Jo, I am dreaming to be able to run your distances one day - maybe in my next life?


Parveen,
No worries. It took me about three months to get myself from fast walking to jogging (on treadmill) at your speed, so I think that you are doing super-dooper! I run at 4.7 mph (although sometimes I throw in two very short intervals at 6 mph) and it takes me roughly 40 minutes to cover 3 miles (I don't really dwell on the time, at this stage I am grateful to be still alive when I am done. My total distance is usually around 4.5 miles (I do give myself a long warm-up and a long wind-down time).

Amanda,

I smell a budding romance!

Well, this time around I started by doing just 20 minutes of slow jogging (not including warm-up or cool-down). I didn't worry about distance or speed, and still don't. After a few weeks of that I got to the point where 20 minutes felt "easy," so I increased it to 25, and so on.

As for how fast I go, I let my body dictate that. Right now because I run on a treadmill it's pretty easy for me to tell when I'm ready to bump things up a notch speed-wise.

I can see I'm ready for a little bit faster pace when I find myself always jogging up near the top of the treadmill, practically bumping up against the display. When that happens for a few days in a row, or a week or two, then I will increase my speed by .1 or .2 mph and see how it goes.

So, to give you some idea of where I started and where I am now: I began trudging along at 3.5 mph for 20 minutes back in March. As of now, I'm up to 4.2 mph for 40 minutes (with a 6.0 mph burst for one minute at the very end).

I know this is a very slow pace compared to most other people, but I'm not concerned with how fast other people can go. It's something to aspire to, but not something to beat myself up about. I may be slow, but it's a good pace for me, get's my heart rate up there, and is "do-able" without being so hard that I get discouraged or injure myself.


As for your mental block when you reach a 1/2 mile:

I have found that running/jogging is largely a mental game. Your mind will try everything to convice you to quit ASAP, and those negative thoughts will buzz around like gnats trying to get you to stop long before you physically would be tapped out. You will find, though, that if can ignore all that negative buzzing that you can probably do more than you thought you were capable of.

My advice for you would be to keep going, even if it's only 50 feet, past that 1/2 mile mark. Do that for a few days, then add another 50 feet or 100 feet, and so on. In time you will build up to logging miles and miles like Josephine.

My standard speech on speed that I give every now and then:

Speed is really and truly not something to be concerned about as a new runner. And I'm not just saying that. I always see new runners kind of apologizing for their slow speed, or saying they aren't "really runners" because they only run "thus and so super slow speed". Speed doesn't matter. Really. In fact, going too fast, too soon (and too often) is the most common mistake of new runners and leads to injuries, misery, and giving up as running as, "too hard and too easy to get injured".

You should be able to talk while running, but singing a smooth tune would be just out of reach. When in doubt SLOW DOWN and you can't go wrong.

I only started running in June 2006 (and I didn't run most of 2007, I was too busy sitting on the sofa and gaining weight), so this stuff is all very fresh in my mind. I clearly remember the first time I ran 9 minutes ALL IN A ROW. I just freaked out with excitement and I even called my dad to brag about it (he's a marathon and ultra runner). I'm still proud of that moment, because it is what gave me the desire and belief that I could then run 10 whole minutes in a row, then 12, and so on and so forth.

If you consistently work the C25K program and then move on after that to SLOWLY building some lovely running base, you WILL eventually run higher mileage. And you will get faster, and you won't feel like you're dying while doing it either. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can do it!

Oh Jeez! I started out over a year ago and was exhausted after 5 minutes on the elliptical. I got my iPod in November 2007 and that was a great help. I also read the captions on the tv at the gym (I'm a non-television person at home!) while listening to the music to help me focus on my posture, breathing, and pace. So...you can say it took me over a year to get to running for 50 minutes straight - and it probably took me the better part of 6 months before I could even run on the treadmill - and do a whole mile (shin splints!)...take your time, if you want it, you can achieve it!

haha! in my dreams....well, something may happen - of course i'm currently with baggage (hope to be without that 6 year old bag soon!) let me tell you - he's a very handsome and very nice Native American with beautiful cheek bones. yum. he totally checks me out while i'm there (as I do the same to him) and he either walks me out each night or waves goodnight before he leaves (swoon...)

