Week 7 run 1 - and soooooo slow!

Firstly, I must say I'm inordinately proud of myself. I ran for 25 minutes today and walked for 10 minutes and didn't get out of puff or pull a muscle or get stitch or knacker my knees! I enjoyed being outside, felt uplifted by my contact with nature and generally couldn't believe the difference between what my body can do now and what it could do in week 1.

The only fly in the ointment was my speed. I ran/walked 3.5K in 40 minutes. Frankly, that's proportionately no faster than week 1, when I was doing more walking than running. On one hand, I'm pleased that I've taken advice and done everything slowly, to avoid injury and exhaustion, but the irrational side of my is just a teensy bit annoyed by my inability to get any faster.

Will I ever get any faster?

Will somebody talk some sense into me please?

[Hidden]

How fantastic, I am really pleased for you! Don't worry about speed and pace right now; it will come I promise you!

[Hidden]

Edit....

Actually, it's 3.5K in 35 minutes! (Lost my ability to do maths!)

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

look at this poll of graduates from this forum healthunlocked.com/couchto5.... and you will see that you are in good company.

Why do you want to be faster when studies show that slow runners live longer than fast runners and non runners?

womensrunning.com/culture/s...

You are doing great and transforming your future health prospects.

If you stick with the running then, in time, you will likely see speed improvements, but for now stay at a steady pace.

[Joggingon2020]

Don't dwell on the speed! Look at what you are achieving....I'm in awe of your achievement I'm struggling on W2R2 so to hear the way you have progressed has given me hope. Well done and keep going you've done amazing and as you said your ability has progressed and the speed will follow. Well done again and keep going 👍 and stay safe 🏃‍♀️🌈

[Hidden]

Thanks for the encouragement guys, and for talking sense to me.

I'd read the article about slow runners living longer...and you are quite right.

I suppose it was my impatient, competitive side rearing its ugly head.

I was so used to being last at everything physical, being able to 'do stuff' is making me want more. Two years ago, I was 8 and a half stone heavier and this amount of physical activity would have floored me. Having a bit of a renaissance at 52 has obviously unhinged me a bit(!)

[HappyNoodle Graduate]

I broke myself the first time I tried to run fast and am now repeating program after 2 years. Stay slow stay running 🏃🏻‍♀️

[Hidden]

Did run 2 today...covered 3.9km in 35 minutes, which is a bit quicker, but not fast enough to knacker myself. I won't go any faster than that on the next run, because you are all correct - I need to run slowly and avoid injury until I toughen up a bit. I think I'm aware I've put some weight on during lockdown, and I'm trying to compensate(!)

[MMP175 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I’m just about to start week 9. I’m running about 9mins per km which would be 45 minutes for 5k. That suits me fine as my target when I graduate will be to get to 5k eventually. I’m just pleased I’ll be running for 30 minutes next week