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Endurance and Stamina?

2.1K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  Kilroy's Vice  
#1 ·
I read about programs that tell you how to increase endurance. I read about programs to increase stamina. What's the difference between stamina and endurance? Is there a difference? How does cardio training fit into this?
 
#2 ·
Without looking up any definitions, I'll tell you how I perceive the difference. To me, stamina is the ability to perform at maximum effort for a length of time (relatively short time). Endurance is the ability to perform at an above average effort over a longer time period. I'll give a couple example below:

Stamina: Doing a circuit workout with heavy weights without rest between exercises.
Endurance: Running 5 miles, or hiking all day.

I suppose as I type this and think about it, the difference seems to be that stamina involves strength and hard exertion, and endurance refers to cardiovascular performance.
 
#3 ·
Dictionary Definitions:

en·dur·ance/enˈd(y)o͝orəns/
Noun:
- The fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.
- The capacity of something to last or to withstand wear and tear.

stam·i·na/ˈstamənə/
Noun:
The ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort.

Both relate to the same general principle of having a level of physical fitness (combining aerobic and anaerobic facets) that will allow you to sustain moderate physical activity for an extended period.

Cardio training is training to increase the length of time you can perform moderate physical activity (within your aerobic threshold). A good way to measure what moderate is is by using conversation. If you can talk to yourself (actual talking) or to your training partner without deep breaths, you're not in a "moderate" zone. If you can talk, but need to stop to take a decent breath after every 5 or 6 words, you're working hard enough to increase your stamina/endurance.

In a survivalist sense, this is you jogging towards an area where you know there is game to hunt, or fish to catch, or trekking with a full pack up a mountain.

When you reach the point during intense exercise where you cannot talk, you have pushed yourself to the limit of your anaerobic threshold, which is where the body is using fast twitch muscle fibres and all available energy stored within your muscles.

Again, in a survivalist sense, this is you using the "flight" portion of "fight or flight", and you're running for your life - perhaps from a mountain lion, or a group of gun toting crazies.

Having participated in cycling, distance running and triathlon events for the last 17 years, I suggest running as a good way of increasing your endurance. Start with running a mile within 8 minutes, three times a week. If you can do that easily, increase your distance a half mile a week, or a mile a week if you feel comfortable. If you can run 5 miles within 30 minutes, you're doing better than the majority of the population, and could easily outrun them when they're chasing you and your food.

If you are going to do any sort of cardio training, get some good shoes and drink plenty of water. This makes all the difference.
 
#4 ·
I don't run much, but I know cycling is good for endurance! When I rode a lot, I had a resting heart rate of 32, and could sustain 178 bpm for almost 7 hours, with a max heart rate of 212. Blood pressure was 135 / 60.
 
#5 ·
No real difference. More of a context kind of thing. Cardio training builds endurance/stamina. By increasing you bodies ability to do work for longer amounts of time.

An example would be a man could jog really fast for 10 yrds. He would be fast. But if he could jog at reasonable speed for 30 min then he would have stamina and also he would have demonstrated endurance.