running help

amackg
amackg Posts: 48 Member
edited December 3 in Fitness and Exercise
Im asking the question with the info needed

I run 3 times a week, about 2.5-4 miles takes about 20-33 minutes i do not want to run more than 35 minutes due to my schedule . I have been running for 3 years never focused on making sure to be able you have a conversation, usualy i can't should i be slowing down?

Replies

  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    It depends. I guess I'm confused about what exactly you're asking. If you want to be able to have a conversation then yes, slow down. If you want to work on speed, then don't. It sounds like you're worried about time so if you go out for no more than 35 minutes and get your 2.5-4 miles done, I'm not sure what the problem is? You might want to switch up how fast you go so you don't wear your body out and you give it something different. Right now (unless I'm understanding wrong) it sounds like each day you're running you're almost doing speed work/race pace.
  • cosmonew
    cosmonew Posts: 513 Member
    I agree with the above post...you have to have a goal and work toward that. I personally am working on getting my time down. I used to run easy 10 minute miles, now that I am 45 I am slower... I was at 12 min mile but have worked my way down to 11 min miles... Ive read alot about HIIT (High Intensity interval training) and how great that is for you..basically to switch up intensity with rest periods.. like run 6.0 mph 1 min, jog 5.0 3 min...something like that...Bottom line, you have to switch up how you run if you want to challenge yourself so amp up the speed, change the incline or push your distance, not every day..but in some way to change it up.
  • Philtex
    Philtex Posts: 1,278 Member
    With three years of running experience you know what works for you. I'd stick with that.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    amackg wrote: »
    Im asking the question with the info needed

    I run 3 times a week, about 2.5-4 miles takes about 20-33 minutes i do not want to run more than 35 minutes due to my schedule . I have been running for 3 years never focused on making sure to be able you have a conversation, usualy i can't should i be slowing down?

    What are your goals?
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited August 2016
    You have been running for three years? I should ask you for advice..

    OP what happened in this thread about having conversations during running?

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/37531038#Comment_37531038
  • CindyFooWho
    CindyFooWho Posts: 179 Member
    I never understood the advice that I should be keeping a pace that allows me to have a conversation. If I'm able to hold a conversation, I'm not working hard enough, whether running, at the gym, whatever. When I work out, I'm huffing and puffing or I feel like it's a waste of time.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited August 2016
    I say the faster you run, the faster you are done!

    In all seriousness... Slow down? need to hold a conversation during running for what??

    edited to add: I just saw a goal you posted on your other thread it was "Just trying Get a 3 mile run in under 21 min. Can do 3 in 23ish."

    TRAIN FOR THAT GOAL.. You need a running plan or extend the way you train now. Getting to a 21 min 3 mile is gonna take some hard work and holding a conversation during this run is not going to get that time in.


    i am now confused.
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    edited August 2016
    The "conversational pace" thing is more for when you're trying to build up mileage or you're running a lot of mileage already.Making most of your runs easy runs is beneficial for increasing mileage and if you're marathon training or just running a lot of miles every week, keeping most of them easy/conversational is a good idea just to prevent injury etc. If you're not trying to increase your distances/mileage and you're only running 10-12 miles per week, I don't really see the point of running slower as it sounds like you're doing it more as a short, intense cardio thing than anything else and that's fine.

    If you were trying to run multiple 10 milers a week at a tough pace I might question it (or if you were wondering how to increase your mileage) but an intense half hour session doesn't seem like it would a problem to me if you don't have any goals beyond continuing to run the same amount you're already running.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    edited August 2016
    I never understood the advice that I should be keeping a pace that allows me to have a conversation. If I'm able to hold a conversation, I'm not working hard enough, whether running, at the gym, whatever. When I work out, I'm huffing and puffing or I feel like it's a waste of time.

