Forums >Running 101>C25K - newbie question
esq.
Does it just happen and you don't even realize you're getting faster?
I am running for the excersize and fun of it. My goals for now are to evenutally be able to run 5 miles 3 times a week and to run a few 3K races. oops! meant to say a "few 5K races" - I am so new to this! Claire
One day at a time
Hi, I just finished w8d1 of the C25K program and I'm thrilled to be able to run 2.75 miles without having to stop. I've been lurking a while and have taken the advice to go slow. I learned my lesson a few weeks back when I was out of breath and could barely finish an 8 minute run. Once I slowed down I was fine. I've noticed a few posts that say eventually speed will come. I'm wondering when. How do you know when your body is ready to increase the pace? Does it just happen and you don't even realize you're getting faster? I am running so slow right now (15 minute mile) and can't see myself getting any faster without loosing my breath and not being able to finish. I am really enjoying the run but feel like a fool when I see my shadow and how slow I'm moving or when other runners pass me by like I'm standing still. I am running for the excersize and fun of it. My goals for now are to evenutally be able to run 5 miles 3 times a week and to run a few 3K races. Claire
Hi, I just finished w8d1 of the C25K program and I'm thrilled to be able to run 2.75 miles without having to stop. I've been lurking a while and have taken the advice to go slow. I learned my lesson a few weeks back when I was out of breath and could barely finish an 8 minute run. Once I slowed down I was fine. I've noticed a few posts that say eventually speed will come. I'm wondering when. How do you know when your body is ready to increase the pace? Does it just happen and you don't even realize you're getting faster? I am running so slow right now (15 minute mile) and can't see myself getting any faster without loosing my breath and not being able to finish. I am really enjoying the run but feel like a fool when I see my shadow and how slow I'm moving or when other runners pass me by like I'm standing still. I am running for the excersize and fun of it. My goals for now are to evenutally be able to run 5 miles 3 times a week and to run a few 5K races. Claire
http://www.runningnotes.net
As your conditioning improves you will be able to run faster with the same amount of effort. It's not something that you'll need to consciously change, it'll just happen. That's why it's a good thing to keep a running log. The changes are so gradual that without a log to look back on they will mostly go unnoticed. It is important to keep your runs in the aerobic zone regardless of your pace. If you are running aerobically, it will be difficult but not impossible to carry on an intelligible conversation. This aerobic pace is commonly referred to as a "conversational" pace. Many new runners ask if running ever gets easier and the truth is it does not, you just get faster. Tom
People think runners are crazy enough as it is. If you run around talking to yourself all the time it'll give us all a bad rap. The conversation thing is just a check to see if your pace is reasonable. Save your air for running not talking. Tom
... This is the first time I've heard about aerobic pace so I'm not quite sure if I'm understanding what it is. Should I be keeping up a conversation the whole time I am running?
Gino- Thanks for all the info. I just finished my first 3 miles without stopping. This is the first day of week 9 in the C25K program. I did it in 44 minutes so I guess I went under my 15 minute mile by a few seconds! When I was running I saw a figure out of the corner of my eye approaching on the other side of the street. It was an older man (Im 41) and he was going the same direction as me but across the street and walking fast but not running. The man past me by and for the life of me I couldn't catch him. I quickly got my mind off of him and focused on my breathing and pace and tried to forget about him but it was kind of depressing. I also got a stitch in my side but worked through it and it went away. I had a few sips of water this morning and I usually don't drink anything before I run so maybe that had something to do with it. Claire