Question for Treadmill Runners

[gemini76]

Hi,

I started c25k 6 weeks ago but got stuck on week 5 run 3 last week and attempted again this evening and only managed 3 x 5 minute runs with 3 minute breaks inbetween (gutted as I had been doing so well and didn't find wk 5 run 2 too difficult). I think I am better running in the morning rather than evening but can't run AM on mondays. The running app on my watch kept telling me to slow down but I was only jogging on 4.2mph (the lady on the treadmill next to me was doing 6mph!). I am fairly short 5ft 3 and have a short stride and not sure if I should be going faster or slower?

Just wondering if you run on a treadmill, how many mph do you run and how tall are you?

Thanks 😊

[GaryB1966 Graduate]

I have to be honest and say that I’m not a treadmill runner, but it seems to me that speed is irrelevant. Some of the best advice I’ve had on this forum was simply to go as slow as I needed to at the time and not worry about it :), speed comes later

[Pete654 Graduate]

I wouldn't worry about what other people are doing in terms of pace. 4.2 mph would give a 5 km time of just over 44 minutes. This program is about building to 30 minutes of running from doing very little. Accept some runs will seem harder than others, slow down if you are struggling. Don't expect to be completing 5Km in 30 minutes on graduation, few do this. Concentrate on building stamina for now, most of all enjoy yourself.

[MarkyD Graduate]

Nothing more to add. Gary and Pete have hit it on the head. The speed that you should run at is the speed that gets you through that run... no faster. You have a short stride, and so you can expect to run slower than a taller person, it is just physics I'm afraid.

W5r3 is notorious for messing with your head. It's definitely one when the gremlins come out to get you. Why not try again, but set the treadmill at 4.0mph?? If you find this a bit slow, then GOOD. Getting through W5r3 is all that matters, no-one is scoring you on speed. And you can always nudge the speed up towards the end if you have something left in the tank.

Once you've graduated and spent some weeks consolidating your running, you can start to play about with speed and intervals. But not until you have that Graduate badge by your name.

You can do this.

[Geord68 Graduate]

Run at a speed your comfortable at, I ran at 5mph, the wife ran at 5.5mph.

We are all unique so do what is right for you.

[KKThomas Graduate]

I'm 5'4" and I run on the treadmill at 7km/h. I have no idea what that is in mph sorry - the treadmills at the gym are too youing and modern to do anything other than km/h. Not sure that is any help to you at all but I tried