running motivation/positives thread

[Deleted]

When I first started running I was around a 11/12 minute mile. For me, the trick to getting faster (my comfortable pace is 10 minute mile but I'm down to 8 min/mile in a short race, like a 5k) was to run longer distances.

If I could run for an hour at 11 minutes per mile then, mentally, I figured that I should be able to do 30 minutes at 10:30/mile. First running longer and slower made me able to run shorter distance faster. Then, running more shorter distances faster enabled me to run the longer distances a little faster, and it's just a continuous cycle.

[clseale]

I was actually just thinking about this last night! It occurred to me that my half marathon pace (7:40) is now the same pace as my mile pace from 2011. Since 2011, my marathon time has dropped 54 minutes, and my half time has dropped 25 minutes. When I first started going further distances, my pace was between 10:00 and 10:30. Now it's rare that a run is over 8:30. That's now my easy run pace. 

It just takes time. No, I definitely don't think everyone can go from an 11:00 to a 6:00, but everyone can see improvements! Speed work, and even more so (at least for me) volume, is what made the difference. I had to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Keep at it. You'll get there.

[Deleted]

Any time I train for speed, I fail. I train for distance, and I succeed. My shorter races did get a bit faster when I was focusing on distance, but it's a side effect. I'm totally content being slow!

[runaways]

I ran my first half in January 2011. My normal paces were 10:xx at the time, even for runs ~3 miles. I didn't really start getting significantly faster until about a year ago when I actually started to put forth some effort as far as pushing my paces. This past January, 3 years later, I ran a full at an 8:50 pace and I'm still getting faster.

If I were you, I'd focus more on adding distance for a while. If you really want to work on getting faster, I'd just focus on trying to push yourself for one of your medium length runs (or part of a longer run).

ETA: I really love what clseale said about getting comfortable being uncomfortable. That is so key if you want to improve your paces. At this point, for me at least, it's a lot harder to do a slow easy run than a fast one because pushing myself has become my baseline.

[cinco]

I've been running for a long time. I never ran on a team or anything, just on my own for fun, fitness, and stress relief. It's been more of an on and off relationship. Shortly after college I started running more regularly, and ran my first marathon in 2001. My time was right around 5 1/2 hours. For shorter runs I was pretty consistently in the 10 minute mile range. I did not care about being faster in the least. I'm not sure if Garmins existed back in the day, but I didn't use any type of watch and only had a vague idea of my race times after I ran. I got a BOB and kept up running after having DD1, but got pregnant pretty quickly after. After DS, I ran quite a bit with the double BOB. I signed up for a half (still watch less and not caring about speed), and ended up finishing in just under 2 hours. I was shocked. DH bought me a Garmin and I got hooked on trying to get faster times. I signed up for my 2nd marathon when DS was a little over one, and have been running consistently ever since.

My times improved dramatically in between having DS and getting pregnant with #3. I qualified for Boston (5 times now , which I never thought I had a chance in hell of doing. I credit consistent running of higher mileage and trying to push myself with speed work. So yeah, I went from 10-11 minute miles to 6 minute miles. I may only be able to run ONE six minute mile, but I can do it I'm in a bit of a plateau right now, but I still push myself b/c I love to run and race. If I get tired of racing, I'll ditch the Garmin and run for the joy of it.

[runaways]

cinco I had no idea you had seen such huge improvements. It gives me hope!

[gt7301b]

I think it is possible, but not easy.

I ran my first half in 2008 and finished around 2:15 pace. I dabbled in running for a few years and ran big races, Cherry Blossom, Peachtree, etc, but didn't really focus on running till the last year couple of years.

I've seen lots of improvements this past year by dropping a few pounds and training better. Last year I ran a 10 mile race in 1:30:46, I ran the same race Sunday in 1:22:38. That was my 5K pace last year. I've also learned how to race better. I used to give up when it got hard and walk or slow down, now I am better trained to push through to get a good time. As clseale says you need to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

[melodramatic26]

I'm training for my 6th half marathon. I've never ran a half under 2:45. I've looked up the paces for doing a 2:30 1/2 and it seemed SO FAST to where I was.

But I took the paces and started with them as my goal. It's been a month of sticking to the training program and I'm now averaging a 10:47 pace on my 5 miler compared to 12:00.

I think doing my speed work on a treadmill helps. And also, running faster. I know it sounds simple, but really, run faster.

[G22]

When I started running 2 years ago, I was doing a 11:30 min/mi pace. I truly never thought I'd improve as much as I have. I really didn't pay attention to what my pace was the first year, I just focused on my distances instead. Now on average my pace is 8:30 min/mi. I just recently realized how far I've come.

I'd love to get my pace below 8 min/mi someday.

[Susie]

I'm checking Athlinks for you...

My first 5k, which was my first "adult" running race*, I went 32:21 (10:24 pace).  That was in 2010.  A year and a half later, I did a 26:25 (8:30 pace).

I haven't done any 5k's since then, but I've done sprint, then olympic, then half iron distance tri's, and built my running from 5k to 10k, then 15k, then an injury setback, then back all the way up to half marathon, which I've done twice now (three times if you count the half marathon on the end of a half ironman).  Now I can do a half marathon at a faster pace than my first 5k.  It doesn't come fast, but it does come.

