People mostly post about great achievements and personal milestones which is great to read ... but ... I’m still having challenges and without bringing people down - I just want to know why I’m just getting slower and slower ?
Having run for 85 mins (not really anywhere near 10) I am now approaching running with really negative thoughts.
Completed Juju’s plan (timed) and now at a loss to know what to try next.
Really need some inspiration from you folks - I’ve done NRC guided runs, intervals, Fartlek but still I get slower.
Anyone help to explain why please ?
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61Lady
Graduate10
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It sounds as if you are doing really well and it’s amazing to me that you can keep going for 85 minutes.. I’m not in any position to give advice as I seem to have reverted to walking at the moment, but have you tried reading 80/20 running by Matt Fitzgerald?
Hi there. It is frustrating going through a slow phase but you are doing brilliantly to run for so long!
I finished the JJMP timed version and am now doing the distance version to keep me focused and I am starting up see increase in speed as I near the end on the plan.
I really couldn't run for 85minutes! Bet you don't know many people who can either! Please be proud it's a huge achievement.
Thank you - I’ve been thinking for a couple of weeks about re-doing JJMP but distance this time. Perhaps I’ll give it a go.Well done for doing both versions
I can relate to you. Sometimes my 5 km are a real struggle but I did the JuJu plan in the end with distance not time as I felt I was going backwards and doing less running. I've since done 10 km in over an HR and half - takes stamina to be running for that long!!
Yes - I suppose we have got stamina. Thinking of re-doing JJMP but distance this time - at least that way I should get 10k eventually which is a distance that has eluded me until now. Best set a couple of hours aside on that day 🤣
Do you want to get faster? If so, why? I am curious...
Slow steady running is what I enjoy best,,. but obviously for speed challenges or the personal challenge of a HM race, I do try to improve my speed. My favourite runs have been, often an hour and half or two hours, steady running... taking everything and then writing about it.
I was advised years ago on here, that the way to faster runs ( and longer distances), was through the lovely slow longer rums, and for me that has been true.. It has evolved.
There is much written about running slowly to get faster and I do think there, s quite a lot of validly to that.
This is interesting particularly the section on how to run slower.., not slacking off, but using it as a training aid.
I have used Speed challenges on the forums to improve, and I do that by selecting a distance, say 1K and just slowly improving the time... the 1K in isolation and then in a longer run, in the middle or at the very end.
I have also used ideas from Women's running... I find them helpful, but do tweak them to suit my needs.
It is not so much that I want to go faster it’s more that for example I run for an hour and cover less distance each time and I can’t fathom it.I’ve taken advice here and tried varying what I do but I don’t feel like I’m making any progress.
I will check out the links you’ve given - thank you so much for taking the trouble to respond.
Having started running in April and now halfway through the Magic Plan, I’m still such a newbie that others probably have much more to say. However I did go through a patch where I realised even running 3 times/ week was exhausting me and my recuperation day was not long enough. At that time I just added a recuperation day here and there but when reading up about it, some trainers suggested that after a long training period (8-9 weeks) to take a whole week off from running, as sometime your body needs to catch up.
I didn’t do that in the end but it might be an idea to consider.
Thanks for the suggestion. I usually stick to Mon/Wed/Fri. I was most tired on a Wed so I now make that my shortest outing and actually don’t feel too bad ... maybe that’s it - I’m taking it too easy on all the runs 😁
It’s not a specific distance eg. If I go out for 60 mins ... and believe me I don’t do this more than once a week (if that) I am covering less and less distance each time.
60 minutes is quite a long run at this stage, best taken at a comfortable pace - perhaps don't even look at your pace at all during those long runs.
I suggest you concentrate on a specific, and much shorter, time or distance to work on your speed. For one thing, without a specific distance or time you cannot measure your improvement. But also, by using a short distance, perhaps only 100 meters, you can really concentrate on working on your posture, stride, and leg turnover. But you do need to really push yourself over that short time!
Have you had a look at the Speed Challenge? We are running 1 km (or 1 mile), and it is amazing how many people are surprising themselves with personal bests!
