Does speed matter?

172 Posts
I've started running at the beginning of this year - well, it's a bit like running - only slower! : -)
I couldnt even do a mile without thinking I was going to die in January, but am now up to 3 miles comfortably and over 4 miles to push myself but I am slower than a herd of turtles in peanut butter. My average pace is only 12:39 - sometimes slower than that. Does it matter? I am entering my first 5k next week and hate the thought that I am going to be the last to finish! :-( I feel like everybody is pointing and laughing at the best of times, and this is starting to dent my confidence a little. I have done everything I can to try and increase my pace, but nothing seems to work.
I have MS so should just be satisfied that I am able to get out there and do something, but dont want to make myself look silly.
Is speed all that important, or shall I just keep plugging away at distance rather than disappointing myself over and over on the speed front?
I couldnt even do a mile without thinking I was going to die in January, but am now up to 3 miles comfortably and over 4 miles to push myself but I am slower than a herd of turtles in peanut butter. My average pace is only 12:39 - sometimes slower than that. Does it matter? I am entering my first 5k next week and hate the thought that I am going to be the last to finish! :-( I feel like everybody is pointing and laughing at the best of times, and this is starting to dent my confidence a little. I have done everything I can to try and increase my pace, but nothing seems to work.
I have MS so should just be satisfied that I am able to get out there and do something, but dont want to make myself look silly.
Is speed all that important, or shall I just keep plugging away at distance rather than disappointing myself over and over on the speed front?
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It's not as if winning is important.
What it may grow to in time, I know not what.
Daniel Defoe: 1725.
The chances are you won't be last at your 5km. Even if you are nobody will be pointing and laughing. Everyone who runs had a starting point and they know it takes determination to build yourself up.
On where you go after your 5km that depends on what you want and what you enjoy. The best training is to mix it up and do both. Do speed work were you push yourself over shorter distances and do easy paced runs over longer distances to build up stamina.
The main thing is to find something that motivates you and that you enjoy. I know people who do nothing but short speed runs, and other that do nothing but distance as that's what they like. I know someone who's ran 50 marathons but refuses to run 5k's as they're too fast and hurt too much!
You'll get faster as you run further, at this stage.
House buying: Finished!
Next task: Lots and lots of DIY
Really, no-one ever laughs or judges everyone in an adult sporting event.
Coming from a cycling world, the person who finishes last is very much respected.
A big event in France, they mention first and last only.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Marmotte
It's actually quite a great moment. Thousands having a well earned drink cheering on the last finisher flanked by the police out riders.
Thank you everyone. Its over a week away, so plenty of time and opportunity to take myself off into a corner to have a stern word with myself :-)
I accepted quite some time ago that I'll never be a 'racer'. I often say that when I'm running I'm overtaken but old people and toddlers - walking :rotfl: People always think I'm joking, but I'm not
Good luck in your 5k!
Speed really doesn't matter - someone has to come last so even if it's you, you are still miles ahead of all the people who stayed at home on the sofa!
Race4Life is a really inclusive event so you'll probably find the back of the race is busier than the front - and some people will walk the whole way.
You will probably get faster over time - I just knocked 6 minutes off my 5 mile time which I never thought I would do when I first did that distance about 3 years ago. If you want to get fast do speed work, if you aren't too worried about it just keep getting out and enjoying it.