How far/how fast

[Tippyrunn]

How far do people generally run, I can only cover about 3.5 to 3.8 k. The fastest I get is about 8 mins 30 per kilometre. Feeling bit disheartened, thought I'd be faster by week 5. 🙁

[molly1973 Graduate]

Hi Tippy. Speed really isn’t important at the moment: in fact, the slower the better to keep you going from one week to the next. As you go through the forthcoming weeks and months, speed will come, but for now, take it slowly and enjoy progressing each week 👍

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

The only question that should be asked is: how long do you run? In which case you and I have done every run exactly the same... and you’ll complete week 5 with 20 minutes, same as me again.

Were you travelling at 8:30/km before this plan? Celebrate the improvement... if you go to the London marathon one day and you’re stood amongst the 40,000 runners, the one you compete with is the one you can’t see when you look around... you can’t even see that one in the mirror... it’ll be you Vs the previous version of you.

This plan turns you into a runner by the end of week 9, though your coach will bestow that title on you a little earlier. What you do after the plan will be the first running you start as a runner... that’s the time to worry about pace if you want to.

You’re completing the runs... that makes me and many others here proud of you. Time to be proud of yourself... look at what you’re doing! It’s amazing... you’re awesome.

If you really want to know... my 1km pace is way faster than 8:30... my ultra running buddy runs them way slower than 8:30. Tells you nothing right? Comparisons never do.

Celebrate being better with each and every run you ever do. Note that word... better. Better isn’t faster, better isn’t running longer... better is just what it says. Be a better you, until you’re the best you.

[Tonkabella in reply to UnfitNoMore]

That's a brilliant reply 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🏃🏽‍♀️😊

[Tippyrunn Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you. That's always been my issue with everything, I always want better/more/faster than anyone else. Tend to be hard on myself if I don't live up to my own expectations. Always tend to think everyone else has cracked it. Feel like I'm constantly running to catch up. (Bad pun - sorry)

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Tippyrunn]

Just be you... that’s perfect... take all expectations off your shoulders, don’t let them weigh you down. Set goals by all means, but I’m just guessing you didn’t start this plan to be faster than me or anybody else... you started this to be a better, fitter, healthier happier you... and you’re rocking that mission.

[Granspeed Graduate]

No, no. You’re doing brilliantly. If you want to compare, I recently graduated and I get between 3 and 4 km in 30-35 minutes of running, and I’m a happy tortoise because in January I was puffing and panting after one minute! 🐢😄👍 Now I never get out of breath and have to send my legs an email that it’s time to stop. Remember your previous self and rejoice - it works!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Are you asking a 70 year old woman or a 20 year old male, someone who is three stone overweight or someone with chronic arthritis.......they are all here and, if following the recommended easy conversational pace, building stamina and strength, which will gradually evolve their speed.

C25K does not expect you to run any specific pace or distance at any stage, just safely build your endurance until you can run non stop for thirty minutes.

You are doing great.

[Jogunlikely Graduate]

Hi Tippy

UNM is right it's all about running for a period of time not the distance/speed at this stage. Once you have consolidated after graduation you can look at increasing speed. (If you want too)

But for info I do between 3km and 3.5km depending on route and whether I feel good or not. My speed reduced slightly when I started running bigger blocks of time. My brother on the other hand was comfortably doing 5km+ from wk6, but he is 6ft 3 tall and I am definitely not 🤣

You are doing brilliantly so don't be disheartened. The program really should be called coach to running 30 minutes but it's not quite so catchy 😊

Chin up, you're doing grand xxx

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Your pace is fine you are doing great the point is you're finishing the runs . Distance and speed come a lot later good luck😊