Speed

[Hjs2017]

Hi, just wondering about whether I am going to slow, I am walking at 5.5 km an hour and doing my runs at 7km an hour, I have been building this up as I was a lot slower to start with! I am about to start week 4, but wondering what speeds others manage? X

[GingerBohemian Graduate]

It doesn't matter.

It's your speed.

It's your run.

You are going at a pace that suits and works for you.

You wouldn't post a post staring you wear a blue running top. Is that the best colour? What colour are others wearing?

You are about to start week 4 (well done!!!) and that is SO much further than you were.

The thing I love on here is that people forget their initial posts of 'just starting, never ran for years, overweight, can I do this?' and before you know it they are at W4 concerned they are running too slow! It's great isn't it.

Joking apart, a 7km/h speed would wipe me out but I walk at just under 6. My walking and joffling speed are not that different.

The reason you are at W4 is because you are doing it at your pace.

The Goldilocks Pace...

Too slow for some, too fast your others but for you it's just right.

[LeeU Graduate]

I learned in Week 3 that you adapt your pace as required, on longer runs your 7kph may drop to 6kph to start with but you may get that extra pace back through gains in fitness and stamina.

Overall, don't worry about pace, just keep moving, the walk pace becomes irrelevant in the later weeks as on some runs you don't walk.

You may find though, in week 4 or 5 that if you slow your walking pace it may help you recover enough to maintain the 7kph running pace.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Speed does not come into this.. at all.

Just follow the programme, take it slowly and steadily.. and maybe by about Week 6 or Week 7, you will be beginning to fins your own happy and sustainable pace.

This is your journey and it is a great one.. relax into it, forget distance or speed, ( those may come after Graduation...or not) .. and never try to compare yourself with anyone else

If you get a free moment or two, maybe check out a post of mine, where I addressed some aspects of our running journey

healthunlocked.com/couchto5.......

You are doing wonderfully!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

There is no mention of speed anywhere in the literature, podcasts or app for this programme. The only requirement is to run the duration, leading up to thirty minutes at graduation. At that stage, a small proportion will be running 5k in under 30 minutes, some will be running 4k and others may be running less distance.

If you look at the demographics of participants it becomes obvious that there is going to be a huge range of speeds. Not only age differences, but also gender, physical condition and underlying health conditions make any kind of average pretty meaningless.

Far better not to compare yourself to others (yes, I know, we all do it), but look at this as your own journey, registering your progress from couch to runner. There will always be people faster and slower than you.........who cares?

Sounds like you are doing great.