W7 R1 - too slow...

[LynnWails]

Hello 👋 , I posted a couple of days ago after W6 R3, asking if I was going too fast if I felt like I couldn’t hold the conversation while running.

So for W7 R1 I decided to go slower - and I don’t think it was a good decision for me personally. I follow my run with MapMyWalk (I like looking at the map afterwards 😆) and I only shaved off 20 seconds off my average pace, but I was so conscious I was trying to go slower, and my body absolutely hated it! It was like it was overcompensating by bouncing more (trying to control it became very frustrating) and I ended up with a stitch, and I only had one before in week 2 😢 Then I got a cramp in my calf and on the walk home a niggling feeling in the hip turned into a pretty bad pain! (Bath with Epsom Salts for me!)

I think I just have to put up with the fact that conversation is not my priority whilst running, and go with the speed that feels more natural for my body.

But thanks to everybody who gave me lovely advice

[Now-runner_NeedsAttn Graduate]

I always struggle with running too quickly but I definitely benefit from running a little slower. Remember, the aim of C25K is to get you running for 30 minutes, once you have the stamina, fitness and mental attitude to do that then you can think of going faster.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

The key for a lot of runners is to have different paces for different runs, and slow is the gear that 80+% of runs are done at. Maybe have a play with paces again after graduation.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Learning to run at a slow paced is crucial to development of stamina. It is also difficult to do.

Elite runners spend as much as 80% of their running time at an easy conversational pace...........so should we.

If you cannot breathe deeply, you cannot supply the oxygen that your muscles require and will tire.

Have you read the guide to the plan? healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

I found that running with someone who has a naturally slower pace was the easiest way to discover the slow placed in me.