what pace did you start with when you first started running? be honest!!

when I first started took me almost an hour to go 5k in the mountains of northeast Georgia. My first official 5k race time was 43 minutes. My standard walking pace now is over 4mph. My usual not really pushing myself jogging pace is now 5mph. I finished my first official 10k in 56:35 and my first 15k in 1:26:29. I save most of my running for races. I train in the mountains so when I get to races on flat land makes it so easy for me. Have fun and Good Luck

I was probably running at an 11:00-11:30 minute mile. I wasn't overweight and I was in halfway decent shape, but definitely not used to running.

Good luck on the race! You can definitely do it, and then keep it up.

My first 5K I finished in 52:22. My third 5K 2 months later I finished in 43:31. You will get better. I could not believe I got that close to a 14 minute mile. I'm really looking forward to my race on Sunday. I'm doing something totally different (tapering and walk/run intervals), so I have no idea what is going to happen.

I don't really run very often, just an occasional 5k with the family. Most of my working out is home programs like Insanity or going on big hikes and climbs (12-20 miles each).

My last 5k I ran 31 minutes exactly so 10 minute miles. The last mile I ran\walked. I've got another coming up in two weeks and I'm in better shape now than I was for my last one by quite a bit. Hoping to break into the high 20 minute range this time.

I started running (focusing on it really) in about 2010. I ran about a 9 minute mile then. It's now 2014 and I am aiming to run a 3:10:00 marathon (7:10 minute miles for 26.2 miles) and I ran a 19 min 5k this past summer and a sub 1:30 half marathon. Slow and steady, long easy miles are what worked for me!

When I started 2.5 months ago I ran too fast, couldn't do more than a 1.5-2k without stopping/walking. That was probably 9.5-10min/mile pace. I then started doing a bit of research (frustrated that I couldn't run further). I improved my form/breathing and started following the C25K plan. I ran at about 12min/mile pace. My first 5K was 11.5min/mile.

That was a little over a month ago. Now I run between 9.5 and 10.5 min/mile pace. I've also run three 10Ks. First one was 12min/mile pace the last one 11min/mile.

The general rule I followed starting out was the "conversation pace". Every once in a while I would say a full sentence out loud and if I couldn't do it without gasping for air I would slow down.

Once I got a few 5K's under my belt and wanted to improve my pace I would finish my 5K run with a sprint for the last quarter kilometer or so. There are other methods that generally involve sprinting relatively short distances, pushing your body towards its limit. Every time you do that it gets a little bit easier to run a little bit faster.

I've been jogging since high school, so I don't really remember where I started. Now I usually run about a 9-9:30 mile (for ~4 miles), would like to get down to about 8:30 or so but not really focusing on speed. I love running at night but it gets a little more treacherous (curbs, sticks, uneven sidewalks) so I have to go a little slower to make sure not to trip.

If you want to be faster, maybe try running with a friend who normally runs slightly faster than you - so you can push yourself to keep up. Also, maybe mix in some other sources of challenging cardio - I like zumba, fast paced dance, and long, steep hikes. After a month of other challenging cardio, you will likely be pleasantly surprised with how much faster and further you can run.

I started out at 12 min mile on a treadmill. Now I can do a mile on the flat ground in about 7:45-8:00 depending on the day. I have only done 5K trail runs up and down a mountain and my race pace is about 9:55 ish.

For a 5k I started at around 11.5 min miles and I'm now on 9 - 9.5 min miles after a year of running. Don't worry about your pace at all as long as you are getting some exercise and enjoying yourself. Remind yourself of how many people never even have a go at running!

13:00 when I started tracking my mileage...which was about 2 months into running. My first full marathon I paced around 10:00 in the beginning, but after the 10K time I slowed back to 13: and some change. I've been running over 5 years now and my average is 8:30-ish. Give it time!

As other posters have said, don't worry about your pace yet or compare yourself to others. Just getting out there is half the battle, right?

I've been running for a few years now. On shorter runs (3 miles - 3.5 miles), I usually run about a 10 minute mile. My PR for a 5K Road Race is a pace of 9:03. I ran the last mile at 8:40 and at the end, I wanted to vomit and I was gasping for breath. On longer runs or runs when I'm pushing my son in the jogging stroller, my pace will slow to 11:00 or more. I ran a 10K pushing my son in the stroller and my pace was 11:30. My pace on a recent 10 mile run was over 11:00, too. I was just happy to finish. Funny story, the 10 mile race was also a 20 mile race. The 20 milers just ran the course twice. The guy who won the 20 mile race actually beat me running the 10 miler. He crossed the finish line about 3 seconds before me lol. One thing that definitely helps improve my endurance and speed is to do interval training. You can google all sorts of training plans for it but the gist is this:
- Warm up (5 minutes, very easy)
- 3 minutes on. Run at a pace that you could not sustain for much longer than 3 minutes
- 3 minutes easy. Slow down, catch your breath, but don't go all the way to your warm up pace
- 3 minutes on
- 3 minutes easy
- 3 minutes on
- 3 minutes easy
- 3 minutes on
- Cool down (5 minutes)

This concept is how I went from barely being able to run for 5 minutes to running my first race, which was a 5 mile race in 2010. It's also how I got my endurance back after pregnancy.

Just keep at it, and don't worry about the pace too much. Good luck!

Started running earlier this year in April/May.
Pace was >15 min/mile and I didn't go more than 2-3 miles.
July pace < 12 min/mi
Aug pace < 11 min/mi
Current pace for 5k (3.1 mi) 10:23 min/mi

Working on increasing distance to 10k at reasonable pace.
Currently about 12.5 min/mi but I have done 5 mi at 11 min/mi.

Agree with others that mentioned mixing it up when training with other cardio, weights, hills, strides (sprints at end of run), etc.

Just when you think you're really improving challenge yourself to something different (i.e. steeper hilly course). It's good to keep challenging yourself.

when I run 5 miles or less my pace is about 10-11:30 when i run 10+ it's 12:30-13:30 not science, I just seem to run slower when I run longer. I guess mentally I'm saving energy for the long haul.

even those numbers are kinda skewed because I stop at stop lights and my pace will go to like 20+ min/mile because I'm standing around. but over all, those numbers I posted are close.