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

Starting out running, is this a good mile time?

TimTimTimma
TimTimTimma Posts: 15
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey everyone,

I have long been a walker, and have never really worried about pace, until I got MapMyRun and RunKeeper HAHA. I've timed myself on a few walks and typically can complete a mile walking in about 17 minutes, I don't know if that is good or not.

Anyways, I've never ran just to run, but I see so many people where I live doing it, and I have a co worker who runs and she is all about it so, I started last Tuesday. I went out and ran for two miles with a goal of hitting a 10 minute mile pace. My first mile I wouldn't say I gave it my all, but I ran the entire mile, even up and down two decent hills, until I got the mile notified in my ear from MapMyRun.

My pace was 10:04. I was pretty proud of myself, it felt really good to basically hit my goal my first time out. I walked/jogged on my way back and my second mile was something like 11:45. I am curious though, is 10:04 a decent speed? I'm not really interested in being fast, I'm way more interested in just going the distance and having the endurance to finish a long run, but I am curious lol.

Replies

  • alikonda
    alikonda Posts: 2,358 Member
    http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/2014/10/running-4-points-to-prove-youre-not-slow/
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    TimTimTimma wrote: »
    I am curious though, is 10:04 a decent speed?

    It largely depends on how long you intend running for. If I'm doing a mile I'll do it a lot faster than if I'm running 13.1 miles.

    Personally I walk at about a 12 minute mile, based on my Garmin.

    So what you do now depends on your objectives, if it's increasing distance it's a question of sustaining a pace for a longer period of time, so probably slowing down a bit in order to keep moving for longer.

  • debrag12
    debrag12 Posts: 1,071 Member
    I'm running at a 12-13 minute mile. You're doing well to run a full mile on your first run, I still can't do it but I take too much rest between runs at the moment.

    a 10 minute mile is a good starting point
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    Personally I would pull back my friend and rethink the questions I want to ask. Is 10 minutes per mile a good pace isn't (in my opinion) a good question. It depends. If you are running to get fit then the more important questions would be- "how can I run for longer", "how can I run faster", "how can I make sure I don't get injured" rather than "is my pace any good". The first questions have definite answers - you can achieve them. Is 10 minute a mile good - well that depends of so much the question loses validity because the answer is both yes (you honestly are doing fantastic) and no , you are not hitting 5 minute miles so you won't be able to compete at county level :-), i.e the question needs context of what you are trying to achieve. I personally think 10 minute miles are admirable and you are doing great :-)
    -
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I am training for a 10k and hope to do it in an hour so 10 minute miles for an hour is a good pace to me... But it's all relative to the distance you're running and what your goal is over all?
  • TimTimTimma
    TimTimTimma Posts: 15
    davert123 wrote: »
    Personally I would pull back my friend and rethink the questions I want to ask. Is 10 minutes per mile a good pace isn't (in my opinion) a good question. It depends. If you are running to get fit then the more important questions would be- "how can I run for longer", "how can I run faster", "how can I make sure I don't get injured" rather than "is my pace any good". The first questions have definite answers - you can achieve them. Is 10 minute a mile good - well that depends of so much the question loses validity because the answer is both yes (you honestly are doing fantastic) and no , you are not hitting 5 minute miles so you won't be able to compete at county level :-), i.e the question needs context of what you are trying to achieve. I personally think 10 minute miles are admirable and you are doing great :-)
    -

    Thanks, yeah, my speed honestly is irrelevant to me, at least until MapMyRun tells me how fast or slow I'm going lol. I really am far more interested in running for longer. I want to be able to run 3-5 miles non stop eventually, that way I can do a 5k with a co-worker of mine, and who knows maybe I will enjoy it so much I want to do something even bigger like a 10k :P

Categories