What is a Good Pace??

appy_chick
appy_chick Posts: 27 Member
edited December 1 in Social Groups
Hey all.

Sorry for this kind of dumb question but I have never been a runner and I am trying to enjoy it now.

I am 5'3 and 24years old and I am trying to figure out how fast I should be running. I ran on the treadmill today in week2 day3 and I ran at 6 mph and just about died. Should I be trying to build up to this speed? What is a normal good pace to be jogging at? Also if I am not on a treadmill how do I monitor how fast I am going??

Basically I have no idea what I am doing. I try to find a good jogging pace, but it is a little more difficult than one would think.

Thanks for the info!

Replies

  • NancyN795
    NancyN795 Posts: 1,134 Member
    edited April 2016
    I failed the first time I tried to do C25k outside, then I was failing again the next time I tried it, indoors on the treadmill. Then, I read the advice that enabled me to finish - if you can run any slower, then you're running too fast. I slowed way down, and finished the timed program on the treadmill. Running at 3.8 MPH. I didn't come close to running 5K, but I finished the program.

    Now I'm doing it over again outside, using an app that will do it by distance. I'm sticking with the run slowly philosophy. I run faster outside, but I'm still slow (for instance, last week the "20 minute" 2 mile run of Week 5 Day 3 took me over 26 minutes). Where I run outside is very hilly - I have no idea how fast I would run on level ground.

    I expect I'll get faster as I run more (I've never been a runner in my life), but I'll probably never get to the 6 MPH pace required to run a 5K in 30 minutes. That's okay with me. I'm old, I'm short, I'm fat (but getting less so), I have bad knees and it's amazing to me that I'm running at all.

    Don't worry too much about monitoring how fast you're going but the rundouble app I'm using does do that for me. I just don't worry too much about it. I just focus on maintaining a running gait up the hills (even though I might be able to walk up them just as fast or faster) and not lengthening my stride too much going down the hills.
  • Just_Ceci
    Just_Ceci Posts: 5,926 Member
    You should be able to talk or sing while you are running. If you can't, slow down. The goal of c25k is to get your endurance up. Speed will come later. As the length of your runs increases, you may have to slow down your pace even more to be able to finish the runs. Have fun!
  • appy_chick
    appy_chick Posts: 27 Member
    Thanks so much for this advice ladies!! I feel a bit better about starting week 3 now. :) I will go slower and run the full 3 minutes. :)
  • NancyN795
    NancyN795 Posts: 1,134 Member
    Don't worry about it if you can't talk or sing when running. Not everyone can, even if they're running at the proper pace for them. For some people that works great as a guideline, but if I used it, I would be limited to strolling.
  • juliet3455
    juliet3455 Posts: 3,015 Member
    @appy_chick As a wise lady told me two years ago - Slow Down, Slow Down and then Slow Down a little bit more. Don't worry about your Speed/Pace. Build up your endurance/cardio Vascular system and the speed will come. If you look at Ultra-runners or Marathon runners they are not trying to set world records in speed. They are moving along at a pace that slowly eats up the distance but allows them to maintain there endurance for the maximum distance.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    appy_chick wrote: »
    ... how fast I should be running.

    You run at the pace that allows you to finish your planned session. Where you are, your interest is in finishing all of the run portions of the plan. The talk test is a good measure.
    Also if I am not on a treadmill how do I monitor how fast I am going??

    If you have a smartphone there are a number of apps that you could use. I like Endomondo and Strava. I've used Runkeeper in the past and it worked well.
This discussion has been closed.