Running speed help needed
maiomaio71
Posts: 231 Member
I've been jogging for about 4 months now, having walked daily for 18 months.
I am going about 3 or 4 times a week, with a one-hour bootcamp twice a week, occasionally swimming or cycling instead of a run and a few squash games thrown in.
I had a target in mind, to run 10k by the end of term. I've managed that, in fact done it a couple of times now.
My next challenge is to get faster.bim currently running 9 minute kms average over 10k. I really want to get down to 7 or even 6minute kms.
I've tried fartlek running but I really struggled with it. I can run for 90 minutes or more at my slow pace, but as soon as I speed up I can't last long at all. At my 9 minute pace, my breathing is easy and it's my legs that give out first. As soon as I try to go faster, I struggle with rhythm and breathing.
How can I build up speed so I'm running 10k regularly at 7 minutes a km? Do I even need to worry about speed?
I've lost nearly 50kg and hoped as I got lighter I'd get faster, but that hasn't happened!
I am going about 3 or 4 times a week, with a one-hour bootcamp twice a week, occasionally swimming or cycling instead of a run and a few squash games thrown in.
I had a target in mind, to run 10k by the end of term. I've managed that, in fact done it a couple of times now.
My next challenge is to get faster.bim currently running 9 minute kms average over 10k. I really want to get down to 7 or even 6minute kms.
I've tried fartlek running but I really struggled with it. I can run for 90 minutes or more at my slow pace, but as soon as I speed up I can't last long at all. At my 9 minute pace, my breathing is easy and it's my legs that give out first. As soon as I try to go faster, I struggle with rhythm and breathing.
How can I build up speed so I'm running 10k regularly at 7 minutes a km? Do I even need to worry about speed?
I've lost nearly 50kg and hoped as I got lighter I'd get faster, but that hasn't happened!
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Replies
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Speed comes with time.
I'm not an expert runner (I started 18 months ago, as slow as you) but I've found mixing it up is a good idea. I alternate between longer slower runs, shorter/medium runs at a slightly quicker speed, shorter/medium runs doing intervals, and runs where I start slow and increase my speed gradually every few minutes.
My speed has gradually increased from 9+ min km to currently sub 8min km. I have no natural talent for running 🤪 so that's pretty good progress for me. (Also taking into account 3 months where I had to seriously dial down the running because of knee issues)3 -
I have exactly the same problem - can run for 45 minutes at 9km/hr, but if I push up to 10 km/hr I can manage about 10 minutes before I feel like I'm going to die. I think I'm just quite intolerant of the higher heart rate that running at the higher speed requires. It was putting me off running, so I've decided to not worry about it, to stick with my plodding and gradually increase the distance instead. And in so doing, I've actually got a little bit faster too.1
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Varying distances and speeds, by all accounts, is important to fitness. Not everything can or will be fast and long and shouldn't be.
But it's also just a different kind of fitness and for all of them it's a build.
Your heart rate getting up and recovering to normal is a thing that improves by... getting your heart rate up and then letting it recover. If you're having a super hard time with it and feel like something's wrong, see a doctor, but as someone who's done short and intense sprints for YEARS (including while obese) thanks to dog agility, it's a situation where it feels like DEATH for a while and then gets easier - takes longer to feel like you're going to die over time and your heart rate drops back faster.
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Increase your overall weekly mileage. Going from 10 to 25 miles a week will make a difference. Do most of your runs at a comfortable pace. Once a week, do a 1-2 mile warmup, then do short 1-3 minute hard intervals followed by the same time recovery at a very easy pace. You can also do short 50-100 m. sprints at the end of an easy run to get your legs used to a faster turnover. Or do some running on hills, either running uphill hard for a minute or two, jogging down and then repeating, or just find a hilly route that will challenge your lungs and heart and help strengthen your legs. Only do the harder workouts once a week.3
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Intervals.
Many times a slight increase in speed leads to some bad running form, not as efficient, a bigger hit to your aerobic system then the slight increase should require.
But it can easily be you have a good natural form going even faster.
Aerobic system just can't go for that long though.
It could be you don't have better form, in which case advice above about variety is needed to gain that.
Try doing some 1 min faster intervals with slow jog between, testing different paces to find that one which feels better.
Then keep increasing the time at that pace/form, decreasing the recovery time.
Still need the base miles, this would only be good for couple times a week, couple other times the long slow run.
Though - with recovery intervals, it really isn't hard to get this method up there in distance.4 -
Good to know there are others that run at or near my speed. It's a bit disheartening to always get overtaken! I'll mix up my speed and distance and see how I go.1
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Thanks for this. I've tried various ways of mixing up my speed. Might carry on and just up my base distance a bit every day.0
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maiomaio71 wrote: »Good to know there are others that run at or near my speed. It's a bit disheartening to always get overtaken! I'll mix up my speed and distance and see how I go.
