Is 5k in 30 minutes slow?
tomhurst
Posts: 47 Member
I know there's no right or good speed to go, but is this a poor time? It's what I can manage at the moment (not easily though) and of course am still looking to improve.
What is a good time to aim for if I'm interested in becoming fit (low body fat, strong heart, etc)
What is a good time to aim for if I'm interested in becoming fit (low body fat, strong heart, etc)
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Replies
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I don't know that your 5k time scales directly to your level of health. 30 mins is fine though assuming you're doing it for fitness and not competition.0
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I just would have thought people that have been running for years have improved and reached a particular pace
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It's fine.
You sound like a beginner runner. Your focus should be more on adding distance/getting comfortable running than trying to meet/beat a time. Your body fat is not dependent on your 5k time.0 -
I average about 30 mins for a 5k. I know I've done faster and I've done slower.2
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It's fine.
You sound like a beginner runner. Your focus should be more on adding distance/getting comfortable running than trying to meet/beat a time. Your body fat is not dependent on your 5k time.
This. To lower body fat though, you need a calorie deficit. Running only will help if it creates the deficit. But first work on building aerobic strength through increasing distance, then you can worry about time.1 -
Better than my time so sounds good to me!1
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You can do better is all you should think about!!1
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The only time you should be concerned about is the amount of time you're running. To echo previous commenters; the only way to lose fat is to have a calorie deficit and running is a great way to expend calories. If your ultimate goal is to be a faster, more efficient runner; you'll need to build a base of fitness. Rather than focus on speed, I'd like to see you focus on time. Can you run :30 non-stop; yes?, then increase the time of your run to :60 non-stop. Don't worry about time or distance. Your pace should be easy enough to have a conversation with a running partner. You didn't specify the frequency of your runs. I'd start with three sessions per week - two sessions :30 minute runs; third session a long run until you can get up to :60 non-stop. Add one or two cross-training sessions per week and you'll be on your way toward and excellent base of fitness. Only then, can you begin focusing on speed. Oh, and make sure you get properly fitted for running shoes. Happy running!2
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At this point I'd be happy with a 30 minute 5K time. I think I can get down to 24 at some point but I'm putting more emphasis on lifting than running right now.0
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My first 3 mile run was about 27 minutes. Within 3 months, I was down to 24 minutes. Within 3 more months I was down to 21 minutes. It took me 2 years to get my 3 mile down to 16 minutes, and it was only once due to being neck and neck with a competitor. My average ended up being around 18 minutes.
That was with lots of running and exercise1 -
Age is a factor too. Organized races usually award medals based upon 5-year age groups. If you have never run a race, find some local race websites and look at the results from their last race. You will see a big range in finish times. You might even see a 30 minute time take a medal or two (1st, 2nd, 3rd).
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I'd love to run my upcoming 5k that fast, but I'm not even close!1
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I'm a runner, I don't run any sub 7 minute miles....3 -
Ive been doing 5ks for a a couple months now and i do one about 4 times a week and still my fastest time is 32 minutes and that was during a race. My usual time is around 40 minutes when im outdoors because i stop to get water in this 102 weather but on the treadmill ueah i do it in 30-32 minutes. Ive read that going as fast as you can doesnt always mean youre doing better really. I try to stick at a pace i could still speak. Its up to you. I think its a great time.0
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heeehee I walk it in one hour. I have my first official race on the 20th and I'm trying to beat that hour. I wish I could run in 30 min:).3
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TavistockToad wrote: »
I'm a runner, I don't run any sub 7 minute miles....
That's kind of my point. It's relative, so "is x good?" is difficult to answer. Is a 400 lbs deadlift good? A competitive power lifter will say no, a normal person will tell you that you're going to hurt your back and you're hogging all the plates at Planet Fitness. OP is asking for an ego check.3 -
When I first started running it took me a while to get my 5km to 30 min. Then it got stuck between 28-30 min for the longest time. I took a break from trying to run a speedy 5k and focused instead on running longer. It didn't take very long to be able to run 10km in just over an hour. After I reached that I decided to see how quick my 5k was and was able to run it in 25 min no problem. So if you want to get faster, work on increasing your distance on a regular basis.2
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It's fast for me
but won't win any races. I think 30 minutes is the pace of someone actually jogging the whole 5k, and that's an accomplishment.
