Can you go too slow?

[Fattytumtum]

Wk 5 Run 1 just completed, considering just over 5 weeks ago I couldn't run for the minute, I stopped smoking 9 weeks ago, I have 3 stone to loose and I'm knocking on the door of 50, I wonder if I'm going too slow. At the start my heart was beating out of my chest and now it isn't, I'm hardly noticing an increased heart rate. I'm still gasping for breath on the runs - only to be expected after years of the evil weed, but recovering easier on the walking periods. I'm not sure that my running periods are much faster than the walking ones. Should I worry about speed just yet or concentrate on completing the nine week plan first? I'm really proud of myself thus far, just don't want to be cheating myself. Any advice as always gratefully received. Many thanks x

[crox Graduate]

I'd say don't stress about speed out the 5km target. You're out moving and that's the main thing. Stay the course and at the end keep going

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I agree there is so much time after you have graduated to work towards goals, whether they are speed, distance or just running regularly. It's something to look forward to. Enjoy your journey through the program and being proud of yourself.

[c4ts Graduate]

One of the most noticeable things is that your recovery time improves, such that even once you graduate heart rate comes back just during the 5 min warm down walk. That is a really positive sign that your health is improving and the exercise working. Do not worry about speed pace distance, the aim is to run for 30 mins.

Keep going you are doing great.

[vixiej Graduate]

Congratulations, on stopping smoking and on the running successes so far! As the others have said, don't worry about speed just keep jogging along and when you've graduated there is plenty of time to play around with speed and stamina training Its great your recovery time is improving - that was a big incentive for me too, I love seeing the drop off in heart rate when I do my cool down walk.

Keep up the great work. Happy running

Vix

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Well done for getting this far. As others have said, there is no such thing as too slow. Work at doing the time and the speed will gradually come up. All the bet

[Fattytumtum Graduate]

Thanks all, I'll keep plodding on x

[emsworthian]

you're giving up smoking, you've started to run and you're losing weight. And you are still being hard on yourself!!! You are doing 3 things, all at once, that some people just never manage. I'd say that was brilliant.

[Hidden]

Firstly, congratulations on stopping smoking and on starting your new 'addiction', running.

As others have said, don't worry about speed. The distance you do is far more relevant and important.Speed will come over time, but it is a low priority.

You ask if you can go too slowly, and I will say this ~ I recently read at article about some adventure racers who have discovered a new method of getting up hills - it's called walking! Even seasoned pros resort to slowing the pace right down when they need to. so at your stage it is perfectly acceptable to go at what ever speed you feel most comfortable with.

Lastly, look at Youtube and watch 'running for my existence'. It may be the most inspirational clip out there.

[Narmour Graduate]

I would bet that if you checked your pulse in your neck you would find that your heart is beating quickly. It doesn't take long before your body can cope with your heart beating fast and hard for long periods of time without making you feel ill. It's called getting fitter!! My heart beat used to bang around my head when I climbed a flight of stairs but now I don't even notice it after a 10k run. When I put my fingers to my neck I can almost feel my fingers being forcibly pushed away from my neck with each beat. But it feels entirely comfortable.

[Furballs]

Well, I am almost afraid to confess this but I started this programme months ago - probably in July - and have repeated every week in the course until I felt really comfortable with my stamina and then moved on. I run every other day without fail and it has become a part of my routine. I have just today moved on to Week 5 Run 2 and it was pretty comfy so I guess I will move on after a couple more of those to the last run in Week 5 next week. My point is that everyone is different. I feel SO good these days and the lift I get from my runs is so great that I have never wanted to risk pushing it on for the sake of it and then getting so I don't want to go out at 7am on a cold day! As it is that just doesn't happen and I am truly confident that this is my new life. I am 60, maybe 7pounds overweight but have never taken aerobic exercise on a regular basis, so I was pretty apprehensive about the whole thing. But I now know that I will never look back. So apologies for the ramble but there are so many blogs by people storming through this programme that I thought I would put the other case - that its YOUR programme and if you will cope better by taking your time working through it then its perfectly OK to do that too!