Beginner to doing a 5km run in 40 mins is that slow

Well i feel happy today as I have started a run walk programme over the last four weeks, I fought i attempt to do my first park run today 5km and finished 38min slow...lol but i finished.

and finished not last i was amazed how fast some of the other runners ran also it seem it was all about time for them, I just enjoyed the fact i had done that today from  someone who could barely run around the block. I have also entered a 5k race in 8 weeks to keep the incentive going.

My advice to any begginer like myself is to enjoy and not to worry about the people pasting you buy we all have our own goals and aims in life.

And in those few weeks i have drop a dress size but also with the help of my diet and good old fashion rest days.

how long did any one first 5km take? even though we have differen levels and ages

Well done Jacky!

In July 2008 I did my first ever 5k in 38mins the same as you.

Today I did parkrun in under 25 minutes. I'm still not very fast but it's certainly an improvement and I'm sure you'll get faster too!

Thanks guys this site really keeps you going also good luck neilpeely with your 10k lets us know thats what iam aiming to do after my 5k..

Iam sure you will do it missfliss dont focus on time just getting to the end i did not give a monkey if i was last or walk it to the end.

I was gonna go for a run today but my body is saying rest i did do a Aerobic class so at least i done something its better to have a rest day between runs.Iam stating to learn that even though it can be hard when you need a baby sitter for a hyper 6mth baby....

Eddie -  there's no problem in doing that time for 5k - the running scene involves some of the best people you will meet, and compared to other sports probably some of the most down to earth people at the top of their game. Are you not inspired by them? I am and want to try and do what they do!!

I hope you continue to improve and enjoy it..just don't fall into the trap of sneering at faster runners..this unfortunately happens now and again on these forums.

I wouldn't worry about other peoples times. What is important is your time, if you are posting just under 40 minutes now you have a benchmark for yourself to improve.

Getting the times down is obviously a goal but look at it as a benefit of hard work and persistance rather than the be all and end all.

Bothered? Not in the slightest - I find my legs are the perfect height to keep my arse of the ground

Ok - well thats the main thing I suppose....although from my reading of your post, I think you're more bothered than you let on..

Anyway here's to improvement and getting your own time down..best of luck

OK  - no problem, I have been convinced.......

Happy with my PB/PBT? Probably never - but i'll try

Kenenisa Bekele is also 5'8". He holds the current world record for 5000m.

Those 15min 5k runners aren't there trying to impress anyone. They are working to improve their time. Just because they are fast it doesn't mean it is easy for them, they are working just as hard as you, just performing at a different level.

You wouldn't like it if they were disrespectful to you for having a different outlook/ goals to them, so you should be courteous in return, otherwise it could look like sour grapes

My friend regularly wins our local parkrun, but she is the one who got me (and a few others) into it and is keen to make it as inclusive as possible. She is a serious athlete using it as a time trial to gauge how her training is going, while some of us are just happy to get round, and others have specific time goals they're trying to crack. That's the beauty of parkrun. Ther's something for everyone

I agree. Well done. I am also still at the stage where I take about 40 minutes to do 5km, mainly because I can only run 30 minutes continuously. I am regularly passed by much faster runners for whom I have nothing but admiration. Some folk seem so light on their feet, unlike me who plods along. But the fast guys are always nice to me.

InspiredByEddie wrote (see)

You have to ask yourself what motivates people who can run a 5k in 15 minutes to bother entering a fun 5k? I suspect a healthy dose of 'gosh look at me aren't I brilliant'.

I would think more likely "Wow - a free 5k time trial". There aren't many fast 5k races around and a lot of parkruns are UKA certified now, which makes them ideal for the serious runner to gauge how they're doing. In my experience the faster runners at races are very supportive of the slower runners (like me) and I have never come across the attitude you suggest.