Are there any slow beginners out there?

Evening,

I'm beginning to feel like a whole new section is needed and that I dont somehow fit into this beginners part. Yes, I can jog, I started jogging 9 weeks ago and my longest jog to date is 2.4miles.  I'm doing my first 5k tomorrow. I honestly dont expect to do it in under 45 minutes. Everyone on here at the moment seems to be sooo fast, doing a 5k in 5 minutes with 1 weeks training. Ok so slight exageration there but you get my point.

Am I the only one that is slow? If so then maybe I need a new section called The Tortoise Page.

Zoe 

I'm  very, very, very slow. I started running again in Apil after a nearly 6 month break to have surgery. On a very good day with a following wind I can run a mile in 12 mins but I can't sustain that, on my long runs (longest so far 6.25 miles) my pace drops to 14 min miles and slower. Seriously I can walk faster than that!!!

Anyway no shame in being slow (but  I would love to get faster).

There is a chap called John Bingham who writes books on running and used to write for RW. He was a back of the pack runner and called himself the penguin. Perhaps we should have a penguin thread but I most confess I like tortoise idea, I do like to think of myself as slow and steady.

Hello,

So glad to hear that I am not the only one that is slow and steady. I know I will get faster over time but at the moment just going for a set distance is enough. Somedays I feel like I am flying along and when I check my pace it says 16.5mins! Other times I feel like one of my tortoises and I am actually going 14.5. 

What sort of training plan are you doing? I'm doing the GSR 10miles in october so building up my long runs slowly by adding 0.4 miles to it each week. I try to go 3 times a week. 

Zoe

Hi Zoe,

Funny about the pace isn't it, I do that too (feels like it's fast when it isn't) we're about the same pace, there must be others like us but perhaps we're the only ones brave enough to admit it.

I'm doing the GSR as well. Like you I try to run 3 to 4 times per week. Long run on Sunday 6.25 miles so far and during the week 2 or 3 miles each time (also cross train in the gym do yoga and pilates). Didn't do long run last Sunday as did something to my knee running across a rutted field the week before but will have a go today and see how far I get. At the moment I'm concentrating on building up my distance and though iit would be nice to be quicker I'm not going to worry about it yet.

You're doing great Jools   Sure, you were last, but someone has to be...even in the Olympics!

 And it must be quiet on here today, normally there are plenty of folk around who are slow-and-steady.  It's just that they are the ones who are normally less vocal about their times and paces...'cos they are probably less intense about their running, and happily natter about everything else too!

Niddynoddy....you definitely belong here.  You is a runner, innit

slow is good

you get more race for your money...

keep at it.

Farnie wrote (see)

slow is good

you get more race for your money...

keep at it.

Hi,

Feeling a bit nervous as this is my first post!I started running after a break of about 9 months,so have had to start all over again.

I'm a very slow runner,though I don't really feel like I'm running that slowly!Iv'e now been running for 3 months and recently have been able to run a mile in 14-15 minutes.If I can maintain this I''ll be very chuffed,but if I can't it's not a big deal.A few weeks ago I was doing a 18 minute mile,so I'm very pleased with my progress.I haven't consciously tried to run a faster mile.I suppose I'm just slowly improving overall.

Please don't beat yourself up about being slow.Whatever your speed,getting out and moving is better than sitting at home watching the telly!It's hard not to compare yourself with others-I do it all the time.

My aim for the next few months is to be able to run 6 miles-I can currently manage 4 miles.I'm just going to take it one run at a time.

Anyway keep at it!TC

welcome fortysomething....no need to feel nervous, we don't (normally*) bite

 Sounds like you've made great progress from couch to 4 miles...you should be chuffed already, not waiting for some random mile-per-minute number.  Three cheers for 40-ST

* what we do after a hard run when the chocolate in the cupboard has run out is something I can not put guarantees on!!

Hi Heckenhocker,

Thanks for the encouragement.It's only in the last few weeks that I've tried to calculate my pace and it's a rough estimate to be honest.Before that i was going by time,which I still do I suppose.It's great to feel that I'm improving,but I don't want to get caught up by the numbers.One day I'll have to go out without my watch and just run for the hell of it.

By the way,what do you mean by 40-ST?

Hi Zoe et al. Am just about to start week 5 of my 0-30 min 8 week program. After 30 seconds on week one I was ready to turn around, go home, to bed and give up as I thought I was going to die. I can now 'move' for 10 minutes before having to walk and hoping to hit 15 minutues in week 5. I've managed to cover 5k in 34 minutes thus far and pretty chuffed since I'm a 50 year old smoker and reasonably heavy drinker.

Being a bloke (ie competitive) I think I'm pushing things (maybe) too much and should calm down and just try to move myself further for longer rather than faster to start with.

And, I must say a big well done to anybody thats has decided to get fitter via walking/jogging/running. This is a busy site so it feels good to join a thread in its early stages and see how peeps progress

Andi

Thanks Jools and think you are right and reckon if I slow down a bit then I could continue for longer without having to walk but htne, if I slow down much more I'd be faster walking

And what do you do in the morning? I get up at 06:15 am dressed, done my back exercices/stretches and out of the door in 20 minutes - not 30!  Are you on a high when you get to work like me after running? I reckon if the government ever found out how much it lifts people they'd tax runners!

Hi everyone. I'd just like to add my story - I started running in February as I wanted to set myself a goal before I reached 40 (which was last week). I am also the mother of 2 over-active young boys! The first week I could not even run 200 metres. But I kept going. 2 weeks ago I completed my first 10k "race" (LOL) in 61 minutes - which I did without taking a walk break (first time ever).

I think that 5k in 34 minutes is ace, Andi. Slow is fine - we get to enjoy the scenery more. I have discovered so many new places near where I live by running. And I get to spend time with my 9yo who comes on his bike as my training partner!

Keep up the good work everyone! How did the 5k go, Niddynoddy?

fortysomething wrote (see

By the way,what do you mean by 40-ST?

Heckenhocker wrote (see)

fortysomething wrote (see

By the way,what do you mean by 40-ST?

Hi...I was being lazy and shortening fortysomething to 40-ST   Yes, I'm a runner and I'm lazy the rest of the time!

Don't I feel like a numpty.....

Hello Fellow Tortoises,

Wow, not been on here for a few days and there were so many lovely and encouraging messages to read. Thanks Everyone. Its really great to hear everyones experiences.

Well, I did my 5k Race for Life yesterday in the heat and I ran all the way, never stopped. About 3 months ago my lungs were functioning at about 50% of what they should be. I have asthma which was not well controlled. Somedays I could barely walk up the stairs without being out of breath. That first week of training, run a minute, walk a minute was hard. But I kept at it and now I just ran 3.1 miles!!!!!!!!! (sorry for the shameless blowing of my own trumpet).

Mile 1 I did in 16ish mins, mile 2 in 18 and then mile 3 in 17 with an overall running time of 54 minutes. Slow and steady and yes I definetly got more minutes for my money. It was bloody hot and I was just concentrating on running it all and finishing. Now I have something to work on. Things can only get better. 

I felt so emotional when I got near the finish line and saw my mum and dad and little girl waving I nearly had to stop because I couldn't breath and my throat was closing up, but I grabbed my little girls hand and she ran the last 30m with me. 

I did it, onwards and upwards. I really think we should keep this thread going and let each other know how we are doing. I know lots of runners and they are all fast. Its great to hear from realistic runners like yourselves. I'm not competitive, I'm doing it for me and would love to share your journeys with you too.

Zoe

x

Oh yer, forgot to add, I am seriously thinking of getting a top printed with

Tortoise Troop

You get more race for your money by going slow

Zoe