"Fast" runners out there?

tomaattikastike

I get a lot of inspiration from reading everyone's running stories, and many "beginner" runners remind me of how I started out - I don't even remember why, but it was one of the best choices in my life.

Now, 10 years on, I've gotten faster, and my current level is around 37 min / 80 min for 10k and half, respectively. That's not spectacular by any means, but still good enough to place in a local race, and maybe think of winning on occasion (when nobody really fast shows up ).

Next year, I'd like to get to maybe 36/78, and I would like to find a few people of around the same level, to talk about running and about getting fitter and faster - obviously, for females, the times where you're running at roughly the same "level" would probably be closer to 42/90 minutes.

lporter229

You're too fast for me! Before I started dealing with an injury earlier this year, I was running around 45/100, but at 45 years old, I am still trying to figure out if that was my peak or not.

thebiggreenmachine

I was at 34/66 before I got hurt playing tennis (separated shoulder, torn calf, pulled hamstring) a few years ago and got fat again. I'm currently trying to get back to that level before I get too old

pondee629

"I was at 34/66" they sound more like 5K/10K times to me

T1DCarnivoreRunner

You are still way faster than me, but also more experienced. 10 years ago, I couldn't run a block and was 50 lbs. heavier than I am today. Since I've only been running for a couple of years now, I am more interested in building distance before worrying about speed.

I had a knee injury earlier this year that I think I still can feel, and having to manage BG during runs (I'm a type 1 diabetic) adds a challenge and cuts pace time too. My average over the last month is 10:50 / mile... though I had a few super slow times due to a gall bladder problem.

In another 8-10 years, maybe I'll catch up with you. I'll bookmark this post for when that time comes.

MobyCarp

@tomaattikastike - People tell me I'm fast, but it's really relative to how old I am. PR 10K/Half 39:54 (age 61) and 1:28:49 (age 59). I don't expect to ever break below 1:30 in a half again, though I may have another sub-40 10K in me. But as time progresses, I'm more interested in avoiding and recovering from injuries than in getting faster. If I knew for certain that I could run a 1:25 Half or a 3:00 marathon, but the cost would be injury lasting for a year, I wouldn't do it. In the real world, I only know the cost after I make the mistake.

thebiggreenmachine

@tomaattikastike Running is a pretty simple sport. Mileage and consistency is what gets you faster. You don't mention how often or how much you run.

tomaattikastike

Thanks - 34 / 66 is about two classes above me, and probably one class above my goal for next year... At the moment, I run maybe 70-90 km per week, although my average for the year has been around 65. I don't really follow a plan (in fact, I do what I know isn't great "training", I run too many of my runs at around the same pace), but I might maintain this for the next few months, and then start preparing for a race in the spring - hopefully with 5kg less than at my last race.

thebiggreenmachine

I train the same way, I run when I feel like it. The only kind of 'speedwork' I do is maybe a tempo run or two a month and maybe some mile repeats if I get the urge. Otherwise, I do all my other runs at a comfortable pace, sometimes comfortably fast sometimes comfortably slow, depends on what my body tells me to do. I prefer to do my speedwork in the form of races.

You've got some solid times, especially with the mileage you're doing. I think that you could definitely drop a couple min off your half time by just by just putting in some higher mileage weeks. I don't think some people understand the concept that putting in high mileage makes you faster by giving you the ability to hold onto a faster pace for longer. All of a sudden you can hold your 5k pace for 10k, 10k pace for 15k, and so on and so on. That's why I cringe when I see people who have only been running for a few months talking about wanting to do speedwork. Without a solid base, speedwork won't be as beneficial.

My best year of running this century was 2013. I've listed my weekly mileage below from 2013. One of the things that I noticed about doing more mileage was that my race times were more consistent. I also listed the PR's I set and in which week I set them. I ran 26 races this year, which made up the majority of my speedwork.

59
33
24
37
94
62
90
60
13
20 5K PR
44
56 10K PR
46
49 10 Mile PR
9
75
29
57
76
70
61
44
56
43
37
25
57
16
19
46 4 Mile PR
52
61
62
74
77
57
62
41
56
45
50
18
55
101 HM PR
56
14
32
62
35 4K PR
9
55
56

As you can see, my mileage could vary a lot from week-to-week.

If you're not going to be racing anytime soon, I'd try to get at least 400km in each of the next couple months. The easiest way to accomplish this would be to do doubles, if possible. For me, when I do doubles, the second run of the day is typically 30-60 secs per mile slower than the first.

I think realistically, if you can get your weekly average to around 80-90km, with some weeks over 100km, along with losing that 5kgs, you should easily be able shave 2-3 min off of you HM time next year without even trying.

beatthebinge3464

I run a 21:50 5K, I dont know if thats fast

chunkytfg

beatthebinge3464 wrote: »

I run a 21:50 5K, I dont know if thats fast

Depends on who you're speaking to. Compared to the average non competitive runner then yes it's fast. Compared to the 5k times those in this thread will be capable of then no it really isn't. Thebigreenmachine did 2 back to back 17min 5k's to get his 34min 10k time.

My best is 19.18 and for someone 95+kgs I consider it very good but compared to the true runners in my athletics club I'm literally nowhere!