Joggers!

I'm at a 6.7 pace but my wife's at a 5.0 pace. If you're doing it for the exercise and using an HRM don't worry about it. I know I'll never win a race I just like the feeling I get after running (I still hate the process of running but love the end). Do it for you and no one else. Just keep on jogging at your pace.

Ignore the crap out of that Lina! How long have you been running? I started out running SLOWER that 4.0 (it took me 10 min to run .6 mi my first time out). I'm only JUST now after a year of running and speed training starting to consistently run faster than 5.0

It's discouraging number wise, but do what is comfy for you so you will stick with it!

I usually jog on the treadmill between 4.5 - 5.0 as well with a heart rate about 160.
So for me that sounds normal, I may try to pick up the pace after awhile but I feel Im already pushing myself at this rate.

my jog pace is about 5.0-5.2. If I get up to 5.5-5.8 I am running!

as long as your out there jogging, you are benefiting from it!

I only recently got into running about a month ago steadily because my husband likes to run. So we run side by side on the treadmill. Granted, I'm 3 inches taller than he is and according to him, that's all legs. Silly man at first tried to compete with my speed because I have a long stride and had to make it feel comfortable for my knees and back. We finally just realized that our goals aren't to compete against each other, but ourselves. If once a week I change on small thing on the treadmill, like interval hills at a low level, or going up just one tiny notch on speed, then I know that I personally am improving. I say, Do what makes your body feel better each time you do it!

Depends what your goals are. Are you just running for fitness or training for race? If only for fitness, then you shouldn't be running to the point you can't carry a conversation because you're out of breath. If you are, then slow down even if it means you have to walk/run until you build up your fitness.

There is a lot of genetics at play in athletics. Some of us may get in excellent physical shape with great levels of fitness, but still never have the capability of the guy running a mile in 5 minutes or less. He no doubt worked hard to achieve this but had he not been given certain gifts he would never have achieved that level of performance. We can't compare ourselves to these guys - seriously, it is just needlessly discouraging and unfair to our particular capabilities.

I'm short also and used to run in local races for fitness and the social end too. Was in great shape and even completed a marathon, but even then the fastest I ever completed a mile was 8 minutes. It was usually more like 9 1/2 or 10 for longer distances. For me this was blazing fast and I never had the physical makeup that could have done more.

These days my canine running pal is slowing down, and not wanting to leave him behind we spend our time being happy with fast walking. When I do get a chance to run I'm much more in the 11 - 12 minute mile range, or that 5 to 5.5 MPH range shown on the treadmill. And for me this is still a challenging, heart pounding workout.

The point is the heart rate is still up there when you are putting your best effort out. That is what burns calories; that is what pushes you to a higher level of fitness, and that is all that matters. Ignore the speed and other readouts on your console unless you have the genetics and intend to make a career out of the sport. For the rest of us it is just to get in our personal best shape. Running is by far the best way to achieve this!

I think my problem is in my head. When i'm going I start to convince myself that I can't do this. Like the idea of jogging 3 miles straight seems impossible to me, but why? I don't know why I convince myself to stop. When I was at 1.5 miles yesterday I could have so kept on going but I kept saying in my head "wow you have gone far, you can walk now". WTF how stupid is that?

This is going to sound dopey/obvious but do you listen to music? because I've found having it on helps me "zone out" and get past those "i should walk now" thoughts. Best thing I've found is to take your iPod/MP3 player on the treadmill, and find songs whose beats match your foot falls at your given pace (maybe 1-2 for 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0?) and make a play list for each, similar to that song (I like to use "genius" on iTunes). More than once I've made it through to the end of my run when my first two steps were AGONIZING because my music kept my brain off my body long enough for my body to start actually enjoying the run.

Also, if you do want to build speed, I've found intervals really helpful.

Good luck!

when i first started 4 months ago i was at 4.0 or less! but now i can "jog" at 5.9 and "run" at 6.7