Speed or not, that is the question?

[GillyHep]

Does it matter how fast, or in my case, slow you go? I’ve just finished W6R1 and after advice on this forum have signed up to Strava. My average pace from today is 14.16/mi which is a lot less than a friend of mine who is a very seasoned runner doing around 6-10miles a day. She averages around 8-9/mi pace. Obviously I’m sure it’s better to go faster but I find I can manage to trundle along at pace I’m going and hope to be able to get faster naturally the more I run in the future. Have to admit I don’t find it easy and wouldn’t say I’m loving it but am happy that I’m keeping going and hope to be able to get to love it in time.

[Blossom- Graduate]

Nah, doesn't matter at all! Try not to think about it! You will get better with time, so just focus on completing the weeks, and when you get to w9r3 you'll be over the moon! Post graduation is when you can start to think about distance/time etc, or just enjoy your own unique running. Happy running!😀

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you are pushing as hard as you can but can still hold a clear ungasping conversation, then you are at an optimal pace to develop your aerobic base and build stamina.

The easy conversational pace equates roughly to 75% of your maximum heart rate and is the pace used by elite athletes for up to 80% of their running time and is the recommended pace for C25K.

[GillyHep in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks. I go out on my own early doors so never tried taking. Maybe I’ll have a natter with myself next time

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to GillyHep]

Try saying this sentence out loud in one breath, "Is my pace slow enough to enable me to speak full ungasping sentences?"

[GillyHep in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks I’ll try that.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

I dunno...

How does this look? >>> youtube.com/results?search_...

[GillyHep in reply to John_W]

That’s interesting. I think I go a little faster than that but that’s probably more what I look like. I have a bad hip and knee so have always tried to land on middle of my foot rather than heel as read how bad that was early on. I feel so much better now and will just keep plodding! Thanks so much

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to GillyHep]

You're welcome. It's what we recommend to many folk here when they are struggling (normally when they're going too fast) or when they're concerned about pace.