Is there such a thing as being too slow?

[Tortoiseandthehare]

Hello lovely people,

I have just complete week two of C25K and enjoying the programme and reading how well everyone is progressing. My only niggle is that I am so slow...I think my walking is quicker than my running! Should I be trying to jog faster and push myself or should I just concentrate on developing my strength. If I go any slower I will be going backwards...

[sallenson Graduate]

There is no thing as too slow!!

Walking and running are different biomechanical processes. It's perfectly okay to run slower than you walk.

The programme is an exercise is slowly building up basic running capability, no matter how slow.

Don't worry about speed or pace or going faster. It will happen by itself!!

[Tortoiseandthehare in reply to sallenson]

Thanks Sallenson- just wanted to check!

[Toomsy]

No there is nothing such as too slow! Everyone has a different pace . Don’t stop keep going your doing fab

[Tortoiseandthehare in reply to Toomsy]

Thanks Toomsy!

[cashdd Graduate]

Slow and steady for me. I've also finished week 2 today and though slow didn't stop. Keep up the good work and I'll be following your progress xx

[Tortoiseandthehare in reply to cashdd]

Hope you are enjoying it as much as me xx

[cashdd Graduate in reply to Tortoiseandthehare]

Think so. Feel good that I feel an improvement even if it's just small. Well get there together x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Slow and steady works..it really does...the legs take along time to build up, as do the stamina and the strength.. C25K is just the beginning... you take it gently and rest assured, there really is no such thing as too slow...

Keep it steady and you will be just fine.. and by Week 6, your legs will be beginning to find their happy pace

[sallenson Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Is that a promise?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to sallenson]

It is.. and I never lie... :)x

[sallenson Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I know hon!! Trust you completely and utterly... xx

[Tortoiseandthehare in reply to Oldfloss]

I hope so!! Thank you

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Another “don’t worry about being too slow”.

In fact, the slower you can go now the better when you reach the longer runs.

[Claireednet]

I’m exactly same, i could prob walk faster but so long as I’m moving I’m fine with that for now and hoping ‘pace’ with come over time

[Tortoiseandthehare in reply to Claireednet]

Thanks Claire

[Tortoiseandthehare]

Thanks...I've enjoyed following your progress

[limberlou Graduate]

I’ve always felt I was too slow. People were posting their times ( way faster than me) and how they ran the 5 k in the first 20 min run and then in their first Week 9 Run and I was thinking “ I’m rubbish” and nowhere near that!!

I graduate Week9 and still felt ‘meh’ and then I went for my first post grad run and kept going ( because I felt good) till I actually ran a full 5k. It actually took me 40 minutes!! And I thought I’ll never do it in a decent time I might just as well be walking.

So my daughter took me out later that evening and we walked ( briskly) and timed that route. It took us Just over an hour so I walk half as slowly again as I run.

And that will do me at present.... plenty of time to speed up or do longer. I’m still running!! And enjoying it.

[Tortoiseandthehare in reply to limberlou]

Brilliant- 5k in 40 minutes. Bet you were chuffed...

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Tortoiseandthehare]

I was indeed!! And I could barely managed to shuffle along for the 60 second runs when we started ... and I’m 64 so you will do it I’m sure. Don’t worry about speed it just falls into place eventually. I’ve had rubbish runs and good runs and the best ones seem to be when I just go at a comfortable speed and see where it takes me

[Sofabunny]

I'm running slower than I usually walk at the moment..and wondering the same. All of my friends have to tell me to slow down if we are walking together..but at the moment I can only get through the runs by going really slowly..I was faster in week one..getting up to 7k an hour..but that all changed in week 2 ...and my walking has got slower between runs too..I've just finished week 4. I remind myself that I'm 57 and last did regular exercise 25 years ago so it would be a miracle if I wasn't having to go slowly..my sister says remember you are moving three times a week..and doing regular exercise..that is fantastic..

[Tortoiseandthehare in reply to Sofabunny]

The same with me...no regular exercise for a long time and going really slow to finish the runs x

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Sofabunny]

Yeah me too - hadn’t run for over 25 years and I was nearly 40 then but I’ve made it- still running slowly but gradually finding I am faster than the last run ( most times)

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Don’t think about pace til after graduation!

[Tortoiseandthehare in reply to Tasha99]

Thanks Tasha

[thisfishcan Graduate]

I graduated back in March, and I am still slow. 5k takes me between 47 and 62 minutes depending on the trail. So as you can see I’m very slow. However, I’ve stayed injury free, and I’m still enjoying it....most of the time.

[Razouski]

There is absolutely no such thing as too slow. You are trying to build stamina not speed so just take it really gently.

[sallenson Graduate]

I'm looking forward to running so slowly that I bend the space/time continuum and I start getting younger after each session...

[PurpleMile in reply to sallenson]

I love it! What a concept! I'll be right beside you, too! (Who needs a TARDIS?!)