I will never be the fastest runner in my running club, but I comfort myself with this: I am 100% faster than I would be if I was sitting on the couch. That's the time I focus on.4 -
Another slow runner here. I just don't manage to get faster for various reasons. But like @janejellyroll I'm faster than when I'm sitting on the sofa.2
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Patience.....you've only been running for 4 months. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, your only goal should be building aerobic fitness. Don't worry about speed yet, if you're consistent it will come. My best ever 10K was 54:41 a few years ago but it took years of very consistent training (I didn't start running until my early 50s) to get there (my very first 5K race was closer to 8:00/km and was, at that time, very difficult)4
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I'm a very slow runner, very short legs. I ran an entire Marathon with 14 minute miles. I started off with 11-12 minute miles but I slowed down after mile 17. Granted, it was a very hilly Marathon so I was pushing up and down hills. We had to finish in 7 hours, cutoff. I finished in just over 6. Speed...I don't compare my speed to anyone else's, especially if they've got any height. My husband can speed walk at the pace I run at. As long as you continue to train, I believe you'll improve. I'm running another Marathon in slightly over 7 weeks. I only want to finish under alotted time and in one piece. I wish you best of luck and positive speedy vibes.5
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I do not know why this is an afterthought but it is: strength training. I did not do any strength training last Marathon but I've been muddling through it now for a couple of weeks since a few people told me that it would improve my runs. It's something to consider...0
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I do not know why this is an afterthought but it is: strength training. I did not do any strength training last Marathon but I've been muddling through it now for a couple of weeks since a few people told me that it would improve my runs. It's something to consider...
Yes, boot camp is mainly strength training...squats, lunges, resistance band work, and core strengthening etc. I do that twice a week for an hour with our training group. I might need to just push a little harder to get more out of it.2 -
Something else I thought about... Posture! I ran 15.5 strong miles today but I consistently have to remind myself to keep my head up because I look down at the pavement or at my feet too often. Looking down affects my running...circulation of air and speed. Husband made me more aware of some of my bad running habits. I bring it to my consciousness, more aware of it now, to eliminate this bad habit. I'm just throwing this out to the wind but it's something to consider...2
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This is interesting...I definitely look down at the ground. I am doing a 5k today, so I'll focus on posture. Will have to keep reminding myself to look up.2
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Work in a sprint or hill sprint day once a week. 10-15 minute slow, 1 minute full effort, 5 minute walk x3, 10 min CD2
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LtHammerhead wrote: »Work in a sprint or hill sprint day once a week. 10-15 minute slow, 1 minute full effort, 5 minute walk x3, 10 min CD
Thanks. I'll give this a go. @LtHammerhead Would I do it after a long slow run day, or after a rest day? I generally have a rest day after my longer run.0 -
Follow a sprint day with a rest day. It should be taxing.
I like a MWFS schedule with Monday doing my sprint, Wednesday and Friday are steady state runs (middle distance) at race pace and Saturday is a long slow run.
Have you tried the training runs on the Nike app? It’s free and a pretty good program to follow.1 -
@LtHammerhead no I haven't looked at Nike. I'll check it out. Thanks for the advice. I'll give it a go...MWFS will work at the moment. I did a good 6k today slightly faster than previously. I think slowly increasing my total mileage will help too.
Looking forward to seeing my place gradually get better!1 -
I had the same issue, and did something similar to a few of the suggestions here I did 2 things to up my speed and endurance.
I already added 3 lamppost sprints into the end of my run, so 3 away from finish up speed, 2 away speed up again, 1 away full sprint: jog back to 3 and warmdown dynamic stretches.
Where I lived was a short steep road that went over and old train track, I ran up there as fast as I could sustain for the whole hill and then walked or jogged back down and did that 4 times.
The other thing I also tried was 10 min runs on the treadmill 2 min warm up at normal pace (after being warm already) then upping .5mph (or whatever it was set at) every minute until I was at a speed I couldn't keep up for a minute, slow down 2 min warm down (jog or walk) then off do something else or finish.
Both of those worked really well, and not only up my speed but also my endurance so I could run further, or faster (I couldn't do both to start with).
I did each once a month. I left it that long to let my body get used to the new speed and distance, once I could do the new distance at the new speed, I did both again a week apart.
I did those two alone with no other running that day. Eventually got to the point where they were part of the long run or a bit of cardio before weight training, karate or a gym class etc (i usually find gym class and karate warmups aren't long enough).
You might not like hiits but they definately do the job. If you find them too hard, lower the pace and effort so you can sustain what you're doing.
Hopefully my or someone's similar suggestion will work for you, have fun trying them out.
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The Nike app really just sets up a daily plan for your running based on what you want to do, easier than figuring it out yourself.1
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@owieprone there's a steep hill on my running route that I could use. I usually take the gentle uphill alternative but like the idea of sprinting up it and walking down. I can change my direction of running to anti-clockwise and incorporate this at the end of a run.
