Please don’t tell me off

[Shelley2310]

Atm I’m feeling quite despondent. I know it’s all about our own journey, but surely I should be doing 1k in a lot less than 11mins. An afternoon stroll would be quicker. I’m due to start w9 tomorrow. I think going to the running club yesterday made me realise how ‘slow’ I am. They were super encouraging but I feel a bit deflated.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Your happy pace is the pace you’re comfortable at... we all start somewhere and with work the happy pace can increase. If you were to go for a 1k run, you’d be able to run it faster as you’d have more than enough fuel in the tank. Who knows what 5k time you can do over the coming months and years? Will it make you happier to go faster? Maybe. What it won’t do is have the huge impact on your health that your hard work has done so far.

Last night you were in a relatively small group and the majority of those runners have a lot more experience than you. While miles on the clock isn’t everything to a runner, those miles do have a big impact on performance. We all started at different weights and fitness levels, we all have different lengths of legs, we have different preferences for times of run, temperature, clothing, etc. So, unless comparing elite athletes who’ve finely tuned their training for the same event, comparisons show nothing... and, for us new guys, comparison to others with more running behind them will only, sadly, make us feel inadequate. The best person to compare yourself to is you, so look at you last summer, the autumn, last month and be damn proud of your progress... from 0 to 30 minutes is a massive achievement, the road to 5k is harder than the road from 5 to 10k... it’s harder than any other change of distance ever will be, delivers very good fitness and major health benefits... and you did all of that because you are amazing.

[molly1973 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Such wise and supportive words. Perfect response and words I was struggling to find

[Jell6 Graduate in reply to molly1973]

He does always seem to capture it doesn't he😊

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you 😊

[ktsok Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Very well said.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Everyone has a different pace. I felt a bit that way trying to run with my other half's sister. She is seriously fast... but it depends on why you run. I'm not running to beat anyone. I'm running to feel good. And if that means running 11 to 13 min miles v 8 min miles I'm good with that and I'm a year on from the programme.

You're doing better than you're giving yourself credit for. 👍😉😁

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you 😊

[Johnnylewis Graduate]

Do not be hard on yourself. Look at what your doing. Your actually going out and doing it. Stay the course. Your doing really well.

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to Johnnylewis]

Thank you 😊

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

Don't feel deflated, feel proud. You may be "slow", as you say, but what does that matter? You're running for your own reasons, and you are nailing it! I have no experience with running groups, but have read on here about different experiences others have had. If this is a supportive running group for beginners, keep going! It seems like those that are able to find the right running group do great and it really seems to help with their running. If you didn't find this group to be supportive for your skill level, speed, then maybe searching for a different run group in your area that will be is worthwhile. Kudos to you for not only starting and sticking with the programme, but joining a running group. That is huge and AWESOME! As are you!

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you 😊

[Erddig Graduate]

I’m in W9 and also dead slow. I could probably walk faster. I’m not worried, my main goal is to finish the programme, then work on speed. Think of how far you’ve come and how much further you will go in the future. This programme takes you to the point where you can train to run effectively. Don’t be despondent, be proud of your achievement.

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to Erddig]

Thank you 😊

[Fit2Sing Graduate]

You're doing great Shelley, getting out & running for 8 weeks is an awesome achievement, please don't be despondent. Stick with it & stay where you are comfortable, you're so close to graduating then there's a whole new world of learning & improvement to be had after the nine weeks is done. My goal was just to run the 30 minutes regardless of the distance travelled & since graduation, I am very slowly building up my distance & time. I'm never going to be fast, but I am over the moon that I can do it at all! Unfit no more really summed it up much better than I ever could but I wish you the best & please remember you're amazing 😁

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to Fit2Sing]

Thank you 😊

[Hidden]

Hi Shelley2310 my music loving friend UnfitNoMore is quite right in his reply. Only you know where you started from and what efforts you’ve had to make to get where you are now. It took me an age to realise that whilst I was working through the plan it was highly unlikely I’d get quicker as each time out you’re extending the time/distance you run. I really wondered why I wasn’t a cross between Usain and Mo - even allowing for a necessary gender reassignment and a drop of about 35 years!

In the 18 months post graduation I’ve only ever done the 5k under 30 minutes twice, but I run, and I’m getting better/stronger all the while - this is and will be true for you too.

Please look at your achievements against your own benchmark at the start to now and I’m sure you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come.

You are amazing and committed - you’re at Week 8 and have continued despite the temptations of Christmas and holidays which often trip the best of us up.

If after your graduation (coming soon if I’m not mistaken) you want to improve your speed have a look at interval training, as that’s a great way of focussing on speed.

We all eventually find our preferred run, whether it's short and fast, short and slower, long and slow. It’s a bit like taking your driving test, your lessons get you through the test evaluation but your real road craft starts when you leave the test centre having got your driving licence. Your C25K graduation is exactly the same, I wish you all the best in finding your running groove

JCR X

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you 😊

[ktsok Graduate]

I’m sorry to hear you are feeling down Shelley. I hope this will pass as you recognise the progress you have made. The benchmark has to be where you started from, which is different for every one of us. I think you have given up smoking, lost weight, found it hard running for 60 seconds a couple of months ago?

I went into work buzzing a few days ago after running for 20 minutes, and one persons response was to tell me about her sister who decided to start running and just ran 3 miles and it was a piece of cake and all the clubs want her because she is so fast yadayadayada... I pointed out that for me, it was not a piece of cake and that running for 20 minutes was a huge achievement when 5 weeks earlier 60 seconds had felt barely doable. Anyway, my point is, comparing our achievements to someone else’s isn’t very helpful in this context. I guess if you can find someone of approximately the same age, gender, build, weight, exercise history, genetics, etc, etc... you get my point. It’s no coincidence that in an elite sport race line up, the athletes have very similar body types and are of a similar age. I’m rambling now. You are doing great Shelley. Don’t let the gremlins get you!

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to ktsok]

Thank you 😊 you’re right of course! I not long ago put a more positive post up. Happy running 🏃‍♀️ we’re all doing amazing 😉

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Shelley2310]

Ah great! Yes, we are 😊

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

In my opinion, most people are better off doing C25K on their own, so they work at their own pace, don't make pointless comparisons and progress as suits them.

You are doing great.......... believe it!

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, I’ve come to my senses 😊