Pace vs enjoyment

[Feeling_Runderful]

Hey all,

Need some advice or maybe a virtual slap who knows!

I have been running for over a year now and have just increased my runs from 3 a week to 4 a week.

I started running for my mental health after having quite a severe breakdown and it is brilliant and clears my head.

Trouble is lately I have been obsessed with pace. Got my average pace under 7 mins per hour which I’m really proud of and when I finish and see I have beaten my pace I feel euphoric like I have achieved something.

The problem is that I find it so hard to do and occasionally feel like I can’t breathe etc. Just went out for a slow run and so enjoyed it. Got lost in it and felt really relaxed. However I didn’t feel that sense of achievement despite running 5k. Keep trying to tell myself that I am running 20km a week and that is amazing.

So do I run for pleasure and relaxation and enjoy it or do I run for the end achievement?

There is prob no right or wrong answer, I’m just confused. May just need a virtual slap!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Are you running flat out on every run?

That is considered to be the sign of a rookie runner.

If you read this guide to post C25k running healthunlocked.com/couchto5... you will find links to several articles in which it is recommended that even if you want to get faster, you need to spend 70-80% of your running at an easy pace to build stamina, then push hard only in the remainder.

Slowing down to the recommended easy conversational pace for most of your running makes it more achievable and for most, more enjoyable.

If you load your 5k pb into this calculator you will see just how slow it is recommended that you run runnersworld.com/uk/trainin...

I am not quite sure what sort of pace 7 mins per hour is?

[Feeling_Runderful Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

My fastest is 6.47 min per km sorry not hour!

Thank you. That makes sense. I just get caught up in seeing so many runners on fb with good paces and thinking I’m not pushing myself hard enough!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Feeling_Runderful]

Compare yourself to yourself.......there will always be someone faster.

At my peak I could run 5k in the same time as Mo Farah............except that he ran 10k in that time.

[Feeling_Runderful Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Have done the calculator. That has really reassured me. I loved my run tonight so going to continue with that pace and enjoy it!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

The two aren’t mutually exclusive... I’ve been doing lots of running for fun at a comfortable pace during lockdown... went faster a couple of days ago for the first time since February and the pace came easy... posted my best mile and km since last year and I was still speeding up as the run ended.

Run for fun, and every now and have a go at that PB.

[Lil5k Graduate]

🤣 ok your post did make me giggle....... so here it is (from probably one of the slowest runners on here)

S....L. ..A....P

I would just like to add I'm not a violent person. You are doing amazingly, but think you will soon run the risk of falling out of love with running, so for the sake of saving it. I will step up and give you your virtual slap 😁

[Feeling_Runderful Graduate in reply to Lil5k]

Thank you! Seriously needed it!! Haha