I read a tip on here on to try slowing the pace. It was on someone else's post and I cannot remember who's post or who wrote the tip but whoever you are, THANK YOU! The tip to try slowing my pace while running was the breakthrough I needed.
It's one of those times I think, oh, I'll try that, without realising what a profound difference it would make. For 11 months I haven't been able to go past the run for a minute or two, walk a minute. Within two weeks from slowing my pace, I can now run for 4k, in 34 minutes without needing to stop!
The first time it happened, I got to 3k and thought, maybe I should walk a bit now. This was simply because I was so used to breaking my runs up with walking and it was a bit of a surprise to be able to keep going! Then I thought, am I out of breath? No. Are my muscles crying out to walk? No! So I kept going!
It's such a joy to reach a place where my breathing is being sustained and my muscles are working comfortably. I get into a groove, a balance has been achieved and it has made me so happy!
My whole attitude has shifted with this improvement. Instead of going out in slouchy trousers and jeggings, pretending I'm going for a walk, I'm now wearing my co-ordinating running leggings and tops, and thinking to myself "go me, running without needing to walk"!
I'll never be a fast runner, or achieve great distance. My aims were to enjoy the fresh air and exercise, get stronger, improve my cardio-respiratory fitness and make some personal progress. I didn't ever expect to be able to run so far without needing to walk. I didn't ever expect to be looking forward so much to my next run!
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SummerDark
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Go you 😁 there are loads of posts about slow running, it makes such a difference! I'll never be fast and if I try to be I have to take walk breaks, so I mix it up, do some longer slow runs and some shorter faster run walk intervals
Good idea to mix it up a bit. At the moment, I'm struggling a bit with the inclines. When I've mastered the inclines well, I'll try adding in some faster intervals. And I'll also try some faster 2k runs in the new year. Thank you!
🍏👏Delighted to hear this news! Any one of the team may have given you the tip! We all tell our runners to slow down if they are having problems with breathing! You are a wonderful advert for how it works. Well done & thanks for your encouraging post!!
I'm not following any programme as I don't have the technology. I also like to hear everything going on around me on the trails where I run.
After I had a high BP reading, I read a bit about C25k on the NHS website. Having realised it didn't have to be completed in one go, I've made it up as I've gone along, keeping an eye out on here for tips.
Yes, I think it's important to set myself small, achievable challenges for the new year! Being able to run without walking has already been one huge surprise! Maybe I won't have to walk at all on my next organised 5k trail run and I can beat my 47 minutes!
Thank you so much I'm enjoying running so much more since I decided to run slower. I think what's important is that we're out there doing something which is always a gain!
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I'm so surprised at how quickly it worked too!
Another Longer Slow Run 🙂
Bad breathing and very slow running
Importance of running SLOW
I run ridiculously slow...
