If you've lost weight while becoming a runner...

[spunkypenguin]

I did C25K earlier this year and now I'm building up to a 10k in July. I'm still majorly slow and I'm wondering if I'll get faster as I get smaller. I'm hoping so!

Anyone that lost significant weight while running? Did you get faster as you lost the weight?

Please tell me there is hope for my 12+ min/mile

[joenali]

I haven 't really lost weight from running alone. I have lost weight from swimming, biking and running! I do think it's possible to lose weight from just running alone. Are you doing speed work? To run faster you have to run fast! Are you doing any cross training? Or weight lifting?

[spunkypenguin]

I started with just walking, then the elliptical. Now I run 3 days a week, do strength training 2-3 days a week and then do something else (elliptical or walking the dogs) on the 6th day. I give myself 1 day completely off each week.

I'm still over 200lbs. I also need to see an allergy/asthma specialist b/c I'm pretty sure I have exercise-induced asthma. I can't run any faster w/o getting majorly winded. Even running at my slow pace, it's not really "conversational"

I guess I'm just wondering if I'm going to be faster because I'm lighter or if that has nothing to do with my speed...

[joenali]

I'm not discounting your comfort level when trying to up your speed. I too get winded when I do fast intervals. It's not easy, it's really effing hard and you do breathe fast. If you are getting winded too fast even on a slower run, then slow down even more.

yes the more you lose the faster you will become. Someone told me the other day that a 5 pound weight loss can mean about 5 seconds or so off your mile time. This was just told to me by a running friend, I don't know it it's true. I'm sure there are some articles out there that give more information.

[RoryGilmore]

Hmmmm...I don't know that I can tease out the experience in that way. But I can tell you that I started running in March 2011. And since that time, I've built up to a half-marathon, mileage wise, and I've lost somewhere between 25 and 30 pounds (between diet and exercise). I've increased my average mile by at least 2 minutes. Some of that is, of course, training. But, some of it is simply that it's easier to make my body move.

[grk2012]

I've gotten smaller and faster, but also increased my distance and started eating better, since 2005 (when I was firmly in the 12+ minute pace range). All of those combined worked wonders for me.

[mtgirl]

I have been running for 2 years now. I have not lost much weight if you go by the scale, but my body shape has changed and I gained some muscle.

Congrats on your progress.

[erincassidy06]

I've lost about 40 lbs (In the last year) and my mile time went down from 12-13 to 11mm. I think this has come from a combination of weight loss, training and lifting weights.

[Wines Not Whines]

When I first started running, I lost 30 pounds in a year (I also ate healthier) and dropped my pace from 12 min/mile to 9-10 min/mile. Losing weight does help speed. It makes sense, because you have less body mass to move.

[gncorman]

When I started C25K, I had lost about 50lbs and started at a 15min mile pace. A year or so later, I have lost an additional 65lbs. Yesterday I ran 4 miles and had an under 12 min mile pace. It really just takes time and the time to run. Over time my breathing improved and I am able to push myself harder but not feel awful. I am hoping to do my first 10K in July as well. You can do this and your progress thus far is amazing!!

[spunkypenguin]

Thanks everyone! I am a very impatient person at times. I get so frustrated with my slow running and just want to go, so it's reassuring to hear that things will hopefully get better as I get smaller and keep at this running thing.

I don't have huge goals like a 7mm or anything...I'd just like to get down around 10...sub 10 would be nice, too.

[artgirl823]

I just looked at your ticker, and I think you'll see some improvement as you continue to lose weight.

If you're interested in anecdotes, here's my personal story: I lost about 15 pounds and my 5K times dropped from 30 and change to the low 23s. I run a bit more, and a eat a bit healthier, but I do think the weight loss had the biggest impact. Runner's World had a calculator somewhere that let you input your current pace, your expected weight loss, and then brought up your expected new pace. I they estimated cutting 2 seconds off your mile for every pound you lose. Not sure if it is still on the site.

[Deleted]

From what I've read each ten pound weight loss is supposed to net a one minute time loss until you're down to your optimal performance weight, whatever that is for your body. At that point further weight loss is a detriment to your speed because you no longer have the energy or power to fuel your run.

[artgirl823]

Here's an article about weight loss and running speed. If you scroll to the bottom, they have a table with some specific pounds lost and estimated improvement in various distances. It looks like for every 10 pounds lost, you should be able to shave a minute off your 5K time, or 20 seconds per mile:

www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-304--11903-0,00.html

[spunkypenguin]

Jun 3, 2012 8:23:57 GMT -5 artgirl823 said:

Here's an article about weight loss and running speed. If you scroll to the bottom, they have a table with some specific pounds lost and estimated improvement in various distances. It looks like for every 10 pounds lost, you should be able to shave a minute off your 5K time, or 20 seconds per mile:

www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-304--11903-0,00.html

:Y:

[AAM2012]

I haven't really lost weight running but I definitely tend to slim down when I'm running and my clothes fit better and in turn I feel better. I am not overweight but my husband was slightly and he's lost about 10lbs from running and cleaning up his diet.

I think you could work on your speed before July and cut your time down even if it's just by a little. I started to do speed work once a week and it helped my time within a few weeks. Good luck!!

[violetbaudelaire]

I haven't lost weight running but clothes look/feel better and I feel stronger. I started at 12+ min/mile too. The pace started increasing as I started doing longer distances - the shorter runs just got easier. Then as the pace increased, I started to actually put time and effort into speedwork because I could finally see results and I was excited! Keep up the hard work!

[breezy8407]

I was a lot faster when I was smaller...but that was also when I was younger.

Keep it up! Getting faster will happen if you keep at it.

[katinthehat]

I did WW and ran (and that was it) and lost 30ish pounds and got significantly faster.

Since I incorporated more cross training, some strength training and still running, but now doing intervals and tempo runs weekly, my weight loss has slowed, but my body has changed and I'm still getting faster.

[starryfish]

My first 5k was 45 minutes. One year later and 30 lbs lighter it was 29 minutes!!!