I hate treadmills but with winter coming I know I'll be using one as the weather deteriorates. I'll bring in your treadmill session then. This is when I usually swim, so I might do a hiit running session and a short swim to warm down/recover. Really not looking forward to a hiit session but I need to do it!0 -
do it do it do it!!
My old chiro pointed out that we should run our normal routes both ways changing each time... your body gets used to the camber etc so to make it harder and so you're not always tilting one way, change direction for each run. First couple of times makes your run seem much harder!
Honestly, 10 mins on the treadmill isn't long, it'll go quickly while also feeling like a million years have passed. The longest I can go on them is 20 mins, after that i'm soooo bored! I much prefer running outside, but 10 mins for a quick warmup/cool down feels good. Swimming after would be good... but why shorter? Keep the swim the same
You'll learn to love it, honest!
How cold does it get where you are that it stops you running? The only time I don't run is when there's a layer ice on the ground and that's not often in the Home Counties England. Says me who hasn't run in about 2 years - I really need to get off my rotund butt-cushions.0 -
It's not the cold that's the problem with winter, it's the shorter days. I don't run in the dark, freaks me out too much! By the time I get home from work I'm lucky to have an hour of light left. By the time I get home, change etc it's 45 mins max.
And rain. I'm ok running in the rain but if it's thundering, which happens often, then I prefer not to.
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Ah, I don't mind running in the dark. I'm abit more wary doing it in my new town as more folk about. I'm from further north originally so I'm used to the same problem, rain or dark, if I didn't go out during those I wouldn't be able to do half my sports.
I refuse to go out if it's raining and a cold wind though, that's just miserable, used to walk home from school in that... now I have the choice.. f-nope!
Not running in thunder is probly a good call
Let us know how your hill HIIIT goes!0 -
I really miss running in the dark 🙁0
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In Texas spring and especially in the summers, I love running in the dark. Its been as high as 114 degrees during the day and I've run on 110 degree days and it's miserable. This time of year I like running in the dark. Late fall, early winter I prefer to run during the day but I run when I can. I run in an area with a sidewalk, houses, vehicles passing, and streetlights and I've been running that route for years so I feel safe there and I wear a bright shirt. I saw a lady wearing reflective shoes a couple of nights ago, good night shoes.0
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@owiepronedo it do it do it!!
My old chiro pointed out that we should run our normal routes both ways changing each time... your body gets used to the camber etc so to make it harder and so you're not always tilting one way, change direction for each run. First couple of times makes your run seem much harder!
Honestly, 10 mins on the treadmill isn't long, it'll go quickly while also feeling like a million years have passed. The longest I can go on them is 20 mins, after that i'm soooo bored! I much prefer running outside, but 10 mins for a quick warmup/cool down feels good. Swimming after would be good... but why shorter? Keep the swim the same
You'll learn to love it, honest!
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I've done two hiit sessions on the hill as you suggested. Really did not enjoy them but today's 10km run was 7 minutes faster than my previous so I'll keep doing them occasionally. It may also have helped that I had two rest days in a row due to bad planning. I've increased the number of weights sessions as well, and now swim after the weights. It's a struggle to swim as it's boring but I think the non-weight bearing work twice a week will help my arthritis.0 -
maiomaio71 wrote: »It's not the cold that's the problem with winter, it's the shorter days. I don't run in the dark, freaks me out too much! By the time I get home from work I'm lucky to have an hour of light left. By the time I get home, change etc it's 45 mins max.
And rain. I'm ok running in the rain but if it's thundering, which happens often, then I prefer not to.
Instead of driving home, changing clothes, and then going for a run, why not bring your running clothes to work and run from there? That gives you all the extra time that you use commuting, plus you can run different routes. Or change at work, then stop at a park on the way home and run there. Or go to a school and run the track.0 -
spiriteagle99 wrote: »maiomaio71 wrote: »It's not the cold that's the problem with winter, it's the shorter days. I don't run in the dark, freaks me out too much! By the time I get home from work I'm lucky to have an hour of light left. By the time I get home, change etc it's 45 mins max.
And rain. I'm ok running in the rain but if it's thundering, which happens often, then I prefer not to.
Instead of driving home, changing clothes, and then going for a run, why not bring your running clothes to work and run from there? That gives you all the extra time that you use commuting, plus you can run different routes. Or change at work, then stop at a park on the way home and run there. Or go to a school and run the track.
Just bring a towel to sit on in the car if you sweat. I actually bought a purposely designed terry clothe seat cover for this purpose.
I love doing this for a change of scenery. Hit some trails I'd normally never have time for. Use the lunch time for spying out routes from the office perhaps if wondering streets to avoid or use, online usually tells enough story about close by trails or paths.
Glad you mentioned this - was just contemplating how the route I was planning to do tonight was going to feel boring, and where else I could go. Now I know - not from home.1
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