Okay..enough with that....sappy sappy sappy Amanda

I agree with Jo - speed is not important at this point. I've been slowly working my distance while setting minor time goals. Like...I always want to be under a 12 minute mile. I generally run (between 3-4 miles right now) at 5.5 miles per hour - sometimes I'll kick a lap up to 6.5 miles per hour to just wake myself up some more...but I'm not greatly worried about time...I want to run a 5k smoothly - I want to run a marathon one day. It will all take time! I'm willing to give it....

Also - I recall the first time I ran a full mile straight. It was earlier this year and the guy closing the gym for the night was nice enough to stay and let me finish...after hours....because he's seen me lose the weight and improve. Now 1 mile is nothing for me.

Well Girls I have shelfed the C25K temporarily. But I am continuing to work on walking fast with intermittence of jogging. Today the kids and I did the 20 minute challenge sponsored by the Running/Walking Room. It was great!

Running is temporarily on hold due to a broken toe. I sorta miss it already.

Due to lack of sleep and not getting my nap in - did 3.1 miles ,but not very well...it was difficult and I had to take breaks (not the norm)...took 39:45 - eeek!! Oh well, at least I did it!

P.S. Cute boy walked me out tonight and mentioned how romantic the moon looked tonight...I'm sure I blushed - thank god I was sweaty and am always flushed after my workouts anyways!


Hoping for a better night's sleep tonight (thank you melatonin!!!)...zzzzzz

I like to run!!! I ran last night and noticed it takes less time for me to recover between the runs! and I actually enjoyed it! instead of watching the clock on the treadmill i watched the distance section and it was going fast and the time flew by! I was running 4.0mph and running for 2 minutes and then walking 2 minutes! it felt good! i didnt feel like i will die, but actually felt good after the workout!
I read an article on a website that your mind will tell you to stop long before your body needs to and running is all a mental game and trying to overcome your challage of not wanted to run.

Parveen - I agree that running is a mental game. My mind tells me to stop all the time when I know my body can go further. I like to challenge myself and just keep going as long as I'm not being ridiculous! I also watch the distance rather than the clock. It's just the way I've always done it.

Yesterday morning I missed my run (okay, okay....it's really a jog).

I don't know what the problem was, but I was just so tired! I ended up going to bed like 5 hours early and sleeping like a log, even though the lights were all on, and so was the TV!

Maybe running around doing errands in the heat all day wore me out or something.

I'll make it up on Saturday, since I usually take the weekends off from running.

But, I jumped back on the treadmill today and did my 40 minutes while watching "The Road Warrior."

Dayumm....that Mel sure was a hottie back in the day. I really liked his fitted leather outfit. Especially the pants.

On a related note: I proudly told my brother that I'm now up to running 40 minutes on the treadmill. He asked me at what pace, and I was reluctant to say since I know I'm slow, but I told him anyway (4.2 mph, for the record).

He just looked at me and said, "Is that running?"

Brothers! Harrumph!

Well - my run last night was okay - still a little overtired due to lack of sleep - but I'm starting to feel better. Did my 3.1 miles in 37:30. Slower than normal, but that is okay. I'm content with it.

I'll be running tonight and will post my time (and hopefully another story of the cute boy!) when I get home.

Unfortunately - I'll be leaving for Savannah, GA & Linville, NC Saturday morning at 5am...won't be back until late Wednesday. However, both my hotel and my Aunt's home have gyms....so I should be able to get in a couple of runs and also plan on doing a ton of walking and hiking while out of town. Just have to be cautious of my eating!

Apple - brothers can be very lame - i know from experience!

Hi Parveen,

I do something similar - I cannot stand watching the clock, for some reason, so once I am done with my warm up, I flip over to the screen that shows calories. For some reason, I find watching the calories easier than the time. Of course, it is almost the same because by now I know almost exactly how many calories equal to what time, etc. - but like you said, it is a mental game.

Also, on days when I don't feel I am at my best, I tell myself "you can stop at 200 [or 300] calories" - but of course I never. Even if I tell myself "you can stop at 300 calories" I know deep down that I will continue until I do my usual time and distance, unless I am half-dead. But I still like to play that mental game with myself.
I like best the runs when my mind completely wanders off and I think about 3FC, the various posts, or (most frequently) the technical issue I am currently working on at work. Sometimes, I manage to zone out having my mind so occupied by other stuff that 50 calories go by without me noticing - that is always a "happy" moment.