I run ridiculously slow...

[Sherbear1979]

Started W8R1 today and it was one of the better runs I've had in a while. Weather was cloudy but no rain (yet) and a slight breeze. I set off and my legs felt good and I found it easy to get into a nice rhythm.

I downloaded the Runkeeper app onto my phone and today was the first run I gave it a try. It did say when I opened the app that my location wasn't ideal so the data may be less accurate (I think it's because I don't have internet on my phone)but I started it anyway just to see.

So at the end of this run that felt really good I checked the data and was a little alarmed at how slow I actually run. It told me that in 28 minutes I ran 3.10km/1.92mi and the speed was6.60kph/4.10mph. People walk at that speed!

Since it had said the data may not be accurate I asked my husband about it and he did say the distance I had covered seemed pretty accurate to what it said so I think the app probably was somewhat accurate.

28 minutes to run 3 km seems depressingly slow for what felt like a "good" run but on the bright side I ran 3km today and that is a hell of a lot farther than I was able to run just 8 short weeks ago.

Guess I'll just keep plodding along

Sherri

[earl-grey-sian Graduate]

Sometimes I feel I'm going backwards!!

[wannanewme Graduate]

Plodding for 28 minutes at 6.6kph gets you an awful lot further and an awful lot fitter than 0kph at home on the couch with a bag of crisps and the TV. Don't compare yourself with Olympians, pat yourself on the back for leaving the ranks of the unexercised. Keep plodding on, from a fellow plodder!

[Ally-d Graduate]

I did race for life today and was overtaken by a woman walking with 2 'walking sticks' it made me giggle so much i nearly choked and had to walk for a minute but at least i was running and loving it however slow i was going. Just keep going and try and focus on time running rather than speed, Ally x

[crox Graduate]

It doesn't matter as long as you stick with it run faster next week than this week

[SarahP0003 Graduate]

Try not to worry about your speed for now, it will improve gradually as you run more. You're doing really well so just stick at it and it will get better.

[purplestreak Graduate]

I graduated in April (one day they may give me my badge......) and I'm still nowhere near doing 5k in 30 minutes - just over 35 is my best so far. HOWEVER, every week I get a little bit faster, and so will you!

[lycranotlikely Graduate in reply to purplestreak]

You need to ask for it. Contact Admin/help at the top of the page. The badge will be yours in no time.

[Hidden]

I'm making slow but steady progress now so I wouldn't worry too much about speed. I'm sure it will come with time. Good luck with your running.

[Sherbear1979 Graduate]

Thanks for all the reassurance everyone! I suppose I'll just complete the program at a comfortable pace and try to improve speed after that.

[Markee Graduate]

Don't worry about your speed - you are a bit faster than me, at least.

Week 8, run 3 today for me and for the first time managed to go further than 3k (just!), and I have increased my distance each run this week (ok, by only the smallest margin). You may well find the same - give it time.

[hellsbells43]

You know the really great thing about this forum is that you learn there are so many people struggling with same issues. I am running at about the same speed as this (well slightly slower actually) and I feel just the same. On w7r3 I tried to pick up the pace, had the mickey taken out of me by old man because i was running so slowly but the pace was still too much and it turned into my first fail. I really think if I was doing this "alone" I might be tempted to give up but then I read blogs like this one and it really helps. Tackled the r3 again, back at my barely over 4mph pace, and finished it. Move to 28 mins tonight.

You'd beat me!

[Sherbear1979 Graduate in reply to hellsbells43]

It is very nice to know we are not the only ones running at a slower pace. Some people on here are naturally fast runners but many like us are not. I guess we have a lifetime to work on our pace and the important thing is to keep going at whatever pace we can. Thanks for your comment, makes me feel loads better knowing I'm not the only one! Good luck with week 8.

Sherri

[Nerdio Graduate]

I use RunKeeper, and have wondered about how good it is. I certainly found if I stand still, the location 'jumps around' a bit. On the whole it does seem reasonably accurate. You can check though with Mapometer

gb.mapometer.com/

plot out your route and see what it says the distance is. I have used it to plan my graduation run. I am going to spoil myself, and travel to a run location

[Ballymoneypenny]

I have often felt like this so can sympathise entirely.

I wouldn't say I am a c25k graduate just yet as I still need little minute long walking intervals but I recently took part in an organised 5k and the most depressing thing was that the lady in front stopped to walk, I kept 'running' and got not closer towards her... her walk was my run speed lol.

I have invested in the cheapest garmin recently though and it is interesting to be able see how my pace progresses on a map. Although I try to heed advice about starting out slow I take off at about 09.30minute/mile and end up at 13.30minute/mile.

I try not to get down about it though, I just have to cast my mind back to day 1 week 1 of c25k and how it absolutely killed me and how it seems easy now. I know that if I keep plodding things will only get easier. (also I can eat more ice cream, yay! lol)

Also a friend reminded me that most people looking at me running may indeed think "wow she's slow" but at the same time they will also look at me and feel guilty themselves because "at least I'm out there doing it!"

[Elle57]

I run really slow it doesn’t matter at least you’re doing something

[Gotanno]

That's pretty much my speed / distance as well. Could be due to short legs or something.... Oh well, we can't all be Usain Bolt 😉