Great wisdom from Oldfloss as ever. You have had to overcome a lot to get this far and you are now running a long way; don’t forget what you have achieved. We all hit barriers, and if our only running ambition is to run further and faster, at some point we are going to be disappointed....even Mo Farah has limits!! You are doing all of the right things; if you speed up in time, great, but if not try to just enjoy what you can do..,. which is already considerable. Increased pace on longer runs always lags behind increases in distance, so you may surprise yourself. Just keep going; that is success. 🙂
Thanks - I didn’t really explain myself very well - If I do a specific time eg. 60 mins I would expect to cover roughly the same distance each time but I’m not - I’m covering an ever decreasing distance
By contrast I run to distance but there is a significant difference between the time in which I cover the same distance from run to run, and I had to slow down considerably to get extra distance. I really believe that you are doing much better than you think.
Odd isn't it!I imagine when you started the programme, the idea of running for 85 minutes would have been received with disbelief. Now you're not so happy with it. It's like we're set up to be dissatisfied. I frequently used to run kms in the 6.20 range, then I decided I wanted to run further, more often, and started to run the majority of my runs at around 7.40. Then thought that's a bit slow, even though it was my intention!.
What I realised was that I prefer those slower longer runs, and I'm pretty sure they are still doing me good. I do occasionally go for burst of speed. On my last run I decided to "leg it" for my last km. I felt like Usain Bolt, and it was not my fastest (6.48). What was interesting was that my heart rate only entered peak range for 4 minutes.
Try to be happy with your excellent 85 minutes, maybe try a shorter faster run, 2 or 3 km perhaps.
Favourite quote time.
"Comparison is the thief of joy " Theodore Roosevelt.
Thanks for your thoughts, reflections and suggestions. Believe me I really am pleased with running for a good amount of time occasionally but can’t understand how it is that I cover a shorter and shorter distance in the same amount of time.I love the quote - how very true and thank you for reminding me of this
Are you getting slower because you're running for longer? There's no way you could run for 85 minutes at the same pace you'd run for 30 minutes (well, I couldn't anyway).I run quite long distances sometimes. I'm very slow when I do, but I don't really mind. For me there is a massive tradeoff between speed and duration. I got better quite quickly when I started running, but my performance has plateaued over the summer, partly I think because I don't like the hot weather.
Things that might help:
Hills - oh I hate them but they work miracles on strength and stamina.
Variety - I got a bit stuck running medium paced, medium distance. I've improved since I made an effort to include some short faster runs.
80/20 heart rate running. That takes attention to your gadgets and patience.
Failing all that, just leave all your tech at home, go out and enjoy running for the love of it.
Thank you for responding. I didn’t express myself very well - I run for example 60 mins but I am covering a shorter distance in this time, each time I do it ... and I don’t do a long run every time so I guess that is why I’m puzzled.Thanks for the 80/20 suggestion - I’ll look into that although I first have to find a gadget that measures heart rate 🤣
I also like your tech free run suggestion - think I will do that from time to time
If you don't have anything to measure your heart rate, just make sure that on 80% of your runs you are able to hold an easy conversation (or could if you wanted to). You shouldn't arrive home sweaty and puffing. Apparently, one of the biggest mistakes new runners make is not running their slow runs slow enough and their fast runs fast enough. That's exactly the trap I fell into, despite knowing the theory.
As everyone has already said running for 85 minutes it's amazing so you really are doing brilliantly. But I feel your frustration and remember feeling much the same as I kept trying to improve my 5k time and constantly failing. In the end I decided to run on a different route and started listening to Women's Running podcasts usually I hate listening to anything but they kept my mind off the running, were funny and had some useful tips.Do you use a gadget? Are you trying to maintain a pace? I was doing this and I know now it wasn't helpful to me, so now instead I run to try to stay at a heart rate zone this made a massive difference to my running. Now I'm finding long slow runs are so much more satisfying.
