Taking Advice

[Pete654]

I have been lurking on this forum since mid February, being motivated and seeing much useful advice.

Today I completed run 2 of week 9, and it was easier than I expected. This was not because I improved, but finally followed the good advice on this forum to slow down.

I had stupidly been chasing the 5 kilometres in 30 minutes target which I missed by about 100 metres in run 1 on Tuesday giving me a projected time of 30:35 for the full distance. It left me very breathless and sore legged, so today I slowed to an easy pace which made my breathing comfortable and I felt I could have continued at the end, with a projected time of 34:42. This slower pace would have made the last three weeks so much more enjoyable.

I am confident that I will enjoy the final run on Saturday at this slower, more suitable for a 70lb overweight 53 year old, pace.

So if you have been pushing hard and are not enjoying yourself slow down it really does make a tremendous difference.

[RuNananana Graduate]

You couldn't be more right. Really. You couldn't. 34.42 is a quite respectable time, too.

[mfamilias Graduate]

Hello, and welcome to the fray I'm not surprised your legs hurt - I graduated over two years ago and I've only managed two sub-30 minute 5ks. The most important thing is working on the duration, not the speed - you can work on that in the long term. Enjoy running at a comfy speed - my excuse is that if I run too fast, the view is blurred

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to mfamilias]

Nice one mfamilias ... I must remember that one x

[RainbowC Graduate]

You're ten years older than me and even at your slow pace a good five minutes quicker! taking it at a pace you can enjoy is the most important bit I think. By all means push yourself sometimes to see how quick you can manage it - but enjoyment has to be there for the most part, otherwise why do it?!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Yeay... from the horse's mouth..( not that you are a horse ) but maybe some of the newbies who seem to be worrying so much at the moment about speed and getting to 5K, will read this and take heart.!

Well done you!! It is all about enjoying the journey... Good luck!

[Bonkersbrit Graduate]

Sounds like excellent advice! I've banked that one to pull out when I struggle in latter weeks! Thanks

[Rignold]

I only learned to slow right down in the very last weeks of the programme and it was a revelation. I really wished I had understood it earlier.

Well done you for seeing the light and not letting ego get in the way of sense.