Slow runners - just how slow do you go?

Before my time off from the gym, my average running speed (I only run on the treadmill due to back issues) was around 5.5. I have short legs, so I am fast walking around 4.2, jogging by 4.3-4.4 and full blown running by 5.0. I can keep pace easily at 5.5 -- anything higher and I do struggle some (my poor legs can't seem to move quickly enough!). I have done a 10.25 mile a couple times but boy were my poor legs struggling along. lol.

"Forward is a pace."

^ Love that!

...if it makes anyone here feel better, you're all faster than a sloth!

Well I just started c25k about 3 weeks ago, I do loads of other stuff and am very fit, but running (I use the term loosely) is not my thing. The program says 7 weeks but on week 1 I was obviously too fit to go at beginners pace ( they recommend 1 min walking 1 minute running) so I did 2 mins running 1 min walking and It suited me fine, then I upped it to 3 mins running 1 min walking, which is fine. But the fatest I can run at is 9kph and 6.5kph for walking, this brings my finish time to around 35 mins, which isn't bad, but this is on a treadmill which we all know is kind of self propelling, so I'm preparing myself for a much much lower speed and time when I try outside!! Wish me luck x

I'm totally with ya. I've also been running for many years and have never been a fast at endurance running. When I first started running as a kid, I was a fast sprinter. Even today, I can sprint pretty fast, but I'm usually somewhere between middle to back of the pack in any race I do now.

Here's a weird thing, though - I recently have developed a minor case of asthma and have had to bump my run/walk interval to run 1 min/walk 1 min (from run 4/walk 1), and my time has improved dramatically! Like by 2 min/mile. Weird, but I'll take whatever speed I can get (though I actually don't care very much these days about my speed).

intervals of 6mph for 1-2 min. and 3 mph for 1-2 min. My best average for a 1.5 mile run was just under 5mph. I missed that average pace by 26 seconds. I'm still working on it. However I can run at 3-4 mph for 20 min straight. Sort of a new runner in the fact that i've had to do pt tests every year for 10 years but i hated running/exercising. Before though we could max the situps pushups and the waist measurement so i didn't have to run so fast. Unfortunately this last year they changed the rules and i'm playing catch up. So for running for fun, whatever pace keeps you going while still allowing you to breath and enjoy the exercise is good for me. For me that would be about 4-4.5 mph.

Does anyone else use runkeeper?
When I run outside, I average around 11-11.30 minute miles. I just ran a 5K on January 1st in about 34 minutes.

But on the treadmill, I stick to 5 mph. So, a 12 minute mile? Any faster and I am just soo tired. I feel lame for going slow. I, too, am hoping I pick up the speed a bit.
I am training for a half marathon in March. If I averaged 12 minute miles, I guess that would be fine.

Doesn't matter how slow you go, you are still faster than the person sitting on the couch!!

I run most of the time 5.5 mph, 6.5 when I run hard but i'd rather run longer than faster

Ive been running since May 2011. My pace is 11:40 min miles. Averaging about 5.2 miles an hour. Have my first half marathon in March...wanting a 2:45:00 finish. Doing 6.5 in 1:20:03...so hoping I can sustain that pace for 13.1. Training is in full force for that
I do have trouble keeping my first mile the slowest...I can cruise thru it at 11:13...but then my 3rd mile is like 13:06....need to learn to slow down at the start!

The only time that should be measured with great care is the time you spend with those you love.

However, with that being said .... I do time myself when I run. To date, I've finished 36 half marathons - PR was 2:17ish. Slowest - 4:25ish. True story. I did my full marathon in 5:16.

My last half marathon last Saturday was at a pace slower than my full marathon. I've gained weight and I'm out of shape and it was hilly! We'll see how this weekend goes. I have two planned. FL on Saturday. LA on Sunday. My goal for FL is to have a faster pace than last Saturday. My goal for Sunday's half is to finish.

For me, I've found life goes in cycles. I'm in the "Let's get fit and faster," cycle now. Let's hope it continues.

Yeah, we may be slow but we aint quitters

I hadn't run for a long time but walked regularly. September last year a work colleague introduced me to Parkrun, a 5K run in a park local to me each Saturday. I though I would give it a go hoping that if I got round it would be in under 45 minutes expecting that I would be mostly walking the distance, a 15 minute mile being my fast walking pace. Was thrilled to complete that first 5K part jogging and part walking in just under 40 minutes. At each succesive Parkruns I was improving my time until the last run in November I completed in 33:02. I was still unable to continuously run the distance though. Unfortunately I have been unable to take part in Parkrun since November as my car died and getting to the course any other way was difficult. I have therefore been running round the block outside my home in order to keep the momentum up. Yesterday for the first time I ran 5K continuously in 31:25

I would advise anyone who is doing C25K and looking for a run to look Parkrun up. There are international courses for all ages, sizes and abilities and gets you challenging yourself each week to strive for a PB.