You CAN run TOO slow!

Hiya,

I am a proud snail, but I found out today that there does exist a pace that is too slow. That or I was exhausted. But before running I felt very ok, so I do think I just ran too slow.

I normally run around 6,4 km/h, but set off today with a mission to try to run as slow as I could in order to come closer to Slow Jogging. And it was SLOW! I actually walked my walking intervals (Jeffing) faster than I ran and I don't walk fast!

After 20 minutes I was starting to feel tired and after 25 minutes with only 5 minutes left to go, I was exhausted! I almost had to drag myself back. It was really weird and I can only imagine I ran too slow and had to exhaust too much effort in keeping me slow than if I run slightly faster?

Next time I am going to run a bit faster again. I want to be a snail, but apparently being slower than a snail is too exhausting 😂. For some stats, I ran 30 minutes and only ran 2,94 km.

Back to 6,4 km/h next time (I hope, because I have serious problems locking on the right pace)!

In other news, my bling for reaching 5 km arrived today (see pic). Nice eh? I chose an animal medal, just cus I love animals. My next medal will be a snail medal when I reach 60 minutes. 😸

Cheers, Evy

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Running slow can be difficult unles you increase your cadence and reduce stride length .

Otherwise it almost feels as though you are trying to run in slow motion and THAT is tiring 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

Yeah my cadence was nothing to write home about either. Running with a footpod and the little dots showing the steps are all over the place! People who think running is easy have not been in my head yet! 😂

[61Lady Graduate10]

Goodness - now you’ve made me re-think my next run. I have been struggling of late. I run at about the same pace as you and was thinking I would concentrate on extra super-duper slow tomorrow but after reading your post, I’m not sure 🤔 ... as you say, maybe super slow is slow enough ? 🐌

[Hidden in reply to 61Lady]

Every person is different, so maybe it can work for you. It is also possible my body was just tired without me feeling it. Or as Instructor57 says, maybe my cadence was not good. You can try it and see what it does for you ☺

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Running slow did that at first to us, took ages and wore us out, we are naturally slow anyway but tried running really slow

I guess you just run at a comfortable pace and see where it gets you

Nice medal

[Hidden in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks and yeah maybe my regular slow pace is good enough. I often overthink things. But did you continue running real slow? Did it grow better?

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

We aren’t exactly fast but the running slow was near the beginning of c25k and made our legs ache but stopped us gasping for breath so we must have stuck to it

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

You are learning a new skill, that can be tiring!

That said, there can be sensory issues - my son's occupational therapist has recently explained to me (and to his language therapist) that he needs to walk at the fast pace he does (not just because he has long legs!)

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10]

I know what you mean, I've been following a heart rate zone based plan, and that had me going really slowly too. I covered about 12 K in two hours, not much faster than walking pace. I've scrapped the zone bit, but I'm still following the plan, just choosing my own comfortable conversational pace. It's not much faster but it is easier. I do some fast intervals a couple of days a week too, they help.

[Hidden in reply to Curlygurly2]

Yeah, since 2 weeks I am adding fartleks to 1 of my short runs each week. I love doing the fartleks, but after having run a couple, I do tend to struggle to find my right pace again.

I just have to try to think less and just do. But either I run too fast or I run too slow, I just can't seem to feel the right pace.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I know what you mean, but surely the pace should be dictated by the distance you have planned?

[damienair Administrator]

I worked really hard to get down to about 26 minutes for 5K and about 58 minutes for 10K. A few months after lockdown I started running with a friend of mine who ran 5K in about 33 minutes. I felt great, easy conversational pace for me and it was lovely running with her. But after about 3-4 weeks I could no longer run any faster. And without parkrun or races to train for I have just continued on. I do 5K now in 32-33 minutes. I want to improve again and build back up my pace. So starting interval sessions again next week. Running slow is OK maybe 1 run per week mixed in with interval training and race pace training. But running slow for a few weeks caused me to lose about 6-8 minutes off my 5K finish times.

Love your medal.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

I'm with you Damienair, while I was doing the zone training my 5K increased to about 50 minutes! I was never fast but that's just ridiculous!

I'd read about HR training, lots of people have success with it, but it really hasn't worked for me.

[damienair Administrator in reply to Curlygurly2]

Yeah I know. I can fast walk 5K in 42-43 minutes. I need to get back to 28-29 mins for 5K. I would be really happy with that.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

I was never exactly fast but my easy pace was around 7:15 or so, now it's 9...my sprint was about 6;30, now it's 8....I can see what's happened from my watch stats, decreased cadence and stride length, so I'm working on those now.

On one occasion the plan had me running at a pace of 11 mins per KM - that's just stupid...