Help with a really stupid question : Sorry, this... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Help with a really stupid question

Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61Graduate
23 Replies

Sorry, this is probably soooooo stupid but on my watch it gives average pace as 11 min / km what does this mean? Today I did 12.25 min /km and it felt faster but I can't get my head round this !!!!

Week 5 run 3 BTW sorry for asking a stupid question

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Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61
Graduate
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23 Replies
Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate

It means on average over the course of your run you were taking 11 minutes to cover 1K Remember though that is an average.

So if today your average was 12:25 you could still have had some faster splits and maybe some slower.

P.S I quickly edited this as auto correct inserted millimetre instead of kilometre 🤣

Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61Graduate in reply to Instructor57

Right that makes sense, thanks for replying, sorry for asking a stupid question but it was proper bugging me 🤪

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate

Also, are you recording the walk times before and after the run ?

Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61Graduate in reply to Instructor57

Not sure, will have a look, thanks for replying, sorry for being stupid 🤪

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Cassandra61

It's fine , not stupid 😁Remember though that pace is not important , take it slow and steady 👍

Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61Graduate in reply to Instructor57

Indeed you are so right TBH I am just amazed I can do it at all and how much it had helped my mental health. Thanks so much to you all for being there and getting me through this 🥰

Edna2 profile image
Edna2Graduate in reply to Instructor57

Sorry to jump on someone else’s thread, but can I ask if we should only record run times are the whole session? Just about to go into week 9 and have been recording the walks as well.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Edna2

Hi, You can of course record whatever you like.

The training sessions in C25k are walk/run up until week 6 run 3 so sensibly if you are recording you would not stop on each walk interval .

Although there is no need to record at all while doing C25K as the program is a time based program and distance and pace are irrelevant.

However once you have graduated and may be more interested in your distance and pace then most would just record the run elements.

I start my watch after my 5 min warm up walk and stop it as soon as I stop running.

Hope that helps ?

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Speed is distance divided by time eg. kilometres per hour, so the higher the number the faster you are travelling.

Pace is time divided by distance eg. minutes per kilometre, so the higher the number the slower you are travelling.

The only pace you need to achieve is one at which you can speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run. This is optimal for your development. Faster is not better.

The numbers are irrelevant.

Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Thanks feel better about this now - I so love C25K

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

It is not a stupid question Cassandra61, see the answer from Instructor57 and IannodaTruffe, we are all here to help each other on this forum so no questions are stupid, congratulations on completing run 3 of week 5, that is a milestone run with C25K 😊 🏃🏾.

Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61Graduate in reply to AlMorr

Thanks so much, thanks for being so positive

roseabi profile image
roseabi

You don't know until you know, and asking the question is the only way to find out! xxx

Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61Graduate in reply to roseabi

Thanks loads

over61andstilltrying profile image
over61andstilltryingGraduate

Well done to you W5R3 👏🏃🏻‍♀️🎉 All questions welcome here, that's often the way we learn. No questions are stupid! I have received so much help in my understanding from these knowledgeable forums. Happy running to you. 😊🏃🏻‍♀️

Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61Graduate in reply to over61andstilltrying

Thanks so much this has all really helped and I just could not get my head round it this morning.

couchvssofa profile image
couchvssofaGraduate

Well done on your progress and there is no such thing as a stupid question 🙂

Oldgirlruns profile image
OldgirlrunsGraduate

No such thing as a stupid question here Cassandra61 - we all have to start somewhere and we all have questions! This is exactly the place to come and as you’ll have already found- there’s always an answer and help to be had! Enjoy your C25K journey!

Collie365 profile image
Collie365Graduate

Hi Cassandra61. Just to say, no question is stupid. It’s far better to ask and then know than not ask and never know. Asking questions is what clever people do

Frenc profile image
FrencGraduate

Not a stupid question - I’ve been running for over a year and I had to look it up the other day! All I knew was that a lower number is faster than a higher number, but I didn’t know what it actually represented! The best number is your number 😊.

MrBassmanjazz profile image
MrBassmanjazzGraduate

I always say - the stupid question is the one you didn't ask when you had the chance.

Lily888 profile image
Lily888Graduate

I tend to start my watch when I leave the house and stop it when I return. Otherwise I found I kept forgetting, or I was still fiddling with my phone out when I should be running. The walking is valuable and good for us, so we should record it! Your watch, or Strava, will show you the splits in the middle anyway (ie pace for each 1km) so you can see your typical running pace there. Oh and my most miserable time was when I tried to go faster - I hated it- whereas pit-patting along makes me happy so I stick with that.

Cassandra61 profile image
Cassandra61Graduate

Thanks - this is just brilliant and what I needed - I agree, it seems sensible to set my watch in this way - I so agree about the running slower that has been a game changer for me and I try not to think about what I look like as I am overtaken by snails and three legged dogs but then it is the doing that counts! thanks again

😀

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