Is Anybody else as slow as me???!!!!!

[stevo216]

Just done run 1 of week 8, knackered!! I seem to be moving so slowly though, i never seem to pass another runner or have someone pass me to see what speed others are doing. I mapped it out and I only ran 4km in 28 mins so 5k will take more like 35mins. Is anyone else as slow as that?

[SarahP0003 Graduate]

Lots of us are around that speed (and slower). Not many people do 5k in 30 mins by the end of the programme but you can work on your pace once you graduate. It sounds to me like you're doing just fine!

[Hidden]

Stevo - we all run at different paces so my advice is not to worry about it at the moment. Keep your focus on finishing w9, then be happy you can run for 30 mins.

then you'll be able to start training and improving. Most of those other guys could well have been running for years, and most of them would be still running 5k in 35 mins too.......

your not too far away from it, so keep going & happy running

[greenlegs Graduate]

5k in 35 minutes is FAST! Well it is for me (actually, 7 months after graduation and 40 minutes would still be fast for me).

Maybe the speed isn't the point - it's what you can do now that you could do a couple of months ago. Do you feel fitter? Nothing else much counts really!

[Feefbev Graduate]

It's really easy to get fixated on the speed you're running at. The 5km in 30 minutes is just a guide. I saw someone else on here awhile ago say 'Couch to Running for 30 minutes none stop' isn't quite as catchy as C25K!! I keep that in mind when I get annoyed at how slow I am. I average at about 11 minute mile, sometimes I'm 12 minutes, on the Bank holiday I managed 10 minutes!! (I can't seem to repeat that at the moment!) I tried the C25K+ Stepping stone podcast last night and managed a slightly quicker run then normal. Will try one of those (Stepping stone, speed and stamina) once a week to work on my speed!

[crox Graduate]

Like the others have said, don't worry about the speed, it'll come. Stick with the programme, then increase one of your runs by a couple of minutes at a time. That'll increase your stamina, which you can feed back in to more speed on your shorter runs (and that means you'll be able to run further on your longer runs...).

[nic_bath]

I'm on week 8 too (start on sunday) I have had joggers of all ages pass me - young kids run past, old women slowly jog past and obviously the very atheletic runners. My boyfriend put it that my jogging is about the same speed as his fast walking..I blame my short legs

[Hezzabelle Graduate]

I say that I'm running, but to a spectator it's probably more of a shuffle.

I'm naturally a fast walker and a slow runner.

At this stage, the only way I can complete the weeks is to do it slowly. Thats enough for me though. My feet leave the floor so I'm definitely running! But I like to think of it in terms of lapping the people still on the couch. Then I'm happy to continue my shuffle.

C25k is my program, so my rules and my pace!

[misswobble Graduate]

I am just like you Hezzabelle. My feet are leaving the floor but only just, I am very slow but I get round without stopping, which is all I ask of myself

I thought Week 8 was really hard but I have just done the first run of Week 9 and found it easier. Roll on Friday. Yay I don't have any gizmo's to check my speed, pace or time etc and I prefer it that way and then I'm blissfully unaware. As long as I follow the podcast and do what Laura tells me to do I'm happy