Title: Building Endurance
Updated: September 24, 2025
Authors: Charlie Olney

Intro:

I chose to create an educational comic to teach readers about endurance training, specifically running. This topic stuck out because it is something i’ve recently been very interested in and many people, including myself, can feel lost when starting fitness and endurance training routines. Using a comic can simplify common mistakes with visuals and storytelling, causing the knowledge to become more memorable. The goal is to help beginners understand endurance running basics and motivate them to start smart. This comic also allows me to explore multimedia storytelling as a learning tool using a subject i’m passionate about.

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THE PROCESS

Phase 1: Understand (Discover, Interpret, Specify)

THE CHALLENGE:
New runners often start with enthusiasm but regularly fall into common mistakes that lead to injury, burnout, or frustration. These individuals need guidance to train safely and consistently.

CONTEXT AND AUDIENCE:

• Typical audience: The typical audience for this comic is beginners in running, generally between the ages of 18 and 35. People who want to build endurance for health, enjoyment, or to prepare for races and other competitive goals.
• Specific cases: There are more specific cases within this audience. One example is someone who has never run before and feels uncertain about how to begin. Another is a highly motivated but impatient runner who pushes too hard too soon and risks injury or burnout.
• Needs: These runners need simple advice that breaks things down clearly. They benefit from seeing common mistakes to avoid and from encouragement to progress at a steady, safe pace.
• Motivations: Their motivations are varied. Many want the physical health benefits of running, such as better fitness and a healthy weight. Others are motivated by mental well-being, including reduced stress and greater happiness. Running also supports personal growth in other areas of life by building discipline, confidence, and resilience through setting and achieving challenging goals.
• Barriers: Beginners face barriers that can get in the way of progress. Injuries are a major obstacle, as are poor habits related to hydration, running form, and recovery. A lack of patience often makes these challenges worse, leading many new runners to stop before they see long-term results.

POV STATEMENT:
A beginner runner needs clear, practical guidance on endurance training so they can avoid mistakes, stay healthy, and build long-term running success.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Main objectives:

• Explain what endurance running is and why it matters.
• Identify common mistakes beginner runners make.
• Provide safe, effective training principles to follow.

Sub-objectives:

• Teach the importance of pacing, fueling, hydration, and recovery.
• Highlight the role of form and strength training.
• Encourage patience and consistency over quick gains.

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Phase 2: Plan (Ideate, Sketch, Elaborate)

IDEATION:

I brainstormed a list of common running mistakes based on my own personal experience, these include running too fast, increasing mileage too quickly, ignoring recovery and improper fuel/hydration. From there, I decided to structure the comic as a short journey that follows a new runner who struggles at first, learns important lessons along the way, and gradually improves. The overall tone will be relatable, encouraging, and realistic so that readers can see themselves in the story and feel motivated to apply the lessons to their own running.

SCRIPT:

• Panel 1: Beginner runner laces up shoes, smiling confidently: “I’m going to become a runner!”
• Panel 2: Starts sprinting right away, sweat flying.
• Panel 3: Gets exhausted, clutches side: “Why do I feel so tired already?”
• Panel 4: Friend (experienced runner, cheerful and encouraging): “You’re starting too fast. Slow down and let your body build up gradually.”
• Mistake 1: Running too fast too often.
• Explanation: Beginners should start with easy runs to build an aerobic base before adding speed.
• Panel 5: Calendar filled with too many miles in one week. Beginner looks overwhelmed.
• Panel 6: Friend smiles, giving a thumbs up: “You’ve been adding too many miles. Try the 10% rule—steady progress is safer.”
• Mistake 2: Increasing training volume too quickly.
• Explanation: Ramp-ups strain muscles, bones, and tendons before they’ve adapted, leading to injuries.
• Panel 7: Runner holds shin/knee, grimacing: “Why am I sore all the time?”
• Panel 8: Friend puts a hand on their shoulder: “Rest days are a part of training too. Listen to your body before small pains turn into big injuries.”
• Mistake 3: Ignoring pain.
• Explanation: Rest helps your body recover, prevents setbacks, and keeps you running long-term.
• Panel 9: Runner dizzy, water bottle untouched.
• Panel 10: Friend offers water and a banana: “Fuel up and hydrate. Carbs give you energy, and water keeps your body cool.”
• Mistake 4: Poor fueling/hydration.
• Explanation: Without carbs and fluids, you’ll feel weak, dehydrated, or dizzy—and endurance becomes impossible.
• Panel 11: Side-by-side: slouched runner vs upright, efficient runner.
• Panel 12: Friend demonstrates: “Relax your shoulders, land midfoot, stay tall. Small changes make running easier.”
• Mistake 5: Poor form.
• Explanation: Good form reduces fatigue and injury, helping you run stronger and longer.
• Panel 13: Friend points at the runner with a smile: “Endurance isn’t built overnight. Go slow, add miles gradually, fuel well, and rest.”
• Panel 14: Runner jogs steadily, smiling: “This feels so much better!”
• Panel 15: Split screen—past self (frustrated, injured) vs present self (happy, consistent). Text: “Avoiding mistakes builds confidence and consistency.”
• Panel 16: Runner crosses a finish line with arms raised: “I did it the right way!”
• Closing message on bottom: “You can too—train smart, stay patient, and enjoy the run.”