It is difficult not to feel a bit of a slow coach when those speedy runners go whizzing along, but now I tell myself they are mostly young enough to be my children or even grand children 😂🤣
Thanks for advice - perhaps I need to invest in heart rate gadget. I’ve been overtaken by speed walkers I don’t get embarrassed but I just need to understand how it is that I don’t cover a similar distance each time I run a specific time.I will try the running podcasts - not listened before
Maybe you need a couple of rest days. Tbh I’m also going a lot slower than I was in the summer. I need to do some internal work but I cba right now. True but to worry about it. Keep running but make sure you do some easy runs.
I thought about this post so much on my run this morning working out how I would reply. I thought about the formula speed =distance/ time. You have 3 different variables to think about. You are finding the first 2, speed and distance, giving you bad feelings about running, yet the 3rd variable time is showing you have massive amounts of stamina. Many on here dream of running for 85 minutes. I have been measuring the total distance I run each month which for me gives lovely big numbers to celebrate, i generally ignore my speeds. How about you set yourself a challenge for the total number of hours to run in a week or a month. What an amazing value that would be. By taking the pressure off speed and distance you can settle in and enjoy creating big numbers. (Sorry I'm a mathematician and love love love numbers) happy running 🤗
Thank you for responding. What you say makes good sense and yes - I think keeping a monthly tally or setting myself a challenge would be good.Thanks for the suggestion
I can understand your frustration. I've always been slow and was desperate to become faster, so I followed a Jeff Galloway training plan. It involves lots of teeny tiny runs (like 30 seconds at a time) running fast, lots of teeny tiny runs starting slow, speeding up and slowing down again, and runs trying to maintain a certain pace (you need a watch that can tell you what pace you're going).It worked, but I found I actually didn't enjoy it! I have decided I'm not built for speed, so I now really enjoy the longer slower runs.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it might be worth trying something similar - short sharp bursts of speed interspersed with walking or slow jogging. You've achieved 85 minutes running, so you can achieve anything!
Thanks for replying and for the vote of confidence. Slow is fine - it’s just that I’m getting slower. Everyone has been so helpful and I’ve got loads of advice so plenty to think about and try.Will make a plan tomorrow to start on Monday. Perhaps I’ll research new gadgets too for pace regulating.
I run slowly 61Lady and, like you, there have been times recently when I’ve felt I’m going backwards. My average is about 97 minutes to do 10k, at the end of which I’m on my knees! But I post about it because we’re not all gazelles or even partial gazelles and it’s important that we all get an airing - so don’t feel you can’t post if things aren’t going as well as you want! I get so much inspiration from everyone here on the forum and I finally feel as though things are getting better, though I know I’ll never be a 5k in 30 mins runner. If I get to 5k in 40 mins I’ll be really happy! Have you thought about trying to work out what’s different on those runs where you don’t get as far as you thought you should? Eg whether you were well rested/hydrated etc . I must say that if I were running Mon/Wed/Fri as you seem to, I’d be getting slower too. I really need 2 days between runs, particularly longer ones; is this an option for you? One thing I have noted is that sometimes I sort of ‘drift off’ and when I do, my arms stop moving and I slow right down. Sounds weird I know but I do much better when I make myself concentrate on what I’m doing - eg keeping my head up and the arms moving. One day I hope that it will all come more naturally to me but in the meantime I just keep trotting on!
Thank you for responding. I think you may have something here. Like so many others, I’ve had a few work and family challenges recently and my mind does wander during my runs. Actually, if that is the reason for slowing down, I don’t mind at all - no harm in a bit of daydreaming.
I will test the theory and really concentrate on my form etc. next run and see what the outcome is. Thanks for giving me the idea.
I've been there. But I have to say, it sounds like just getting out there and running/jogging 60-85 minutes sounds unbelievably great to me. I find my head gets in the way and I walk away from the routine out of boredom. I try to remember how great I feel when I do run and try to set new goals and mix it up a bit..maybe a new route, a new playlist (?). Try to stick with it if you can.
Thank you - everyone has been so kind and offered really good advice. You’re right - I feel great when I run too. I’m going to write down all the different things people here have suggested and make a plan/schedule to begin on Monday and time for a brand new playlist too.
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Hats off (in the wind no doubt) to all hardy parkrunners. 
Fabulous450 runs with no strain in the gain! ❤️
Bit of help as I’ve lost my running mojo 
