We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Logging Running?

GiftedHealth
GiftedHealth Posts: 291 Member
edited February 7 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm not a strong runner. Any recommendations on what I should log my jogging at?
Sorry... it's kind of a dumb self explanatory question. I'll just do it for 5mph. I find that's even too fast for me. lol

Replies

  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
    Just base it on the minute per mile, there are several ranges in the MFP database. There are also applications or online calculators that will give you approximate calories burned based on speed, distance, and your body weight, you can enter into MFP whatever value that comes closest to the calories burned from those calculators.

    If you have a smartphone, apple has an app called runtastic that (after many trials with my heart rate monitor and with other running apps) gets closest I think to accurate calories burned and it automatically syncs to MFP when you are done. That is what I do now, and don't enter manually.

    I don't know if there is an android version of runtastic, haven't looked for it.
  • kelias31
    kelias31 Posts: 1
    It's different for everyone, but I would practice walking (on a treadmill) and see what feels best for your joints and comfort level. In general (from what I know) walking at a 15 minute mile pace is very good! Walking at 4mph is also a fast walk, but I have long legs, so that might make it easier for me. Practice sustaining a jog at different speeds, and you might find that going at a little faster pace feels better for you because you're providing yourself with more momentum. A light job for me is about 6.5mph - so you may be okay logging your jobs at 5mph. It's all about testing and trying out what is best for you - and occasionally pushing yourself a little further. Good luck!
  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    If you have a smart phone download Runkeeper ( or other apps) as it logs how far you have ran etc and will work out your speed.

    Also if you dont have a smart phone you can still use the website to see the distance you have ran and you can time yourself to see how long it took. There are other similar sites out there which offer the same type of thing.
  • discoveredamber
    discoveredamber Posts: 379 Member
    I have runtastic on my phone. It uploads everthying strait to mfp. :-).
  • lady6starlight
    lady6starlight Posts: 127 Member
    Before I used Map My Run (an app that tracks how far and how fast you run), I would measure the path I jogged in Google Earth and enter that distance into a calculator, along with how long it took. That would give me a fair idea of my speed.
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    runningahead.com

    I never run with a phone (the less to carry the better)
  • PaytraB
    PaytraB Posts: 2,360 Member
    As a runner, I can tell you that 5K/hr is too fast. You won't continue if you push yourself this fast.
    When I started running, I logged it as a walk. if I remember correctly, I started logging at 3K/hr, then 4K/hr, etc. As I noticed I got consistently and noticeably quicker, I slowly changed what I logged.
    It's better to underlog your exercise calories than overlog them (and then potentially over-eat).

    PS: use a program like Google maps to log your runs. It will tell you the distance and the calories you burned. From the calories listed, choose the MFP walk that is the closest (this will give you an indication of how fast you're running and, over time, how much speed you're picking up). Don't forget to change the calories burned on MFP to the calories burned on the Google map. It'll be more accurate for logging purposes.
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    I use a HRM to log the calorie burn. I have map my run for the actual distance, but that's mostly to shameless *kitten* for attaboys on Facebook and to log my distance against my shoes to have an idea of when I need to start thinking about getting a new pair.
  • SchroederNJ
    SchroederNJ Posts: 189 Member
    Endomondo app works well for gps tracking outdoor activity (you can also manually enter treadmill running, indoor biking, etc) ... it also transfers data to MFP if you set it up that way
  • Confuzzled4ever
    Confuzzled4ever Posts: 2,860 Member
    As a runner, I can tell you that 5K/hr is too fast. You won't continue if you push yourself this fast.
    When I started running, I logged it as a walk. if I remember correctly, I started logging at 3K/hr, then 4K/hr, etc. As I noticed I got

    5mph is not the same as 5k per hour.. I run 5.5 mph as a newbie runner and I get through a mile in 11 minutes without a problem. (slightly longer/slower when I run outside as there are hills and whatnot to deal with) 5k is totally doable per hour. I can do a 5k in 30 minutes and have.. as a newbie. :~)
  • emelia_
    emelia_ Posts: 91
    I just assume I run 6 mph (10 min mile) for however much I run. This is not true since I know I run at a faster clip but it's just easier to keep track of.
  • PaytraB
    PaytraB Posts: 2,360 Member
    5mph is not the same as 5k per hour.. I run 5.5 mph as a newbie runner and I get through a mile in 11 minutes without a problem. (slightly longer/slower when I run outside as there are hills and whatnot to deal with) 5k is totally doable per hour. I can do a 5k in 30 minutes and have.. as a newbie. :~)

    Oops, sorry. You're correct; I read it wrong in the original post.

    However, 5K/hr is slower than 5 miles/hr, so I wouldn't recommend going 5 miles/hr either. It's great that a person can run 5K in 30 minutes. That's my goal. I have yet to do it and I've been running a year now. We're all different. Each of us has to be realistic to our own limits.
    In order to make a life long change in one's situation, one has to do it in a maintainable manner, which usually means taking it slow to start. Too fast will be a detriment and stop a person from continuing.
    Start slow, maintain at your own pace. You'll improve naturally and without injury, feel good and keep going. That's all I'm saying. Too much, too soon will lead to failure.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    5mph is not the same as 5k per hour.. I run 5.5 mph as a newbie runner and I get through a mile in 11 minutes without a problem. (slightly longer/slower when I run outside as there are hills and whatnot to deal with) 5k is totally doable per hour. I can do a 5k in 30 minutes and have.. as a newbie. :~)

    Oops, sorry. You're correct; I read it wrong in the original post.

    However, 5K/hr is slower than 5 miles/hr, so I wouldn't recommend going 5 miles/hr either. It's great that a person can run 5K in 30 minutes. That's my goal. I have yet to do it and I've been running a year now. We're all different. Each of us has to be realistic to our own limits.
    In order to make a life long change in one's situation, one has to do it in a maintainable manner, which usually means taking it slow to start. Too fast will be a detriment and stop a person from continuing.
    Start slow, maintain at your own pace. You'll improve naturally and without injury, feel good and keep going. That's all I'm saying. Too much, too soon will lead to failure.

    5mph is a 12 min mile...hardly too fast. If he were trying to log a 6 min mile as a new runner, yes that would be much too fast. It also depends on height, etc, as someone who is 6 foot will likely cover a mile faster than someone only 5 foot.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories