Am I extremely slow

[jan2563]

Question. I know leg length / height will determine stride length and therefore speed to some extent.

I’m 5’ 2” and am only running at 6.7 kmph.

Is this EXTREMELY slow?

[davelinks Graduate]

Don't worry about speed on the programme, slow is good , the slower the better..

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

As davelinks says..😊

[Ripcurlrana71]

Over what distance? Sounds good to me for 5k.

[jan2563 Graduate in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

No I’m not getting 5k run. My speed is 6.7 km per hour so in thirty mins I’m only running about 3.4km 🙄

[Ripcurlrana71 in reply to jan2563]

Ah ok. You may find you slow down a bit when you get to the longer runs. But it’s all good. 😊

[Mumsygill Graduate in reply to jan2563]

I’m only doing 3.5 km and I’m taller than you!!

[SlowLoris]

I don't think you'll catch any squirrels when your out but it's certainly not extreme. As Dave says, slow is good. It's the best way to build up your running fitness.

[Caro71]

Don't worry about speed. I was worried last week that I wasn't running because of the distance I was covering. I was reassured by everyone that if I was not using a walking action I was running. Since then running has become easier I watched my feet listening to them hitting the ground. I don't look up too often because I tend to try to run to a point. Run slow. We are tortoises not hares. Love slow running.

[jan2563 Graduate in reply to Caro71]

I’m definitely running. I can’t walk at that pace!!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to jan2563]

Jan, when I started I actually was running slower than I could walk the same route. I did not think that was possible, but it is. Asthma, screwed foot bones, totally out of shape etc. It took me two minutes more to do one circuit of the park than walking.

Now I easily run it in 12 minutes instead of the 16 I used to walk it in. Fastest 5k ever was 33 minutes and change, fastest 10k 1:22.

It's all about slow, steady and patient progress - speed is finite, even Bolt has a limit - but getting further and further from the "Couch life" is a great feeling

[Ang33333 Graduate]

If you are extremely slow I am at a standstill!! Am no more than 9kph according to my fitbit and Strava. I'm not a lot taller than you. My legs are short !

[jan2563 Graduate in reply to Ang33333]

9kmph is much faster than my 6.7 Ang!! Maybe I need to get a shuffle on

[Ang33333 Graduate in reply to jan2563]

Oh!! I didn't realise!! Maybe I've got it wrong! I know we cover about 3.2km in the 30 mins. I thought the 9km ish was the time per km. I am an idiot! I don't get all the technology!

[Ang33333 Graduate in reply to Ang33333]

I am slow I'm sure! And muddled. It's taking me over 9 mins to run a km. My tracker isn't giving me my kph but time per km...... so I think I am slow. ?????

[_SimonT_ Graduate in reply to Ang33333]

Beautifully slow Ang! Well done! 😅👏🏻

[Bridget007 Graduate]

I don’t know if that’s slow I get confused with all this technology. I know I’m slow 🐌 but I must be doing something like running because I am waaay hotter when Ive finished than when I’ve started! I don’t know what speed per hour I do as I think mine tells me how long it’s taken me to do a km rather than Kph! Doesn’t really matter we are faster than we were a few weeks ago 😃

[Caotykim]

I’m an inch shorter than you and my pace is about the same. I certainly don’t feel like I’m going slow and I’m quicker than when I started so that’s good. I don’t think it matters as long as you feel you’re getting something from it. If you feel like you can go faster without exerting yourself, give it a try. If not, carry on as you are.

[mfamilias Graduate]

Why are you worried? I have no idea what my speed is, and I don't want to know. What I do know is that I'm healthier and happier than I was before C25K, and that I can now run distances I couldn't even walk before. Don't worry about speed - if you're not walking, you're running, and if you're running, you're awesome.

[tiffj]

I’m slower!! I find if I am on the treadmill between 6.3 and 6.6 means I can achieve the run. It’s all about completion for me - I’ll never be Usain 😂 keep going x x

[mrrun Graduate]

I don't get this slow/fast business, can't see the point. If you are preparing for competitions, running for medals, representing your country and any such stuff then fair play, run fast or drop out but running for pleasure and health and worrying about speed? Whatever fast you do, some kids will overlap you at such speed that you will barely notice them, and then what? Trying to catch them?

'Slow' makes sure your cardio develops properly and your stamina increases, you get stronger generally. 'Slow' means less certain to pick up an injury. In time you become faster as your muscles get stronger but there will be a limit. There is always a limit. I once managed to run 5K in what was close to 25 minutes and then wondered aimlessly, totally spent, crazed with exhaustion. So was that fast or slow? Or is it all relative? I mean, the world record is around 12 minutes, should I aim for that?

'Slow' is good!

[_SimonT_ Graduate]

Hi Jan - no is the simple answer.

I did a bit of research for you and I quote “Tectonic plate movements have been clocked at ≈ 0.0000064 km/h.”

Now THATS slow! And they are a lot bigger than you, too! 😂

Good luck and keep enjoying your running! 🏃‍♀️

[Jay66UK Graduate]

That’s my distance over 30 minutes, too. I’m worrying more about running longer than running faster. Remember the race is really only with yourself.

[Rignold]

If you are being chased by a predator travelling at 7km/h then yes, it is too slow. Otherwise, no.

[MarkyD Graduate]

Just for completeness, this program called C25K is not named correctly.

The aim of the program is to run for 30 minutes, three times in one week.

Note that the aim only refers to time, not to speed/pace/distance. Some people happen to cover 5km in their 30 minute graduation run. Many people do not, and that's probably most folks on this forum.

"C2r430m3xpw" is not very catchy, though.

So you're doing absolutely fine. You are running at the pace that suits you. No-one has ever been told to run faster on this forum. Practically everyone has been told to run slower, though.

[Rignold in reply to MarkyD]

Hmmm, yes.

[jan2563 Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Thanks for this. I am so proud I can run for thirty mins now but I was worried I’m not running 5k in that time- I would have to do 10kmph for that and that’s just not happening!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to jan2563]

Over 90% of graduates do not run 5k in 30 minutes at graduation.

[jan2563 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for this info. I feel much better. I’m just about to go and do my final run!

[Berksrover Graduate]

I am currently in my post graduation consolidation phase, (not helped by 2 weeks of margaritas, beer and tacos) but once through that will continue to build my stamina by running longer at a slow pace and mixing that with the odd shorter, faster one, would one day like to be able to do 5k in 30 minutes but if I don't I know I am so much fitter and healthier than I was a couple of months ago when I started, whatever floats your boat, do that!

[jan2563 Graduate in reply to Berksrover]

That’s exactly how I feel. I struggled to even run for one minute nine weeks ago. I’m so proud of myself and ready to do my graduation run on Sunday. I think I will try to increase the length of time I can run for rather than the speed.

Ps. Tacos and margaritas- yes please!

[Berksrover Graduate]

Good luck for Sunday, loik forward to seeing that graduate badge appear, the last 60 seconds of my graduation run were quite emotional, its a huge achievement and one you can feel really proud of

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

For a very slow runner it is quite fast.

For a very fast runner it is quite slow.

For you, if you can breathe comfortably, it is probably just about right.