making cardio work

[byoung]

I have been walking/jogging 5-7 days a week twice a day for about a year now. I'm started picking it up a bit and going about 1-2 hours per day. Once in the morning once at night. I have started mixing jogging with walking, but I can't seem to get anymore stamina and it doesn't seem to be doing much good anymore. I walk at a very fast pace and am always breathing heavier and normal throughout. How do I get my cardio stamina built up so I can maybe jog the entire time, or at least half???

[sooner_ed]

Each session, do this:
Jog 1 minute, walk 29 minutes
Jog 2 minutes, walk 28 minutes
Jog 3 minutes, walk 27 minutes
Jog 4 minutes, walk 26 minutes

I think you see where this is going. Add a minute of jogging each session while decreasing your walk by the same minute. You will not progress unless you have a plan and a goal.
Also, consider walking/jogging once a day and begin a weightlifting program daily as well. Do one in the mornings and one in the evenings. Building up strength through lifting will help your walk/jog.

[byoung]

I also do weight training 3-6 days a week. The reason I do cardio twice is I have an energetic dog and a small yard, so it gets his crazies out

[CF-OC_gal]

As in the example above - interval training gradually will condition your heart and breathing for longer runs. You should note though that there is a genetically determined upper limit and not all people are created equal. This doesn't mean that you should try less or give up or accept heath risks as inevidible - just realize that you may have to work harder for smaller gains than others when doing cardio.

Here are some programs I like:
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

http://run.to/womeninmotion (go through the site for different ones)

http://www.halhigdon.com/index.html