I run slower than I walk. Anyone else? Advice ... - Couch to 5K

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I run slower than I walk. Anyone else? Advice please.

KirstyLou132 profile image
9 Replies

Urgh! I am about to do W2R3 but just looked at my W2R2 on Runkeeper and the times I am running are actually slower than the times I’m walking. Does anyone else have an experience like this? Will it improve?

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KirstyLou132 profile image
KirstyLou132
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9 Replies
Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate

It will get better you just need to give yourself a little time to adjust, my walking pace and running pace have always been very close together, that is because I am a very fast walker and a slow runner. It has never taken anything away from my running. I am now use my running to cross train for race walking which is a new found sport for me. After graduation your body will be ready to work on a little speed training and that will help with your pace, it is still very much early days yet.

Billysmate profile image
Billysmate in reply to Realfoodieclub

I’m at the sane stage as you - we have done well to get this far. As long as I do all that I am expected on the run then I am happy. I keep going, and my light running on inclines isn’t much faster than my walk but i’m Moving. Keep with it, every step is worth it. Don’t dwell on what you haven’t achieved, look at what you have!

Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub

Before I hurt myself, I reached a stage where I started to wonder where my running was leading me. I had just done a HM in 2 hours 23 minutes and also decided that I would not go any further. I realised that all of my training from the start of C25k had really been for longer term endurance - 5 klms after all initially was a marathon distance for me . My subsequent training to run 10 klms and then 21.1 klms had basically trained me to run slowly!! So I decided that when I came back from my holiday , I would start a new training programme to run for one Mile only!!! Unfortunately this plan never came to fruition and i am now planning to start C25k all over again - but once I get back to being able to run 5K non-stop again, I am going to do that 1 Mile programme. If you want to run "fast" then you do have to run "fast" sometime!!!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Loads of folk :) It does as Realfoodieclub says.. take time... :) It will come :)

Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate

At this stage, it doesn't matter. The SOLE purpose of C25K is to get you to be able to "run" non-stop for 30 minutes. Nobody said anything about 5 klms (even though it is in the title) - and nobody said anything about "fast". Once you are physically fit(ter) and able to run for 30 minutes - then you can concentrate on increasing your running pace so that it is indeed faster than your walking pace. Just as an interesting exercise - you can play around with this already - walk for 5 minutes to warm yourself up and then play a short 30 second mind game. You are on your way to work and you see the bus coming - you just have to get on this bus to get to work to get your long awaited promotion - run that 50 metres to the busstop as fast as you can to catch that bus before it leaves!! You WILL find that you can indeed run quite fast - maybe not too far at this time - but in time you will surprise yourself and everybody that you know!! :)

nhs2015 profile image
nhs2015Graduate

I sure did, but then eventually you will overtake someone with a walking frame, then someone with a walking stick, then eventually someone just walking. It is just a steady improvement. It takes time. Don’t worry, you will get there.

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

I wouldnt worry too much :-)

I got overtaken by a convoy of 3 mobility scooters on their way to Aldi . Ha ha :-D xxx

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

You can’t go fast! Why would you expect to? We spend a lifetime on the couch, getting unhealthy and unfit and expect to become running machines in a matter of weeks 😁

We keep saying, with monotonous regularity, that this programme is meant be done slowly. That’s the trick of it. It’s the whole point 😃

Don’t worry. if you stick to it you will become a runner. We learn! Get fitter as we go. Go forward with confidence. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and you’ll get to where you want to be. You have to have faith in the programme and yourself

Come on !💪😃🏃‍♀️👍✔️

I'm about to do the last run on week 4 and I'm slower than I was at the beginning of the program. On some runs I'm definitely slower than when I walk, especially uphill. I can run faster than I walk downhill,

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