For a good Cardio workout is it important to run a minumum of 20 min. (2miles) or is 10 min. (1mile) okay?

Answer 1

Traditionally, it has been accepted, and proven in fact, that to receive any real cardio benefit you need to keep your heart rate elevated for at least 20 minutes several times a week.

There is an "afterglow" effect following your workouts where your heart rate remains elevated even after you stop working out. Because of this afterglow, it is now generally accepted that working out twice a day for 10 minutes can give you as much or more training benefit than one 20 minute workout.

But if 10 minutes of running is all you want to do you, might try another 10 minutes on a stationary bicycle or an elliptical machine.

Answer 2

If you want a good cardio workout you have to keep your heart rate up for at least 1/2 hour and an hour would be better. That might be just a brisk walk, but 10 minutes won't do much for your cardio at all.

Answer 3

Anything is better than nothing at all. As for running a mile in 10 minutes then quitting, it depends on how in shape you are. If you are struggling to do the mile, then the one 10 minute mile daily will help in your shaping up to run farther. If your in well enough shape to run a mile in 10 minutes and then quit, well like i said, its alot better than not doing anything at all.
A body goes back out of shape pretty quickly, alot faster than it took to get into shape. So running that distance for 10 minutes will help keep you in shape to at least run that distance, while not doing anything at all, you may find that running one mile is too hard, and you would end up wishing you did daily 10 minute mile runs.