so slooooooowwwwwwww

[flowercrow]

Starting week 2 tomorrow. OMG I am so slow. Even in the past when I was doing the 5k (have had year off due to injury) I never managed a km in less than 14 mins. Is anyone else a slow runner?

[Rua8 Graduate]

Slow is good! Don’t worry about your pace at all at this point. You have plenty of time to think about that, maybe like in week 9 😉 Think jog, not sprint, and snail, not hare!

[flowercrow in reply to Rua8]

thanks, definitely no sprinting here! Having to be extra careful as had prolapsed disc a year ago and couldn't walk for two months plus have patellofemoral syndrome (ie my kneecaps are unstable). So being boringly sensible, keeping the long view in sight. Have been desperate to get back to my slow running for ages now.

[Rua8 Graduate in reply to flowercrow]

Oh gosh, that sounds like quite the bad year! Glad you are back on your feet and back to fitness this year. Really, especially with any weakness or injury-prone joints, you want to be extra sensible and just go at a pace that works for you. The end goal is 30 mins running, not necessarily 5k in 30 mins. It just sounds better as a slogan as Couch to 5k than Couch to Thirty Minutes 😆

[flowercrow in reply to Rua8]

thanks so much for the encouragement. I have never in my life done 5k in 30 mins, don't really understand why I am so much slower than everyone else but hey- ho!

[Rua8 Graduate in reply to flowercrow]

I only started thinking about my pace in week 8 - this week. In the first several weeks, I was running so slow people walking would overtake me. In fact I still remember the thrill I felt the first time I passed a dog walker. The dog was ancient, so neither he nor the owner was going fast, but I felt a sense of achievement nonetheless! Don’t worry about it, just feel good about the fact that you are out and getting fit. And pat yourself on the back 😊👏🏻

[Caro71 in reply to flowercrow]

Really you are not slow. Run with me and you would think you are a whippet. Slow is good.

[Ang33333 Graduate]

Slow is good! Slower is better!!

[runner56 Graduate]

You might be slow, but you continually lap those sitting on the couch!!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

No.. folk just run at the speed that is right for them... everyone is different, and every one has their own happy and sustainable pace. Simple as that

Just run and enjoy the runs

[SlowyMcSlowlegs Graduate]

I've just got back from my W6R3 run with my 9 year son who normally talks while we jog and completely drowns out the little voice inside telling me to stop and walk. Unfortunately today he did a combination of walking next to me because I'm the same speed as him walking or sprinted ahead and danced around until I caught up! I just ignored him and went my slow plodding pace. We'll all get there in the end.

[Mamabear5 Graduate in reply to SlowyMcSlowlegs]

Sounds like when I go out with my 6 it old !

[Allbarron Graduate]

Slow is all I can manage. Sometimes it feels like I'm wading through treacle and there have been moments when running alone I've encountered some wise guys who shout hilarious comments about the speed limit. But it's all I can do at the moment and at least I run😁 keep it up fellow snails xx

[Sortyourlife in reply to Allbarron]

Aw that’s horrible! Least you still keep going 😄 x

[Allbarron Graduate in reply to Sortyourlife]

Nah! You just ignore it and rise above it. 😋

[Sortyourlife in reply to Allbarron]

Still must be hard the first time it happens ahah!

[Caro71 in reply to Allbarron]

I bet they haven't got off the couch yet

[SCGUK Graduate]

Did this two years ago. If you read a lot of these posts you’ll see that it should really be called ‘Couch to 30mins’ not ‘Couch to 5k’ but that isn’t as catchy! My fastest EVER 5k is 45mins - my usual is about 50mins. I still plod on and can complete a patkrun so all is good... 😉.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

My definition of slow is on the couch, if your not still sitting on the couch then you are not slow you exercising and doing well. I prefer to call myself a back of the pack runner rather than slow and like you every now and then I have to give myself a good talking too about this issue so I do understand. No matter your pace we are all runners, are bodies are going through the same processes as every runner out there, we are building the same muscles in the same place. I like distance and you should see people’s faces when I tell them what my time on my long distance runs take. They are in awe not because I’m slow but because I can exercise for that time, so with the calorie count that becomes a bit of a bonus. Always look for the silver lining.

[LookNannyruns Graduate]

Like age speed is just a number! I keep thinking as I run that I’m not trying to catch anything nor am I trying to escape so I plod along and occasionally do the odd juggernaut on a motorway type pass of walkers.

I met a friend for coffe after my parkrun on Saturday, she said is it hot out there you look warm- well I said I have just run 5k. She is completely disinterested in what I do and immediately told me all about her week. So you see people are all in their own bubbles and most don’t even care how you get from a to b. So slow or faster just enjoy the being outside doing it, your aims and goals are personal and unless you find a doppelgänger to run with comparisons are hopeless.

I’m glad you are back to running, I hope you enjoy the rest of your journey

[Nonnie83]

Yes! I am super show as well. Glad I'm not the only one. I can now run for a longer time than when I started but I am still VERY slow.

[BlinkyBecky]

I'm a slow runner too! Recently started again after injury and I'm trying to go a bit faster, but it's so hard! It doesn't really matter how fast/far you go, what's important is that you're doing it. Keep up the good work!

[Nwrkpak]

We are all slow compared to someone and we are all fast compared to someone else. But WE ARE RUNNERS and that is awesome. My very negative very fit OH told me an hour ago that he is proud of the fact that I am running. ( I graduated 5k April) And I'm proud of the fact l'm running.

Bugger tbe speed. Be proud and keep running xx

[Katie204 Graduate]

I feel your pain, flowercrow! I am mega-slow as well. (The only times I have been to Parkrun, I straggled in at the back of the crowd, among the last 10 people.)

I don't run with anyone else because it is so embarrassing to lag behind them and see their looks of embarrassment and pity. Also I find the effort to keep up with other people is really stressful.

Still, so far I have completed two 10K events and a half-marathon.

As long as you are still on your feet and still doing it, it doesn't matter how slow you are.

[Katie204 Graduate in reply to Katie204]

You might have wondered why my avatar is Brian the Snail from The Magic Roundabout. Well, that's why.

[Katie204 Graduate in reply to Katie204]

I have just seen a new running top that I will have to buy for myself some time soon: fitturtles.com/run-deargod

[Mamabear5 Graduate]

I normally run with either toddler in buggy or the dog both slow me up , when I did a park run i knocked 7 mins of what I normally do a 5k in but my attitude is I'm not sat at home doing nothing I'm out there

[MatildasPb Graduate]

Slow compared to what? We are all slow compared to someone faster, old compared someone younger etc etc. But we are faster than someone slower, younger than someone older etc etc.

Don’t define yourself by others. You are doing the best you can now and you are off the proverbial couch.

I’m starting week two on Tuesday and I’m supporting you all the way.

Good luck for the next eight weeks.

[Hidden]

Lots of us on here! I had to take a year off too & am doing this programme to ease me back in. When I first started I was trying to go at the same pace I did a year ago - but I could never run for long as I was going way too fast! I took the advice on here - slowed it down & then slowed it down again& it's got me to W8. As someone on here has said - it doesn't matter how slow you are going - you are still going faster than those still sitting on the couch! Good luck.