I stink at running!! Really :/

bostonwolf

Really lol
I am training for a 5k and am on week 4 of the C25K program (run 1/4 mile, walk 1/4 mile, run 1/2 mile, walk 1/2 mile and repeat).
My fastest pace this week has been 15 min/mile averaging a 3.5 mph pace.
I know this stinks! Is it even worth it?
I really do like running. In high school I ran track but was a sprinter (100yd and 200yd dash, relays). I have never had endurance.
I feel bummed because everyone seems to be doing <10 min miles.
Should I give it up and try something else?

Running is about what you are doing, not what anyone else is doing. And C25K is about doing the distance, speed comes later.

If you want to run your 5k, I'd say it's worth it. IMO quitting just gives you the seeds of the excuse you need to quit whatever your next goal is.

See it through, then start working on speed if you feel like you need to.

SyntonicGarden

I completely agree with everyone who says "stick with it" however, there's some actual science to what you're encountering. (Yay science!) If you're a sprinter, yeah, there's a physiological explanation to why you might be struggling with endurance versus speed.

Sprinters train differently than distance runners, so they build / condition muscles differently. If you research "slow twitch versus fast twitch muscle fibers" (yeah, I know, it sounds funny) you'll see that there IS a difference. Not a bro-science difference, but an actual physiological one. It's explained in any college-level anatomy and physiology textbook. A search on Google will provide info as well, but it's not always easy to tell what's valid and what's not.

A layman's explanation:
http://blog.vitacost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Marsh-muscle-fibers-table3.png

A nerdier explanation:
http://jgp.rupress.org/content/134/4/323/F9.large.jpg

Hope that helps.

Kst76

Running is something you have to train for to be good at it. I used to suck at it but i trained evveryday and pushed myself a little harder every time. For instance, on day one i Walked at a 3.5 mph for 10 minutess, ran at 4.5 mph for 5 minutes, walked for 10, and so on. I did this for about an hour. After 3 days i increased my running time 2 minutes and decreased my walking time. Once I got comfortable with that I increased my speed for both walking and running. After about 2 weeks I could run staright at 5 mph for 30 minutes. I kept pushing myself a little bit more everyday. You have to push yourself a little extra. If you are on a treadmill add a little incline every so often for a minute or so. I remeber the first time I learned how to run i started out just like this. About 6 months later i ran at a 7 mph pace for 1 hour straight which was huge for me. Now, I2 years later im not in same shape. I run av avarage of 6 miles per hour.

If you never have been a runner it is tough at first but it will get better. Just remeber to push yourself if you can . It will pay off.

KyleB65

Keep at it!
Don't stress over time or distance! It's more important to enjoy the experience. The more fun you have while running, the more you will want to run. The more you run the better you will get!
One of the ways I stay motivated is to run with a group once per week. I enjoy the social aspect of the group running. And, as I was working my way up to my first 5K. I found that while running with a group we all talked. As I participated in the conversations, my mind was not on trying to control my breathing while running. Once my breathing became natural, my speed and ability to run distances increased dramatically.
All the best!

lina1131

Do not give it up! I have the slowest time, but I don't care. I did a 5k in 44 minutes and I was so proud of myself. :laugh: We can only get better!

freelancejouster

I would definitely stick with it if it's something you enjoy doing - if it's not, feel free to swap for something else.

I'm an exrunner from just middle and high school, so my speed went down fairly quickly, but that's not the case for almost everyone else. HOWEVER, I'm still not very fast. When I started in mid January, my mile was something like 14 mins. Now it's about 11 and a half! Which isn't very fast, honestly, but it feels a lot faster than I was running before! (and I still can't run for more than about 5 or 6 minutes without having to walk for a bit, but that's worked into my times).

terri0527

Shawshankcan

Read the works of John "The Penguin" Bingham. He talks about his marathon running and how slow he is, to the point where when he crosses the finish line, they have taken it down and have the clock just sitting on a chair.

Thomasm198

Stick with it and have patience. Speed will eventually come.

Last year when I started running, I was clocking 14min/miles and slower. Now, I'm consistently hitting sub-11min/miles in races and trying to break the sub-10min/mile mark.

