Going too fast

[Tony1978]

I love running because it hurts. Been running 20+years ago, over the fields for fun, or just to get in bed faster after hanging out the whole night with other punks. 20 years later I’ve decided to have a run (thanks to C25K app and community), I’m in my third week, treadmill only, but my numbers are a lot higher than the guided ones (2 on gradient, 6.5 on walking, and 11-12 on running). I struggle to do it, I gasp for air towards the end of the programme, but taking it to a slower pace gets boring. And I love it when it’s done. Do I really have a reason to slow down?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Yes..injury..usually hidden...and why not get off the treadmill and get outside..no boredom out there..none. 😉

[Tony1978 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks for your reply, I had in mind the possibility of getting injured, but it only can happen to others. Bad joke. Practical advice please. How slow should I go?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Tony1978]

Conversational pace..easy breathing and not running until it hurts..running until it feels like second nature😉

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Of course... you’re competitive with yourself... you love that fast run... so the reason to slow down? Apart from the injury thing above? Slowing down will make your fast faster! Run comfortably most runs... that’s how the elite athletes do it... that’s how the 2 hour marathon is going to happen in the next couple of years. You want to see how fast you can run 5k? Do plenty of slower running, build that gas tank... and then spend it on that PB attempt.

Think of yourself like a car. The Bugatti Veyron was super fast... but at top speed it was out of fuel in 19 minutes, which is pretty useless if you ask me. Be that Bugatti... but build a bigger tank first.

[Tony1978 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Ok, that goes against the advice received from the gym attendant (can you go faster, than go), but it makes a lot of sense. I would not get off the treadmill as yet (behind the window in front of me there’s the swimming pool, and the beauty of the swimming pool is a very good incentive). Now, practical advice please, starting with the wrong numbers in my post (2, 6.5, 11), please advise the good ones. Thanks for your past and future reply.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Tony1978]

Yeah... fitness coaches tend to be all about giving your all and finishing on empty. That’s cool for that goal... they do a good job. I received many a rollicking off my running coach for running too hard on the wrong days! Both coaches are great... when my easy run is done I can the do some upper body strengthening work and finish on empty.

Your stats can’t compare to mine... so I can’t comment on the numbers really. I currently run 8/9/10/11 minute miles... 8 is for tempo (short run), 9 is race day only, 10 is my regular run and 11 on my long run.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

This might help healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Any runner, regardless of experience, who is continuously pushing at their limits is walking a knife edge and injury may only be one more footfall away.

Learn from the pros, who to a great extent, will spend up to 80% of their running time at an easy conversational pace. Pushing hard on every run is the sign of a newbie runner.

New runners have not built the resilience and strength to constantly push hard and are consequently at hugely increased injury risk, which can strike out the blue and stop you in your tracks for days weeks or months.

If you want to be a real runner, then you learn to vary your pace.

Take care.

[Tony1978 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks, I will adjust. Wow, the support group in here is nothing less than AMAZING! Thank you, everyone