How I Went From a 3-Mile Max to Actually Enjoying Distance Running

Callie here, co-founder of 55 Miles along side my husband, Kramer. He's the one that runs the ultras because most of my life, I never considered myself a “distance runner.” Sure, I was an athlete (college volleyball), but my style of running was all-out, short bursts of effort. I’d lace up, take off at a near-sprint, and by the time I hit 2 or 3 miles, I was completely gassed.

Every time I tried to run farther, it felt impossible. My heart rate would skyrocket, my breathing was out of control, and I’d end up convinced: running long distances just isn’t for me.

But then my husband, Kramer, the ultra runner, showed me something that completely changed the way I view running.

The Big Realization

One day, Kramer asked me: “Callie, how long could you go out and hike for?” Without thinking, I said, “Easily two hours.” Hiking never felt impossible to me—it was just moving at a steady pace, breathing comfortably, and enjoying the scenery.

That’s when he explained the difference: when I ran short distances, I was basically sprinting and spiking my heart rate the entire time. But hiking? That was sustainable because I kept my heart rate low.

And that’s the key to distance running.

The Trick to Running Longer

I thought running was supposed to feel like a suffer-fest—fast, hard, lungs on fire. But Kramer taught me that if you slow down, control your breathing, and keep your heart rate low, suddenly running feels more like hiking.

• Steady pace = steady energy.

• Low heart rate = sustainable miles.

• Comfortable breathing = actually enjoyable running.

When you run like this, you don’t burn out at 3 miles. You realize you can go for an hour, two hours, or longer—just like you would on a hike.

Running Becomes Enjoyable

Once I shifted my mindset from “sprint and suffer” to “steady and sustainable,” running changed for me. It became something I looked forward to instead of something I dreaded. I started noticing the scenery, feeling grateful for what my body could do, and actually experiencing joy while running instead of counting down the minutes until it was over.

Why This Matters

I share this because I know there are so many people out there who think they “aren’t runners.” You push hard, max out quickly, and assume your body just isn’t built for distance. But here’s the truth:

If you can hike, you can run longer than you think.

The secret isn’t more grit—it’s running smarter. Keep your heart rate low, treat your pace more like a hike than a sprint, and suddenly the miles open up in front of you. I was able to run my first half marathon at a very enjoyable pace simply because of this shift.

My Encouragement for You

If you’ve capped out at a few miles and felt defeated, try this:

• Slow down your pace until you can breathe comfortably.

• Don’t worry about speed—focus on endurance.

• Think of running like hiking, just with a bit more bounce in your step. Start walking if you can't talk and run at the same time. Once you recover, run again.

You may be shocked at how far your body can carry you when you give yourself permission to run differently.

Get out there and enjoy what your body and mind are capable of!