Walking speed?

[Curlygurly2]

I see a lot of newer and not so new runners here bemoaning their lack of speed..well, just to put that into perspective - do you walk as well? I do, I walk on my own and I walk at Parkrun, either as Park Walker, or Tail Walker, and when did you last hear anyone complaining about their walking speed? Never is my guess, so why worry about your running speed?

I blame Laura, telling us right at the beginning we will cover around 5K in 30 minutes. I've never even come close, not in 9 years of running. Nor is my walking pace 4 MPH, never even come close to that either.

Exercise is great, that's the important thing, not how fast you go. Especially for races, why pay all that money then use up all the fun so quickly? I get more value for money than the racing snakes!

[ToothPickJafah Graduate]

I totally agree with everything you’ve said here!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

What a good reminder to everyone worrying about being slow. And thank you for mentioning races, I've been worrying about my first race and now Ill think of it as enjoying it and spending a bit more time enjoying the scenery. Yes I take walk breaks, I find that doesn't wear me out as much as constant running.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🤣🤣Well said!

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Well said. There's a few things I'd change in the C25K podcasts and videos to be honest. The heel-striking thing is chief amongst them.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to John_W]

Ah yes. I'm naturally a heel striker but I don't think it's the best way to run.

[Jell6 Graduate in reply to John_W]

I'd change rest day... to repair day.

[nowster Graduate in reply to John_W]

Absolutely this. Heel striking is really inefficient, and can lead to knee problems.

[RunBrianRun Graduate]

I’ve had my 5k speed fix and it’s done with for now at least. I got down to 21 minutes. I could never do that now and what’s more I have no desire to either. I’ve jeffed a couple of 5ks this year and enjoyed them very much. My last was around 40 minutes or so I think. Loved it.

[maisiesgranny Graduate]

Fabulous logic Curlygurly - I wish I'd read that before I started. I think Laura sets up inappropriate expectations. Thank you.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Love this...thanks you...slow and steady...totally! X

[nowster Graduate]

As someone who did 5km in 30:05 on my graduation run from C25K, I regret doing that run that way. And I had reasons to regret it as I gave myself a double ankle sprain (both sides of left ankle) trying to do it. Four weeks and two physio appointments later, I was able to jog a few seconds again.

The second time I tried to do that pace (about 4 months later) I did a knee in and spent a week on the Injury Couch.

I never pushed for pace again. It was only when I extended the durations of my runs that I naturally started to pick up the pace in my shorter ones.

The C25K app instructors don't put much emphasis on the benefits of slower running. I'm sure of us who graduated would like to rewrite sections of the app's scripts.

[Katnap Graduate]

I badly heel strike when walking but land midfoot when running. Go figure!

Wholeheartedly agree it's about the journey and not how quickly you get there!

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to Katnap]

That's completely normal I think - almost all of us heel-strike while walking. Foot-strike when jogging/running tends be very much determined by speed. The quicker you're going, you'll be more likely to be fore-foot/toe striking.