Am I really going too slow?

[allegrachick]

W3r2 in the bag and I am feeling ridiculously pleased with myself. BUT...according to my husband I should try to go faster when I walk, as this will improve my stamina. I just can't! He whinges because I am so slow and don't keep up with him when we are out for a walk. I say it is because he is taller, has longer legs and therefore a longer stride. If I try to keep up I get out of breath and feel terrible. He isn't a runner, by the way, and isn't doing c25k despite my recommending it, but he is fairly fit. Is he right? Should I try to go faster? My walk sections and run sections are snail's pace. I am at the stage where I can just about overtake parked cars and hedges.

[MichaelH070862 Graduate]

Just do it your way it is your journey after all it does not matter how slow you are you will speed up with time don't forget you are in the early stages of C25K and slow is good at the end of the day

[first_mate Graduate]

I would say do what feels comfortable for you. A couple of weeks ago when I was in a running section I had 2 young lads come striding passed me they weren't running but walking!! They were both very tall and had long legs I felt quite inadequate for a few minutes but then settled back into my run and tried to forget them. I'm only 5ft4 and have little legs. I think is definitely a scale/proportion thing.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Ha, you are fine allegrachick..there is no such thing as too slow. As long as you are doing a running motion (getting past the parked cars and hedges) for the required time, the program will help you build stamina and strength.

My hubby has a longer stride than me and can walk more quickly too, but on longer walks he now says 'you're still keeping a good pace up'...😉

Your journey, your pace..keep going.😊

[Runon Graduate]

Ah some of those hedges can really move! It really is early days to be worrying about pace, so don't. More speed and stamina will come with time - the fact that you are out there doing it is all that is important. The rest will follow. The whole point is to gain strength and stamina over time - which is why the plan develops. The other thing that develops over time is confidence in yourself... your pace is your pace, be happy with it. Personally I've always thought 'slow' is a better way to see the world

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Dont listen to hubby! You know how to walk, this programme is about learning to run. So make sure you have enough puff and energy for the running sections, which means controlled pace walks.

Enjoy!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

No...( Not wishing to cause marital unrest) he isn't right. No such thing on here as too slow... your journey, your way and at your speed, and that includes walking

You are doing fine, just fine.. let him walk ahead and meet somewhere.. let him walk on and walk back...

Please don't push too hard, you will end up wither injured or fed up!

Brilliant on completing Run 2 of Week 3! Onward and upward..

PS

If it helps.. I could never keep up with my husband walking, before I did C25K... now he cannot keep pace with my walking and I have to slow down for him! And if I run.. well !

[GoogleMe Graduate]

What a bloomin' cheek! This is *your* programme not his, if he wants to get fitter he can do whatever he wishes to do. All you need to do is follow your chosen programme (which is entirely focused on teaching you the skill and habit of running continuously for 30 minutes on a regular basis), maintaining a walking motion when Laura (or whoever you have on the app) says walk and a running motion when Laura (etc) says run.

When I look back on the terrible long struggle I had with Week 1, I now realise that a big part of the problem wasn't even trying to run too fast, but trying to walk too fast *for me* It should have been a no-brainer because the whole reason I was trying running is because brisk walking was too painful to sustain, but hey ho....

There's plenty to play with once you've graduated and every reason not to try to force too many things at once now. You have every right to feel pleased with what you are doing.

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

I used to think I ran so slowly that I was almost going backwards LOL! However, as I went from week to week, it was running slowly that helped me increase my run times. It is an important skill as a runner to know what pace to run so that you can keep going. There are no prizes for pushing for great speed, in fact going too fast could result in unwanted injury which would stop you altogether. I graduated at a parkrun, so ran 5km in 43 minutes. I am not super fit and I feel the programme was just right. Nowadays, a year from graduation, I bob along quite nicely and run up to 10k, so slow while I learned worked great for me

[runswithdogs Graduate]

I'm a very slow walker, and was throughout the program. I never once did a 'brisk' walk for a warm-up, it's not in my nature and feels uncomfortable to walk too fast. I once tried doing a run-walk with a colleague and got shin splints from walking too fast.

Keep up the plodding - you're fine. I don't think your walking speed has any bearing on your running ability. And as far as I'm concerned, if you're running or walking with someone, the faster person needs to slow down. Or meet you at the end.

[Dhiny]

I think the answers already given are very valid, it's your journey and no, walking speed doesn't have anything to do with running - I don't walk very fast but I can now run for 30 minutes having built up stamina over the last 2 months or so that I have been following the program. Go at your own speed and if your OH is faster than you then that's ok, meet him at the end. My OH has just started the C25K and I walk and run faster than him so we set off together but I go off on my own & I meet him on my way back. The important thing is that you are out there doing it, you can work on speed if you want to after you graduate. Just keep on walking & running at your own pace xx

[ancientrunner Graduate]

All of the above - stick to your guns.

[dottiemay Graduate]

First of all - you have done fantastically well - you fully deserve to feel so proud of yourself!

Whilst I totally agree that it doesn't matter one jot about how fast/slow you run, I'm tempted to go against the grain just a little bit and say that the warm up walk should be 'brisker' than your normal walking pace. You need to get those muscles ready for the extra effort you're about to ask of them!

BUT!!!, it should still be at a pace that you find comfortable. It doesn't matter how 'fast', just a tiny bit faster than your normal, if only for part of the time. Don't try to keep up with anyone.

And if you're getting out of breath, that's good! It means the heart is working harder which is a good thing. After all, if you don't push yourself a little every now and then, you won't progress.

Oh, and I don't accept the long legs/short legs excuse - I'm 5ft 1 and walk much faster than my 5ft 10 hubby...! Just takes practise ;-))

[melly4012 Graduate]

Nope, slow, slow, slow! That's how you work up to the 30 minutes. The recover walks in the programme are just that so make sure you use them to be prepared for the next running interval. Keep your run slow too as this will help when you're running for longer later in the programme. Little legs and shorter strides are definitely a thing!

You should be feeling proud by the way. At least you are overtaking those parked cars and hedges and you're also overtaking everyone who is still sat on the couch!

[misswobble Graduate]

Said the exact same thing as Googleme. It's your programme, not his! He can do his thing and let you do yours . You can always go on your own

[allegrachick Graduate]

Woohoo, thank you everyone who replied and reinforced what I instinctively thought was right. I shall continue snail-style and I'll get there. I keep thinking of Aesop's fable about the Hare and the Tortoise

[stevy]

the secret is to enjoy these walks,but try to take 5 or10 steps slightly faster then carry on at own pace.I am 6ft my wife is 5ft 2. I like to keep to her pace but l every so often I dash ahead pretending that I've seen an interesting scene;lam an artist and bird twitcher.

[Nobbywatts Graduate]

I agree with all the comments - go at your own pace. My hubby is taller and has a longer stride than me and during our runs I get further and further behind him. I remind myself of a little old stiff-legged dog, trotting dutifully behind its owner, and the owner checks back every now and then and waits for it to catch up! It makes me laugh to myself. But guess what? I can keep going longer than him so I'm happy with my pace ...