*I am not counting the 10k that I did in my college swimming days that I still have not beaten.

[G22]

@canadiandrone, I answered before I read people's responses, but I had the same mentality as you did. If I could do a half marathon at an 10-11 min/mi pace, I could surely push my pace a bit faster in a short race like a 5k. It was about learning what my body could do.

[Mushe]

I love reading these stories! I think (hope!) I 'liked' them all.

For my story, I started running a year ago, to get back in shape after having my first child. I'd dabbled in running before, but it never stuck. I started out at 12 minute miles. Did my first half in October at a 9:50 pace, and am now doing long runs at just over 9:00, and short runs just over 8.

I love the sentiment up thread about getting comfortable being uncomfortable.

[clseale]

Mar 5, 2014 11:42:40 GMT -5 cinco said:

 I qualified for Boston (5 times now , which I never thought I had a chance in hell of doing. I credit consistent running of higher mileage and trying to push myself with speed work. 

My first marathon in 2010 was a 5:10. (I just don't use it when gauging improvement, because it gives me unfair credit. I didn't get that much stronger (or work that much harder), I just trained for my first that little! lol) Anyway, even better trained, at that point in my running, it would have been upper 4:00s at best, and when I crossed the finish line I looked at my running buddy and said, "Well obviously I'll never qualify for Boston. I just won't ever be that strong of a runner. It's too difficult" Yet 3 1/2 yrs later, I did just that. I always loved seeing the improvements in your times. It's such great evidence of the gains that can be made. 

[pag41989]

Wow I am intimidated and in awe all at the same time! You ladies are amazing and I can only dream for now to be that fast. I started out running with an average of a 12:30 min mile and I have stuck around there for about the past year and a half. Here recently I have gotten a little faster with an average of an 11 min mile when I really push myself. I have been running 5Ks and did my first 10K last year and I did my first half marathon last month. I am almost always in the back of the pack but I just remind myself that I am lapping everyone out there on the couch and no matter what, a mile is a mile no matter how fast you run it. I have recently started interval running and it seems to help me. I remember being shocked when my running app told me I was at a 10:51 pace which I have never done before! It just takes a lot of work and dedication. I am also overweight and hoping that once I lose some more I will be able to go faster just because I don't have so much weight holding me down. I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone! Good luck!

[skwcm80]

If you looked up unathletic in the dictionary you probably would have seen a picture of me prior to 2012. I stared c25k in July of 2012 to drop the baby weight once and for all. I think my first time running a mile without stopping I was in the 12-13 minute/mile range. I ran my first half last May and my time was 2:24:something, I ran my 4th half 6 months later and my time was 2:16.

I just ran a local 7 mile race at an average 9:43 pace. I credit running longer and running more, as well as, regular speed work.

[mainewifey]

I so impressed and inspired by all of your running accomplishments!

[noisemaker2]

Even more inspiration from you awesome ladies! I loved reading this thread!!

[taratru]

I went from a 31:00 5k to just under 22:00 in about a year and a half. My first half was a 1:58 and my PR is a 1:43, and that took about a year and a half. My marathon went from 4:08 to 3:47 and that took a little under a year.

When I started running after DD3 was born, I couldn't run more than a minute at a time. It took me a month to get to that first 5K. Now it feels off to go that pace. So yes, you can get faster. How fast you can get is going to be so different for everyone. And now, I have to go slower because of injury, so I'm going to have to find a new normal. Running is one of those things that's in constant flux, I think.

[water*drop]

When I started running, I was in the 11-12 minute/mile range. By the end of the first year of running, I was down to a pretty consistent 10-10:30 minute/mile pace for both 5ks and half marathons, and that told me that I clearly needed to work on being a more confident runner because it makes no sense to run a 5k at the same pace as a half marathon...but then I got pregnant and ended up unable to run, so I couldn't really work on it. Once I got back to running after DD was born, I really worked on that - basically, like clseale said, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. That, plus really working on increasing distance, brought me into the 8:30-9:15 range last fall. I'm excited to do a real 5k this spring to see what I can push myself to do in a short distance race.

[lauren170]

When I first started exercising I was at a 20 minute mile (very overweight). Over 3 years I got that down to 9 min/mile for a 5k. That was my personal best. 

Then, I got PG and stopped running after the 1st trimester. I'm just getting back to it and can only run at a 10 min/mile pace for about .15 miles before I have to walk.

While it's kind of discouraging, I'm trying to look it like this:

It doesn't matter how much I improve or how soon I get back to that personal best. What matters is that I do the training, put the time and hard work in. I will improve, how much is up to my body. That's what's been getting me on the treadmill recently.

[shauni27]

Yeezus, you ladies are so speedy!

I did see my pace get faster as I added distance and speed work, but nothing like these ladies! My first 5K I ran about a 10 minute mile (when I started running a few months before that on the TM and outside it was closer to 10:30/11 mm). My first half 6 months later took me 2:20. A solid year later, my 5K time was at an 8:30 pace and my half was finished in 2:10. Since then I have not seen any improvements, but I also was not trying super hard. I know I will never run faster than an 8 minute mile, and I am totally ok with that. It is not comfortable for me, and I LIKE being comfortable. But I am hoping this spring (starting with the same 5K next weekend that I referenced above) to see some minor improvements at least from the last two years.