Speed -v- Distance?

[tryingtorun]

Just finished W8R1 - so 28 minutes running. Feeling a little like a real runner now! I am so slow though! Switched on MapMyRun this morning to track total distance - I covered 4.5k which includes the x2 5 minute walks. I am obviously not going to be running 5k in 30 minutes. So - at the end of this do I concentrate on increasing the distance so that I can run 5k? Or do I stick to 30 minute runs and see how far I get in the 30 minutes?? What did you all do oh wise ones?

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

It is a very personal choice. Usually when you finish the program you have no idea what sort of runner you want to be. This is the reason there are two additional podcasts to try, stamina and speed. Saying that you actually don’t have to do either if you don’t want. Some are just happy running 30min three times a week. There are massive health benefits from just doing that. Your choices are

Getting faster

Running Longer

Exercising for 30min 3x a week.

I would recommend you try a few weeks of each and see what suits you. I went for running twice a week and added in swimming and hiking. My preference is distance and I love training for a HM but we all are different and have different schedules. The one thing I will say find something that you enjoy and makes you feel good about yourself.

I was never going to be fast but being able to do distance gives me a real buzz about my running so that is what suits me.

Most of all Happy running.

[F4TMAN]

I'm a couple of weeks behind you but I've been thinking about that too. Keep running 30 mins and increase pace until I'm covering 5k or run for 5k and increase pace until I'm doing it in 30 mins.

I'm leaning towards running a full 5k....

[Ang33333 Graduate]

You can do either. There are no rules! I'm never going to run 5k in 30 mins. Not physically possible for me! But i am near to 5k in about 45 mins and so pleased with that. I'm faster than I was at the beginning but I'm happy at around 9mins a km. Anything faster hurts and if it hurts I don't want to do it!! 😎

[Manxmezzo Graduate]

This is also something I am wondering... I'm also on week 8 and really trying to resist the thought that I'm going too slowly!!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Manxmezzo]

Leave that thought behind to at least 3-4 weeks after graduation. You will be surprised at the confidence graduation will give you and most have a little spurt in speed around that time.

[SandieB67 Graduate]

Hi there 🙂 I’m on the same week as you, and covering the same sort of distance. I run with my hubby, who’s aiming for 5k and more. He wants us to do the local 10k next year 😳😳. I would rather get quicker. So our plan is to do 2 runs where we increase distance and 1 where we’ll aim for a quicker pace. That’s just my opinion tho lol. What ever you choose it’s gonna be better than the sofa! 😁😁

[Berksrover Graduate]

After I graduated C25K I ran for 5k 3 times a week for 3 weeks before embarking on Ju-Jus 10k plan. None of those were in less than 30 mins, so I guess I focused on distance not speed