Pace (W6 R3)

[Pippy_T]

Now, before I begin I know you guys are going to tell me not to focus on pace at this stage... however, I’m at a point now where I’m looking and being somewhat guilty of comparison! So I’ve attached my map my run stats from tonight & this is pretty standard for what I’m getting for most runs. My pace seems to be slower than everyone else’s that I’m seeing (I’m not comparing to the pro’s either!) does this pace look pretty standard for the stage I’m at or should I push myself a bit more?

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

You should absolutely focus on pace. You should be making sure that you can speak in full sentences to check that you have the right pace.

As for you being slow... I’ve seen many slower. Don’t worry about it. Get used to 30 minutes of running when it comes and then start working on pace on a short run if you want to.

If it helps... my happy pace gets me to 5k in 36 minutes... and I’ve been graduated since November. I can’t see a beak down of just your run, but you’re running a similar pace to me by the looks of it... I don’t consider myself slow, or fast, just a happy runner.

[Pippy_T Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Oh thank you so much - that does make me feel better! Still finding my way around map my run and you saying you couldn’t see all my stats triggered me to pop back on and have just found the breakdown, my max pace was 10:10 so feel a bit better now. Just felt like I was being a snail compared to everyone else! (I know, I know, comparison is the theif of Joy and all that 🤣)

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Pippy_T]

10:10 is quick for 6 weeks of running... over time you’ll get used to running a more even tempo... and when that happens it can feel slow and your app may flash up some PBs. It’s a funny old game.

Comparison is ok... if you compare like to like... for someone my age, with my starting fitness, weight, and height, I think I’m doing ok... then there’s a guy at least 5 years older than me at parkrun who runs 5k in a little over 17 minutes... maybe when he’s 98 and I’m somewhere around 90 I’ll catch him 😂. We are similar in all but experience and fitness level last summer.

[Pippy_T Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

😂 a few years to go then and you’ll have him 💪🏻

Thanks again and if i compare myself to myself six weeks ago I know I’m nauling it cos I struggled with the 30 second runs back then!!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Pippy_T]

That’s the best person to compare to. Once you’re through this plan you can kick your own ass over a 5k every now and then.

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Pippy_T]

You may prefer miles, but the km times are ‘friendlier’, ie, they don’t take so long and you get more of them in! Just a little psychological trick. Plus I think I am right in saying that most people use km here, perhaps because 5k is in the title. So careful you aren’t comparing your per mile pace to someone’s per km pace. 14’15” per mile is about 8’50” per km 🙂

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to ktsok]

I need to run in miles so there’s less of them and measure pace in km so I look faster 😂

[ktsok Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Great idea! 🤣

[Pippy_T Graduate in reply to ktsok]

Ah that’s a good point, hadn’t thought of that! I do know I probably go against the trend preferring miles to km as I have a better grip of them as a unit of measure! Might change it over see how it goes. Thank you ☺️

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Pippy_T]

No worries 🙂

If I was training for a marathon (fat chance) I’d probably start measuring in miles... pure psychology 🙃

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to ktsok]

Didn’t your Mum tell you? She’s signed you up for a Christmas one...

[Hidden in reply to ktsok]

"14’15” per mile is about 8’50” per km"

Thanks for the conversion! I'm slower than that but, you know what, I don't feel slow. I feel comfortable with my running pace that I'm going to get to the end without having a heart attack. I'm sure I could go faster but I'm happy enough to be out there reaping the benefits of exercise and feeling good.

Edit: my Excel spreadsheet tells me I'm running at a faster pace than week 1 🤣

[Tartancat Graduate]

Don't panic! Your pace is about the same as mine was when I graduated.

As you get more miles under your belt you may well find that your pace naturally increases. Plenty of time to work on that once you've graduated if that's what you want. Just enjoy!

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

Well done again. I think I’m just slightly slower than you and today I was faster than I normally am at 9’/km. I feel very slow when I’m running but I think on equal terrain I seem to gain a few seconds each week so yeah, that’s what I should compare myself too I suppose! And my enjoyment is increasing so there’s that!

[MarkyD Graduate]

Pace is irrelevant. You cannot compare your pace with others. We don't know anything about you - your stride length, height, running cadence, your weight, your age, your current VO2max, the surface that you run on, the bendiness of your route, your current level of fitness, not even your gender... all these things will affect your pace.

All you can do is compare your pace with your pace on the last run, on the run last week and on the run 6 weeks ago (assuming that it is the same route) and hope to see a small progression.

One thing is for sure - we need to run slowly to burn fat (strictly, we need to run below our aerobic threshold to burn fat), and we need to run slowly to build stamina and endurance. So the pace that you are running should be slow, regardless of your running ability.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Your pace is your pace.

About 15% of graduates manage a sub 30 minute 5k at graduation healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

So please don't try to speed up.

Yo can do that after graduation.

[Tonkabella]

Mine is roughly the same at week 5 and I'm happy with that. It's a pace I'm comfortable with I'm sure I could go a bit faster.... but why should I? I'm happy😊. Just relax and try not to sweat the stats 😊😊🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️