    @CindyFooWho - it depends on what your goals are. If you just want to work out, it doesn't matter. If you want to improve your running for specific goals, slower, easier runs have their place in an overall training plan to build fitness and endurance. Even elite athletes run slow miles (well, slow for them which would probably be pretty fast for a lot of us).
  • BasicGreatGuy
    BasicGreatGuy Posts: 857 Member
    The 'conversational pace' advice pertains to being in the heart rate zone that better allows one to build his or her aerobic base.

    A lot of people make the mistake of running their training runs way too fast. And while said persons make some progress early on with running fast, they get to a point where their training plateaus, and they get frustrated and perplexed as to why they aren't able to run farther and faster. This is where 'conversational pace' comes into the running picture.

    Without a solid aerobic base, your running house will be very weak and susceptible to being damaged. The conversational pace is the foundation of your running house.
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    The 'conversational pace' advice pertains to being in the heart rate zone that better allows one to build his or her aerobic base.

    A lot of people make the mistake of running their training runs way too fast. And while said persons make some progress early on with running fast, they get to a point where their training plateaus, and they get frustrated and perplexed as to why they aren't able to run farther and faster. This is where 'conversational pace' comes into the running picture.

    Without a solid aerobic base, your running house will be very weak and susceptible to being damaged. The conversational pace is the foundation of your running house.

    For those using a Heart Rate monitor, what zone would that be?
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    pondee629 wrote: »
    The 'conversational pace' advice pertains to being in the heart rate zone that better allows one to build his or her aerobic base.

    A lot of people make the mistake of running their training runs way too fast. And while said persons make some progress early on with running fast, they get to a point where their training plateaus, and they get frustrated and perplexed as to why they aren't able to run farther and faster. This is where 'conversational pace' comes into the running picture.

    Without a solid aerobic base, your running house will be very weak and susceptible to being damaged. The conversational pace is the foundation of your running house.

    For those using a Heart Rate monitor, what zone would that be?

    zones don't matter.
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    RoxieDawn wrote: »
    pondee629 wrote: »
    The 'conversational pace' advice pertains to being in the heart rate zone that better allows one to build his or her aerobic base.

    A lot of people make the mistake of running their training runs way too fast. And while said persons make some progress early on with running fast, they get to a point where their training plateaus, and they get frustrated and perplexed as to why they aren't able to run farther and faster. This is where 'conversational pace' comes into the running picture.

    Without a solid aerobic base, your running house will be very weak and susceptible to being damaged. The conversational pace is the foundation of your running house.

    For those using a Heart Rate monitor, what zone would that be?

    zones don't matter.

    "The 'conversational pace' advice pertains to being in the heart rate zone that better allows one to build his or her aerobic base."

    I was asking about this statement.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I never understood the advice that I should be keeping a pace that allows me to have a conversation. If I'm able to hold a conversation, I'm not working hard enough, whether running, at the gym, whatever. When I work out, I'm huffing and puffing or I feel like it's a waste of time.

    Depends on what you're trying to achieve. Building aerobic capacity needs time at a sustainable pace. If you go out to hard you can't keep it going.

    As the originator has an objective that requires far more time than they're prepared to commit so the "conversational pace" aspect isn't all that relevant.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    pondee629 wrote: »
    The 'conversational pace' advice pertains to being in the heart rate zone that better allows one to build his or her aerobic base.

    A lot of people make the mistake of running their training runs way too fast. And while said persons make some progress early on with running fast, they get to a point where their training plateaus, and they get frustrated and perplexed as to why they aren't able to run farther and faster. This is where 'conversational pace' comes into the running picture.

    Without a solid aerobic base, your running house will be very weak and susceptible to being damaged. The conversational pace is the foundation of your running house.

    For those using a Heart Rate monitor, what zone would that be?

    To get the best out of HR training you need to know your max HR and lactate threshold, so no clear way to say.

    Personally my max seems to be about 205bpm, LT about 175 and I do a lot of my training at about 140-150bpm.
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