Have just completed W4R2. Yes, I'm really pleased, considering how difficult I found the 1min runs of Wk1! Do I enjoy it? Words I would use are chuffed, amazed and stubborn!
However - I am frustrated at the (non)speed that I manage. I take it slow and steady, just as the lovely Michael tells me to. Believe me, I couldn't go any faster if I tried! But I honestly think my jogging/shuffling is no faster than my walking. I certainly puff/pant/sweat more, so I suppose the heart rate is getting a boost, but as for actual speed/distance covered, - I've a long way to go. Map my Run tells me I averaged 10mins/km. This of course was a mixture of walking and joffling, but all the same, I'm not sure that I'd be able to achieve a Park Run at that speed. They'd have all packed up and put the lights out by the time I got round!
Written by
JaneM21
Graduate
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There are no rules about how fast you have to run a parkrun, my local one usually has the last runners coming around the 50 minute mark. The tail walker will always be behind you, and you can walk all the way if you wish. My running started about the same pace as my walking, I've speeded up a little bit! If you say you couldn't go any faster if you tried, that suggests to me that maybe you are still going too fast. We use different muscles when we run to when we walk, it's these you are training, so stick at it, and they'll get faster!
Slow and steady is the way to go. It will get better and you are probably running faster than you think. Keep going, I'm going to do park run after I graduate as I don't think I could manage it yet either- that's my goal anyway! You are doing really well keep jogging on!
The key term here is 'manageable' pace. Once you've built your stamina, the speed will follow. Each run you will be getting stronger and your body will be able to push more.
Have a look at the results times for your local park run. You will be surprised to find it isn't only for gazelles. You are looking at around 50 mins at your current walk/ run pace - not bad only 4 weeks in.
Jane a couple of years back I ran a 10k, this was before I lost my running mojo. I was so last and so slow, the Italian ambulance asked me if I wanted a lift. To this day I don't know if it was meant kindly or they wanted to get home...
You cannot be slower than that I promise you, and besides you are half way ish and so running legs take time to develop. I think it was Irishprincess who said it takes a year to get them properly bedded in. 10mins for a walk/run mix that sounds fab to me. Because as your joffles increase then your times will fall quite a bit...
You have every right to be pleased and chuffed with yourself..you are doing brilliantly to get to W4 R2.😊
Running slowly is the best way to tackle a run and be successful, and as many have said.. you may be going slowly but you are running rings around those still on the couch!😄
Do not worry about going too slow, your stamina is building with every run and you WILL get there as we all have.😊
Very well done...just keep it, as you are doing ..slow and steady.. it will get you to wherever you want to get to... having had fun and injury free...
If what you want to do is just be a fast runner rather than a runner who can run for 30 minutes non stop, then stop doing C25k and just concentrate on doing 100m or 400m sprints.
To be honest that goal is going to take you a while too, though: expecting to see significant sprint results in 4 weeks, or significant results in any sporting discipline in 4 weeks is not altogether realistic. It takes time to achieve major gains, and in the first month your body is really just getting used to starting.
However, I never mentioned sprinting, or that I even wanted to be a 'fast runner'! I merely commented that I would expect my jogging to be faster than my walking, and at the moment it doesn't appear to be so!
Thank you for your advice though. I do understand that it will take time.
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