. Endurance running is about running continously for a long time. Most endurance running should be done relatively slowly (at least compared with sprinting in basketball).

Many inexperienced runners think they need to push themselves in every endurance run. That's just not the case. You can build endurance by running 20 to 30 minutes at an easy pace. An easy pace is whatever pace you can do without breathing heavily. If you are gasping for breath then you are running above your current ability. Your endurance speed will increase as your endurance improves.

As far as technique, most people naturally know how to run. You've been doing it your whole life. The biggest mistakes people make are

1. looking at the ground when running

2. leaning forward at the waist

3. bouncing up and down

4. overstriding

Good distance runners run upright and look far ahead of where they are running. They take shorter strides with a higher cadence rather than longer strides with a lower cadence.

David has alot of good tips, and I know where your coming from.

I just ran 14 miles Monday on a treadmill with no TV, boring boring boring.

On a road I like to concentrate on markers, like trees or street lamps etc. they set small goals that are achievable. Also new places is always a good way to take your mind off of what your doing by seeing some new sights. IPOD is also a great mind freezer. Probably the best advice I can give you is to have a running partner, someone to help push you along with the chore, and to congratulate you when your done.

Good Luck

You may not be cut out to be a long distance runner. If that's the case, keep your workouts to no more than 30 minutes. Running with an MP3 player could possibly help you a bit as well.

I go for a 5mile run every day, all i think is a saying by the famous Ali "suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion"

As mentioned already small, achievable goals are good because they give you a sense of achievement as you tick them off. You could listen to a podcast, or audio book, if music doesn't do it for you. Also you can give yourself some reward after you have completed the distance, if you choose a good reward then anticipation will take the place of boredom.