Edited to add: last month the Athletics Club I'm in held a 1 mile time trial. I shocked myself. I did the mile in 08:34. As long as you stick with it and only worry about beating yourself then you will get faster.

nicarey19

Stick with it. I was a distance runner in high school. But I stopped running after Cross Country was over my senior year (11 years ago). I started the C25K in Sept. The first week I barely got past the 60 seconds of running! I timed my first mile and I was running at 14 minutes a mile. I used to be able to run 7:30 minute miles. I got discouraged too. And I knew I had a race coming up, so I was even more nervous. I finished the program and I ran my first 5K in a 37:31 (races are always faster). So after I built the endurance to run 3.1 miles I started interval training to work on speed. I just ran my last 5k in a 28:34. It is a process as said above. Build your base and endurance. Once you have that you can start to work on speed. You can do it! Keep at it if you enjoy it. It is only about you:) If you want you can add me. I am now training to run a 10K, so don't give up!

crazy4fids

No worries! I have been doing c25k since january. I am 47 and currently 166 pounds. I repeated week 2 twice. week 3 once, and am now stuck at week 4. I can't get past the second 5 minute interval. I think my problem is due to my asthma, so the next time I run, I am going to try using my resuce inhaler to see if that makes a difference. If not, I will keep at it till I can.

Never quit!

Linda

yo_andi

Of course it's worth it. Remember when you were a baby and you were learning to move yourself around? No? Neither do I! But... I have watched other babies in this process and there's a lot of wiggling, rolling over onto their tummies, scooching on their hands, rocking onto their hands and knees, rocking back and forth on hands and knees, moving one leg while on hands and knees, rocking some more, moving one leg and then then other while on hands and knees and figuring out that's how you crawl...

you get the drift. You didn't learn to walk in one day, or even three days, or even 2 months... so you're not going to learn to run in that amount of time either.

Stick with it, and you will be a graceful gazelle very soon, my friend. Also, don't be afraid to repeat weeks in your C25K program. Do what you need to to keep progressing!

skinnyme444

don't focus on your timing yet! focus on distance, build it up by half a mile every week and sometime just stick on your music on nike running app and run a route you don't know and you'll surprise yourself how far you can go! Once you've reached a mile before your goal, stick at it and take a second off every week and aim for that - good luck :-)

jamimari777

Yes, it's worth it. Best to go at your own pace than to push yourself too fast and end up with an injury. Plus, you aren't going out there to win. You are out there to finish - so what will a faster time get you if you aren't ready for it? Keep it up and you're speed will gradually increase - and if it doesn't, you'll live

I also like Hal Higdon's training plans. If you google his name and 5K training it'll come up.

RunningMom42

My first 5K took me over 45 minutes to compete. I've been running 4-5 times a week for almost 6 months and I still can't seem to break a 30 minute 5K. I've decided that I just wasn't made to run fast but I can run long. I'm up to 10 mile runs now but only run about 11.5 minutes/mile. Most of my running buddies are doing under 10 but we meet up at the end.

cyclist_44060

I am the same as you, I am not any good at endurance running. I was a sprinter in school as well. I tried running and got up to about 3 miles at a time. I then took up cycling, I really love it! I only due minimual running to get in shape for cycling season. One reason I like cycling is you get to go fast...lol If you were a sprinter and like fast, you may be try cycling to see if you like that.

WillieMN

Really lol
I am training for a 5k and am on week 4 of the C25K program (run 1/4 mile, walk 1/4 mile, run 1/2 mile, walk 1/2 mile and repeat).
My fastest pace this week has been 15 min/mile averaging a 3.5 mph pace.
I know this stinks! Is it even worth it?
I really do like running. In high school I ran track but was a sprinter (100yd and 200yd dash, relays). I have never had endurance.
I feel bummed because everyone seems to be doing <10 min miles.
Should I give it up and try something else?

Is it worth it? If you didn't know your pace or compare it to others, how do you feel once you're running or when you're done?

Would you give up something that makes you happy, feel good and healthy because it's not the same as everyone else?

No matter how or at what rate you progress or improve, you're still on the right road. And its definitely better than sitting still.

bumblebums

Actually, some people really are designed to be sprinters and not mid- or long-distance runners. You might be one of them. This is determined by how much fast twitch muscle fiber you have and is largely genetic. I am a sprinter by nature, too. (By the way, if you are a born sprinter, you would probably make a decent weight lifter, too.)

