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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To feel like giving up (running )

67 replies

TheoriginalLEM · 20/05/2016 10:27

So i stupidly signed up to the 5k pretty muddy event in july.

I am a BIG girl! size 22 up top and 18 bottom. The boobs are an issue!

i can run 5k but im just so slow

My colleagues are just started training and they are doing it in about 30-35 mins and one girl is 27 minutes !! she is like a gazelle though.

There's me gallumphing along like an elephant at 45 minutes I don't stop and tun the whole thing. I Am a bit older in my 40s where they are late 20s early 30s but i am going to humiliate myself.

How can i get my speed up? or should i just accept that im too fat/old for this shit.

OP posts:

AliceScarlett · 20/05/2016 10:28

Nah 45min is fine, do it, you're still lapping everyone on the couch!

NewNameNotTheSame · 20/05/2016 10:30

These things aren't a race, please don't worry about how fast or slow you are, the fact that you are out there doing it regardless is pretty amazing. Well done, and keep going

Original poster

TheoriginalLEM · 20/05/2016 10:31

i just get so frustrated with myself. i enjoy running and have managed 10k recently but it takes me AGES. I actually don't like running with other people so why did i put myself in this position ?

OP posts:

Tanyaaah · 20/05/2016 10:33

I've done that race and most people walk it, don't worry, its fun!

YouMakeMyDreams · 20/05/2016 10:33

You are doing better than me who still huffy and puffs at running for 3 minutes. I'm still working up to 5k.
Honestly you're doing great you should be really proud of yourself being able to run that distance. If you keep plugging away at it by July you'll probably be running it faster. If not its not an embarrassing time. Keep going you're awesome.

Tanyaaah · 20/05/2016 10:34

And half of it is not running, rather climbing, sliding on your belly under nets etc (it is fun...honest!)

namechangeparents · 20/05/2016 10:35

Instead of trying to run the whole thing, walk a minute and run a minute. You might actually find you are faster because you won't be scared to get a bit out of breath on the running bits if you know you can walk for a bit as well.

I think a lot of slow runners are only slow because they are scared of getting out of breath. Also try to speed up your walking. I find a lot of people walk at toddler pace. Walk faster and the running will follow.

HemanOrSheRa · 20/05/2016 10:36

I'm on the larger side and I run a 5k in about the same time as you. This is despite doing the C25K twice with a running group. I've come to the conclusion that I'm built for comfort not speed . But I enjoy it, which is an enormous surprise to me as I loathe exercise.

You will probably get separated from your colleagues during the race anyway. Plus don't forget that lots of people sign up for these things having done no training whatsoever and will walk the course.

Original poster

TheoriginalLEM · 20/05/2016 10:43

namechange - i am definitely a toddler waljer. Although we walk alot! im just slow i guess.

Am worried about the climbing - me and cargo nets don't go!!

OP posts:

Original poster

TheoriginalLEM · 20/05/2016 10:44

also i just don't seem to be able to do the runand walk thing. I just plod along. if i stop, thats it

OP posts:

lalaloopyhead · 20/05/2016 10:45

Don't give up! I don't think 45 mins is a shabby time at all for 5k, and these mud events are not about speed they are about taking part and having fun and raising a bit of money for charity. There are always going to be more serious runners at these things but they are not the majority I promise.
Be proud of yourself for doing it, I still struggle doing 5k at all and as someone else said you are doing a lot more than those that are staying at home!

Clandestino · 20/05/2016 10:46

I am 44 and I can run 5K under 30 minutes so age isn't an issue at all. You just have to build up your strength and fitness and you'll be fine.

longdiling · 20/05/2016 10:47

Don't stop doing something you enjoy! If the event is stressing you out and ruining your enjoyment then maybe consider giving up your space. I bet you wouldn't be this hard on anyone else though would you? 5k is 5k, whatever speed you go at. It's easy to take up running when you are a gazelle like 20 something. Far harder to do in your 40s, so more for you to be proud of. That's what I tell myself anyway.

PetuliaGristle · 20/05/2016 10:48

Well done on running 5k - awesome! Interval training is a good idea, have you tried your local Parkrun? As AliceScarlett says, you're still lapping everyone on the couch!

scampimom · 20/05/2016 10:50

I could not possibly run for 5k - far too unfit and lazy. So the fact that you are even THERE impresses me hugely. You're amazing! Those gazelles have it easy - young bones, youthful energy, and no junk in the trunk to carry about. YOU, on the other hand, are a kick-ass heroine wonder woman who's doing the same thing but without those advantages, and I think you're INCREDIBLE.

BrownieQueen75 · 20/05/2016 10:51

If you can run 5K then you are doing brilliantly. Loads of people walk these events - and not particularly quickly either - so please don't worry about how fast you are. Get out there and enjoy it.

A group of us did a 5K obstacle run at the weekend (not Pretty Muddy but another one) and it was great fun. I 'can' run 5K in about 33 minutes but we ran as a group and waited for the slower ones at each obstacle and all finished with massive grins on our faces.

As for building up speed, you need to do speed work - try increasing your pace for short periods (even sprinting between 2 lamp-posts will help) and you'll get quicker gradually. I've knocked 5 minutes off my 5K time this year already.

665TheNeighbourOfTheBeast · 20/05/2016 10:52

i am going to humiliate myself.
oh no you're not !
Running is one of those sports where you're blind to the "gazelles" and and the weathered, sinewy, already ran every race you can name, best timers.
Running is a sport where the people you cheer on are the scarlet - the sweaty - the gasping - the found it really hard and did it anyway - people.
maybe running with other people will show you that?
I really hope so.

paap1975 · 20/05/2016 10:52

My first 5k took me 45 mins too. I didn't let it bother me. Even now, I still plod along at my own pace (I can't do the walk/run thing either) and let others go by me without worrying. When people ask me what my objective is, I reply that it's to run the whole distance without stopping. I prefer running on my own too. There is no reason for you to stop doing something you enjoy.

Original poster

TheoriginalLEM · 20/05/2016 10:52

Thank you

OP posts:

HemanOrSheRa · 20/05/2016 10:58

I'm a plodder too, LEM!

Notonthestairs · 20/05/2016 11:05

Dont stop. Just stop comparing yourself to others. I am a plodder too, I just put one foot in front of another for the required distance - I think I am amazing .
Loving that turtle picture Herman.

Oogle · 20/05/2016 11:06

I'm 30, not massively unfit yet I cannot run. I'm also doing pretty muddy this July and I'm panicking. I can run for about 2 minutes before I need to stop. I think it's great you can run 5k without stopping! I really want to get to that point!

AyeAmarok · 20/05/2016 11:06

You are DEFINITELY not going to humiliate yourself! Not at all!

You so won't be last. But even if you were, it'll still be brilliant and everyone will be cheering you on - there's just a brilliant camaraderie at these events.

Nobody cares where they come in the rankings apart from the few who are out to win it, and they're a different species.

LurcioAgain · 20/05/2016 11:08

You are doing better than me, LEM. It's taken me about three months to work up to two miles (still with a couple of walks for a rest in the middle), and that takes me 25 minutes. I describe my gait as "waddling aerobically".

But the main thing is we're both out there actually trying, and we are (well certainly I am) fitter than when we started.

Good luck with it.

HemanOrSheRa · 20/05/2016 11:08

You can get in on a t-shirt too, Not !

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