How fast is a fast 🐌??

[Beanjo]

So despite really looking forward to the first run of week 8 this morning, I found most of it quite hard. Spent a lot of time faffing with ear-phones at the beginning which didn’t help but eventually set off and managed the early incline quite well.

Ten minutes in and although it felt harder than anticipated, I’d settled into a steady (read slow) pace when Sarah suggested that I might like to up the pace. Really?!? So my question is- do snails have different speeds and if so, what does a fast snail look like?

Looking back on my ‘map your run’ stats I must have tried to do as I was told because the middle two km we’re at a slightly faster speed - but hey , for a 50 something overweight lady who 8 weeks ago had never run before- I actually ran for 28 minutes without stopping today!!! So 🐌 or not, I’m smashing it 😊

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

According to QI snails are evolving to be slower, so we should always be capable of keeping up with them. Also implies there may have once been fast snails?!

28 minutes is very good. If you want to compare your pace, feed your average pace into a 5k pace to time calculator (there’s several if you google) and then use that time against your local parkrun and try to find someone in the same gender and age grading of a similar time. That will give you a rough percentage against the world record in that category. Factor in that that person is fitter than you and you have a comparison of your pace. Now I’ve said all that, pace really doesn’t matter unless you want it to, what matters is you’re rocking it.

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Haha. Thank you for that - I now know more about snails than I did this morning so that’s one thing I’ve learnt so far today 😊. As I get better (and I am doing weekly) I know that I’ll want to start paying attention to average pace etc and will want to improve so thanks for the tips. Park run is probably a bit too ambitious at the moment but is certainly something I’m aiming for 😊

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Beanjo]

I wouldn’t even consider pace at parkrun, many people here go along and do the C25K workout and walk the rest, and it’s a great experience. Parkrun like all abilities to come along... so far I’ve done one and I walked it... got loads of cheers and positive feedback. Volunteered as a marshal the week after. Now when I get this knee right I’m gonna do C25K at parkrun at least occasionally.

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks. I’ll definitely look into Parkrun sooner rather than later😊

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Beanjo]

Cool... it’s like being in here for a boost only you can slap them if they say anything negative, ooops, no I meant you can see them! You’ll see all shapes and sizes doing it, and some will be visibly unfit but rocking it, it’s good for those “yes I can” thoughts. When I marshalled there was a short girl running who was visibly very high BMI and she struggled but never stopped, I had to get to the line to whooop her home.

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Think I’d like you to be a marshall on my first parkrun 😊

[Hidden]

I run well plod at a slow pace 3.5mph on a treadmill or on road a 17-18 min mile. I can’t do fast running as my calves lock on me. I’ve seen a meme that says “I run, as fast as a stampede of tortoise running through peanut butter but I run” that’s me to a T. Always remember whatever your pace you’re running quicker than those sat on the sofa doing nothing.

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Love that- thank you. And you’re absolutely right Pigginanna- we are faster than those on the sofa 😂🐌🏃‍♀️

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Love that, you saying 'I run as fast as a stampede of tortoise', or snails, as long as you are running at that pace, that is the main thing. Where I live there was a '5k Christmas Santa dash' last December, there were several runners who did that 5k in well over an hour, the quickest 'tortoise' did it in 1hour 25 minutes.

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

At least they did it though 😊. Thanks AlMorr 👍

[Denovo]

Well done for smashing the run rather than your snail shell

This snail, a 64-year-old overweight lady (though some might question that term applied to me ) has also just completed W8R1 at the lightning snail speed of 16.5 minutes per mile. Some previous runs have even got to 15+ minute miles, and the snail grail for me is eventually to smash the 15 minute mile.

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to Denovo]

Well done you too. 👏👏Perhaps we should start a snail run as an alternative to park run. Congratulations on getting to week 8 Denovo. I love that there are so many other snails out there too 😊

[Denovo in reply to Beanjo]

Ha ha, the Snail Trail! Love it!

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to Denovo]

Now that’s s very good name. Think it might catch on 😂🐌

[Ang33333 Graduate]

You can't be too slow! Just do what is comfy for you. I was a slower than slow snail at the start. Now I'm still a snail but a tiny bit faster. Haven't tried to be faster, I'm not worried about pace, i think it just comes as you get stronger. I am happy to be a happy snail🐌🐌🐌🐌

[Beanjo Graduate]

Yes- wise words Ang. I’ll settle for being a happy snail 😊😊

[DWARFIE Graduate]

I'm on the snail trail too, I'm on W6R2 and I'm not bothered about my speed (or lack of) at this stage. The fact is that I'm sticking it out until the end and not giving up. I'm doing a lot more now than I was 6 weeks ago when I was getting breathless running up the stairs! High five to us snails 🖐️ we're on a mission!

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to DWARFIE]

We are indeed. Well done Dwarfie for 17 runs under your belt- how good does that feel 😊🤚🤚⭐️⭐️

[DWARFIE Graduate in reply to Beanjo]

It feels brilliant, can't believe how far we've come compared to before starting this 💪💪

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

I’m proud of being a 🐌 I’m mid 50’s, not overweight but bod shape has definitely changed since turning 50. I too did W8R1 yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed the 28 minutes. My pace was uber snail, but I don’t care for now. Speed (aka slightly less slow in my case will hopefully come later.)

The main thing is we ran for 28 minutes! That is something to be proud of! 😀🏃‍♀️

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It is- and we are 😊. Thanks cheekychipmunks. Enjoy run 2 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🐌

[Beccym Graduate]

At this point it is about getting round not speed. 28 minutes without stopping could you imagine that would be possible on week one when a minute felt like a long time.

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to Beccym]

I know- you’re absolutely right Beccym. Those first three runs of week 1 had me puffing and panting like nobody’s business. I very much doubted that I would even be able to manage 90 second runs for week 2, but here I am loving it and the running for 28 minutes seems incredible. Thanks for the reminder 😊🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Carolinemcd Graduate]

I’m doing the same run tonight and also really really slow, have to remind myself that I’m supposed to be running 😂 but we’re out there doing it 🐌🏃🏽‍♀️

[Beanjo Graduate in reply to Carolinemcd]

Absolutely. Let’s hear it for the snails 👏👏👏. It seems that there are many of us out there- I just never seem to see any 😊. Good luck with your run tonight 🏃‍♀️👍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

SnailsRus! 🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