Is it OK that I don't want to progress?

[mummybrummy]

As some of u may know been running since early 2016, more recently with occasional company. Trouble is my hubby wants to go further/ faster / better every time and it's starting to put me off. I have also ran a few times with colleagues who just go too fast for me

[IndigoBlue61]

No, I would say that's fine 😊 I by far prefer to exercise alone too, I feel much happier trying to beat my own best and set my own target 😊

[mummybrummy in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thank you 😊

[Caz28]

That's understandable, go with a pace/distance you are happy with and enjoy. I've someone's walked with a friend who insists on going really fast all of the time and I don't enjoy that either so tbh stopped dong it.

[mummybrummy in reply to Caz28]

Thanks Caz28

[GoogleMe]

You *are* 'progressing' if you simply want to continue running regularly - every run is progress by that metric. And it is perhaps one of the best goals you could have.

Most of us will at least occasionally have some sort of goal, often as a strategy when interest is flagging a bit otherwise, but having the further and faster sort of goals all the time can have its own problems. It sounds as though running with others is imposing their goals on you.

[mummybrummy in reply to GoogleMe]

I think you're right 😀

[FfsTel]

I love walking at my own pace, but when Mrs Ffs comes out with me she strides on and leaves me about 25 paces behind her, which is so annoying, so I swore at her and don't walk with her anymore 😊

[mummybrummy in reply to FfsTel]

I can go one better than that, we had a tiff while running and went our separate ways as he wanted to go further but when we got back, made up and compared notes I wasn't that far behind in terms of distance

[et_tu_brute]

Yeah go alone. If anything, others would pull you back. DOn't do anything that makes you feel bad about yourself. After all the final goal of all the hard work is to feel good about oneself and live a healthy life.

[mummybrummy in reply to et_tu_brute]

I don't feel bad just enjoy it more going solo 😀

[fleur64]

Ah well the reason I call running "plodding" is that I used to post on a forum of like minded slow runners who called ourselves plodders. In the last 16 years I have done two marathons and dozens of halves, 10ks, 5ks ... I love it, I reap all the health benefits and I don't get faster. Who cares? Now I'm 51 and a lot of people who've been fast runners are depressed by their decreasing speed. I still love it. Your husband isn't a bad person (I hope!!!) but maybe his motivation is different to yours.

As for being slower paced than someone when running it's like being thinner than someone, younger than someone or richer than someone. It doesn't matter a damn ... To the person on the "right" side of the equation.

And (sorry for long post I'm passionate about my plodding) the advice is usually not even to dream of trying to progress until you've been able to run 5k without a break for six months plus or you increase your risk of injury. And then never try to increase pace and distance together. It's one or the other and never more than 10% a week. 👟

Happy plodding x

[mummybrummy in reply to fleur64]

What a great post 😊 thank you. And no my husband is a lovely man just like an overenthusiastic puppy!

[fleur64 in reply to mummybrummy]

Ha ha I plodded a ten k with my 24 year old son in memory of my aunt, his godmother, and that was exactly how I described him. 😃

[bellylaugh]

Let them go off and keep it nice and steady and you'll find yourself improving without trying because your fitness will increase and you'll find yourself running a bit quicker, a bit longer, hills less hard work. Hubby will end up with tendinitis and you won't

[fleur64 in reply to bellylaugh]

giggle

[mummybrummy in reply to bellylaugh]

Lol I will tell him that!

[mummybrummy in reply to bellylaugh]

I say I'm not making progress but I used to avoid hills like the plague and now less so

[ShortyS]

Hi, I can't run with my other half as he is so much faster than me. He does stick with me and let me set the pace but he looks so awkward and has admitted it is. It actually puts me off and I try to speed up a bit but then flag because it's too fast for me to keep up. If he does get in front it zaps my confidence as I hate being left behind. So it is very rare we go together, which is easier as we have a four year old anyway to look after someone has to be with him. Although we do all go together at the weekends walking the dogs in the forest and we often have short bursts of running to keep up with our son on his bike :). Go at your own pace and run alone or with people of similar speed and just enjoy it your way!

[gman1961 Restart April 2024]

Hi mummybrummy,

You will find your own pace and distance,i one trained with a friend for a marathon.they were faster than me ,never again.keep on running.

[JoJo68]

Me and my husband started the couch25K last October. I'm currently recovering from an operation and my hubby hurt foot so we are both on a break and hoping to start again soon. Although I completed the 5k, I found that I wasn't enjoying that distance but was happy running 3k 3 times a week. Hubby found that wasn't enough so we would both go out together, but he would add extra loops into our course, so we would meet at different points to encourage each other, but I didn't feel under too much strain to keep up. Do whatever you feel comfortable with doing, the most important thing is to enjoy it

[mummybrummy in reply to JoJo68]

That's a good idea, I like 3-4 k best as I seem to get a dead left foot when I go to 5 and beyond. It's weird I really have no sensation in my foot and it takes a while to come back

[JoJo68 in reply to mummybrummy]

That's strange - I get numbness in my left hand, my little finger and sometimes more fingers go completely numb, not only when I'm running, but when I go for a long walk. Been told it's a nerve that gets trapped in my shoulder so wonder if you have something similar going on but in another body part? Maybe best to get it checked out

[Whyweight123]

I to train on my own and love the name plodder. That's is me to a tea! I am regular doing 3k 3 times a week and still at the 11 min pace per kilometer but enjoy it. Each time I am adding a bit more to my run by using land marks such as a tree or bush which I touch cheer and then turn back, barmy I know but it's MY achievement. Just keep going that's my motto x

[jjgilb]

Don't worry, they'll be the ones with the knee and hip replacements in years to come. Take it at your own pace and only build up if you want to. What's his problem, is he in training for the Olympics? Tell him to run with a club and see if he can keep up with the rest.