If you are planning on racing, just check the last year results of whatever race you are entering, and use those as a guide. If you are not, just use yourself as your competition.0 -
If your goal is to become fit then slow running is actually your friend.
Don't get hung up on comparing your time to others. I'm 60 and a 30 min 5K is pushing my training pace (I've yet to go sub 25 on a 5K) but I've also been running for close to a decade and typically will run between 20 and 30 miles per week. The current 5,000m world record is 12:37 - if I let than bother me I would have hung up my shoes years ago.
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If you really want to compare yourself to others, see if you can find a 5K result listing. Here's one I did: http://kutztownfoolsrun.com/uploads/16_kutztown_fools_run_5k_results.pdf . No particular reason I'm posting that one other than it's one I know of. It was my first and only (so far) 5K, so before I registered for it, I did look through the previous year's results just to make sure I was not going to be crawling last through the finish line, as everyone else was headed for home, haha. I mean, I really had no idea what was normal. I looked through and compared my time to others of my age/sex.
In the end, I got 3rd in my age group.0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »
I'm a runner, I don't run any sub 7 minute miles....
There's another thread where someone has repeated the rather stupid trope that it's only running if it's faster than a six minute mile.
fwiw I'd be disappointed with a 30 minute 5K .
At my last 10K we had a mass start for both 5 and 10 runners. I passed some of the 5K runners in the last K. Then stood beside the funnel and applauded them coming in. We each run our own race.1 -
Here's a 5k that I took part in just this past Saturday. I was ok with my performance, but I wasn't trying to PR or anything. I wouldn't consider myself a fast runner, but I somehow managed top 10%
For reference
Fastest runner: 15:42
Slowest runner: 1:01:422 -
You'll certainly never be the fastest, but at 30 minutes you'll not be the slowest either. 30 is respectable. Not competitive, but respectable. Better to run 30 than not to run at all.
FWIW, I started out around 30 minutes, but persistence has got me down to ~24 minutes. However, I'm far from a good runner, with no natural running ability. It does illustrate what putting in the miles can do. The best way to decrease the times is to run for longer distances I find - doing a few weeks of 7Ks can improve your 5K time more than the same number of 5Ks would, in my experience.1 -
"Is 5k in 30 minutes slow?"
Depends on what your 5K times are. If you usually run 5K in 25 minutes, yep, it's slow. If you usually run it in 30, nope it's just about right. If you usually run a 5K in 32, it's real fast. Unless you really think you can compete to win the race, time is relevant only in comparison to your times. If you're improving, you're doing good. If you're static, maybe just OK. If you're slowing, you should be looking for the reason why.
"What is a good time to aim for if I'm interested in becoming fit (low body fat, strong heart, etc) "
Depending on the course, (some are faster/slower/more hilly/less hilly), faster than your last race and not quite as fast as your next race. Improvement, feeling better and being in better shape are the goals.2 -
The woman who won the Olympic10k race, ran 10k in 29 minutes, so compared to her quite slow for a 5K, but compared to someone that can only run 1 min before needing to walk, quite fast, take your pick.0
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"Is 5k in 30 minutes slow?"
Depends on what your 5K times are. If you usually run 5K in 25 minutes, yep, it's slow. If you usually run it in 30, nope it's just about right. If you usually run a 5K in 32, it's real fast. Unless you really think you can compete to win the race, time is relevant only in comparison to your times. If you're improving, you're doing good. If you're static, maybe just OK. If you're slowing, you should be looking for the reason why.
"What is a good time to aim for if I'm interested in becoming fit (low body fat, strong heart, etc) "
Depending on the course, (some are faster/slower/more hilly/less hilly), faster than your last race and not quite as fast as your next race. Improvement, feeling better and being in better shape are the goals.
Well said, I couldn't agree more with this line of thinking! The only relevant comparison that can be made is with yourself.0 -
jtcedinburgh wrote: »30 is respectable. Not competitive, but respectable. Better to run 30 than not to run at all.
"Not competitive" is relative. I have had podium finishes in my age/ gender category for a 30 minute 5K. The number of runners entered in a race also factors in.0 -
jtcedinburgh wrote: »30 is respectable. Not competitive, but respectable. Better to run 30 than not to run at all.
"Not competitive" is relative. I have had podium finishes in my age/ gender category for a 30 minute 5K. The number of runners entered in a race also factors in.
should have used the term, Not Elite instead of not competitive0
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