You should be able to build up to a 10-min mile with practice and determination, though. I did. Just track your progress and increase your speed and distance gradually.

fitbum19

If you enjoy it, that's all that matters. Try doing intervals strints to help improve your time when you pace yourself. Thats helped shave 2 minutes off of my mile

kagenw

Back in my senior year of high school, I weighed 230 lbs when I decided to go out for cross country. I knew that I was never going to match the times that any of my teammates were getting. I did set a personal goal to beat my own times every race and I met that goal. You may not match or beat others' times in the short run, but if you set the goal to beat your previous day's time, then you'll beat everyone eventually. It's mathematical. Just stick with it

kmanus

I hated running....my husband could walk faster than I "ran". The more you do it, the easier/better it gets. I started in Oct '12 running 1.5 miles at a pace of 14:22. Last night I ran 5 miles at 10:51. It's just sticking with it. My long runs (most recent was 18.5 mi was at 13:27 (on a trail, so automatically slower as I have to scramble over stuff). I actually enjoy most of my runs now, never thought I would say that.

bobf279

28 lbs ago in January of this year I was a 12 and half minute miler and could barely complete 30 minutes. I am now running up to 4 miles at around 10 minute mile pace and have run 3 miles at 09:40 pace. All it took was dedication and taking my time to improve bit by bit never afraid to walk if it got too much

Querian

"I know I'm slow, but I'm still faster than the guy on the couch."

This is officially my favorite quote of today

zta1989

Stick with it. I am 42 and started C25K in September and could hardly do the 30-second runs without huffing and puffing. I finished it in December and have been running anywhere between 2-3 miles every other day since then. You will be AMAZED by how much endurance you will build up and how your speed will begin to increase as you get stronger. When I finished the first full 5K run in December, I did it in about 50 minutes (more than 16 min/mile). I ran about 2.5 miles on Monday in 38 minutes. It's a slow process, but you will definitely see improvement if you stick with it!

Most importantly, a slow run is still better for you than sitting on the couch. That's what I keep telling myself when I groan about how slow I am. :-)

AntShanny

I'm not a fan of running but I'm doing my 4th 5k on Saturday, my first one was just in November. I didn't "practice" or do anything to get ready, heck I only had 2 weeks notice before the run! I don't run the entire time yet, haven't built up to that, but hopefully will one of these days...I run the first mile then walk and run the rest of the way, with more running now. I'm in the 34 minute range and do have a goal to get to 30 minutes, but I'm not pressing it!
I don't think I will ever do anything more than a 5k, but I do think they are fun, in a twisted kind of way!

melbogg

Do not quit. Do not give up, ever.

This reminds me of a t-shirt I saw at local 10K. This big guy was wearing a shirt that read, "I know I'm slow, but I'm still faster than the guy on the couch."

i love it!

who cares if you're slow? running 1/2 a mile still makes you a winner.

^^THIS!

MzIrish

It definitely takes time to work up to it. I am just getting back into running after a knee injury. I am currently running a 10 /11 minute mile. A few years ago I ran a half marathon at a pace of 8 min 45 sec average per mile. I hope to get back to a 9 min pace again.. But it takes time.. Stick with it and you will do great.

yo_andi

Actually, some people really are designed to be sprinters and not mid- or long-distance runners. You might be one of them. This is determined by how much fast twitch muscle fiber you have and is largely genetic. I am a sprinter by nature, too. (By the way, if you are a born sprinter, you would probably make a decent weight lifter, too.)

That is me, to a T! I finally gave up on chasing the elusive 13.1 miles. I am content on getting my 5K time down below 27 mins as my new goal. Much, much better at sprinting (and lifting hahahahaha).

Just_Jon

Does the 15 min/mile include the walking breaks? I wonder what the pace is for the running part alone.

Running is hard work. No doubt about it. I've been running for about 9 years now and my pace goes up and down. Two and half years ago I had just finished my third marathon, but this morning I was dragging myself to keep that same pace for only 3 miles!

Hang in there. It gets better.

Lupercalia

If you really enjoy running, then it shouldn't matter if you're slow or not, and you should have a good time training and progressing towards your goals. If you don't actually enjoy running, and just think it's something you need to do for some bizarre reason, then stop immediately and find something that is more your "thing".

I've never understood all these people who force themselves to run when they really don't like it. Not saying that's you at all, OP, just something I notice a lot with runners, and find odd.