PRINCIPLES:

• Multimedia Principle: Use visuals (bad vs good running) with short (easy to understand) text.
• Coherence Principle: Only include relevant tips; avoid clutter.
• Segmenting Principle: Each panel highlights one mistake or principle.
• Personalization Principle: Use casual dialogue between characters.
• Contiguity Principle: Place text directly beside illustrations of mistakes/corrections.

Reflect and Refine

What worked well?

What I like most about my prototype is how clear and simple it is. Each panel stuck to one mistake or one lesson which made the comic easy to follow. I also felt good about the tone I used, it was casual and supportive, without being preachy. Thats huge because beginners are often nervous or overwhelmed when they start something new like running. The overall story also worked well. I liked how it started with excitement, moved through struggles, and then showed progress and success.

What I Would Change?

If I could go back, I’d expand on the “why” behind the mistakes. For example, when I talk about fuelling, I’d like to actually provide the explanation between being exhausted without carbs and energized after eating properly. That feels more helpful than just pointing out the mistake.

Revisions Included

In my revisions, I focused on depth and motivation. I added more explanation around why mistakes matter, and I showed little wins along the way. That made the journey feel less like one big leap and more like steady progress. I also rewrote the ending. Instead of just showing the character succeed, I wanted to speak directly to the reader: “You can do it too: train smart, stay patient, and enjoy the run.” That shift made it feel less about one character’s success and more about encouraging anyone who picks up the comic.

Issues Raised and How I Would Address Them

One issue raised in the feedback was that the comic could feel a little negative if it only focused on mistakes. I agreed with that. If someone new to running only sees problems, they might feel discouraged. To fix that, I made sure to show positive milestones and reminders that progress comes with patience. Another issue was the age range I picked. I originally focused on 18–35 year-olds, but as my peers pointed out, running isn’t limited by age. I want the comic to feel welcoming to anyone, so I’d tweak the visuals and dialogue to make it more inclusive.

Strengths and Limitations

One of the biggest strengths of using a comic is how easy it makes the information to remember. Instead of reading a long guide, you see the mistakes and solutions right in front of you. The story format also pulls you in. It feels less like being lectured and more like you’re following someone’s journey. That can make the lessons stick. On the flip side, comics can oversimplify things. There’s only so much detail you can fit into short dialogue and visuals. Some readers might want more depth, and others might not connect with the comic format at all. That’s the trade-off: comics are engaging, but they aren’t the full picture.

INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION

Reflecting on the feedback exchange with my partners, I can see how valuable it was for both giving and receiving insights. In my feedback to Ben, I focused on strengthening his digital footprint comic by suggesting more positive examples of online presence and adding a direct message to the audience, which I felt would make his project both more inspiring and practical. With Tanuj, I encouraged him to expand his PC-building comic by giving more context about the components, adding personality to his guide character, and closing with an invitation that sparks excitement about using a new computer. Both pieces of feedback pushed me to think not only about clarity but also about how comics can emotionally connect with readers.

The feedback I received highlighted areas of my Building Endurance comic that I hadn’t fully considered, like expanding on the “why” behind each mistake, and balancing the warnings with more motivation and encouragement. Altogether, this process showed me the importance of combining clear educational design with emotional impact, and I plan to apply these lessons to strengthen my own revised prototype.

Final Comic: