Slow Runners Unite!

Try to focus on being proud rather than embarrassed. Running 1.5 miles is nothing to be embarrassed about. I ran even slower than your pace when I first started. I averaged about a 17:30 mile back then. I finished my first 5k with an average pace of 15:30/mile and I was SO EXCITED. After getting injured and taking some time off, I started running again in January 2015 and I was even slower than before. I was just reviewing my Runkeeper logs and I'm seeing 18 and 19 minute miles from that time. That's barely better than my walking pace was. But I haven't stopped running since then, and now I usually run about 11:30/mile on a normal day, or about 10 minutes/mile if I'm racing. And while I used to struggle to run even the distance you're at now, my usual run is now 5 miles and I race half marathons. So it does get better and you're not alone! Just focus on what you're able to do and stick to a training plan.

A slow mile is still a mile. You should be super proud. As they say, you're lapping every one on the couch no matter how fast/slow you're going.
Everyone starts somewhere. I have a friend who will never be fast as she has a fake knee. Her bionic knee we say lol. She's lucky to walk a 20-25 min mile. But still she walks every day. Outside at that. Usually picking up garbage along the way which slows her even more.

Even running slowly you are lapping everyone on the couch!

I am also a slow runner. I have increased my pace slowly over the past 6 month by doing run/power walk intervals. I run for 1 minute at a fast pace (fast for me anyway) and power walk for 3 or 4 minutes. I do this over a 3 to 4 mile distance. My mile pace used to be between 13 and 14 minutes, and I just ran a mile the other week and did it in 11:28. Pretty sure it was the intervals that helped a lot. During the run intervals I try to come close to my max heart rate.

But like others have said, speed is not really as important as the fact that you can run. Your biggest competition is yourself. If you keep beating yourself, you will keep improving.

BootsDBA wrote: »

Someone please tell me you also run SUPER slowly? I'm at 3.5mph/17 minutes a mile. I'm embarrassed to say it and it keeps me on the treadmill instead of outside because if there's no scenery to pass then I can't tell, lol.

I can go for 25 minutes now, 1.5 miles, which I'm also a little embarrassed about, but mostly proud, since I couldn't do that before. I know speed will come later, but right now I'm just looking for other slow runners so I know I'm not alone.

I've got you beat, I run about a mile every year or so. Maybe.