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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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 Sad

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 Blush 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:
thevicky · 20/05/2016 23:13

Keep going, seriously, it's nothing to do with your size. I'm a size 12 and last did a 5k (pre-children) in 53mins (!!). I haven't run for five years and am trying to get back into it - so far can't get further than 2.5k. Plug in some great tunes and get out there x

littledrummergirl · 20/05/2016 23:26

Lem, I'm also a large girl who will be running crawling the mud run in July as part of a team.

Two weeks ago I couldn't run for a bus, now with the c25k I can run for a minute and half. 3/4 of a football pitch.
One of the ladies is competing in next year's London marathon after qualifying as a fast in age category this year. The rest either run or go to the gym.

There is no way I will keep up at their pace but they have said they are happy to go at mine- as long as we all have fun and get covered in mud.
You have plenty of time to improve, I am hoping to run for 20mins by July, you only have to get faster.

Don't give up.

OooLookShoes · 21/05/2016 14:14

The faster runners either leave after they have finished and take no notice of who is behind them or they stay to encourage the slower runners. The ones that stay always seem proud of those running slower than them. They are just pleased to see people running no matter their speed or size.

This

In all my years running I have NEVER once heard, or heard of any other runner speaking badly of a slower runner.

Runningupthathill82 · 21/05/2016 15:50

What OOOlook said. I did parkrun this morning, was one of the faster women, and stayed for another 20 mins or so to cheer on people finishing after me.

Almost all of the "faster" runners have been slower runners at some point. We know what it's like! And it's much harder to be out there working hard for 45 mins than it is for 20.

TutanKaDashian · 21/05/2016 16:31

Well done OP, you're doing brilliantly. Before I broke my ribs I loved running even though I was really slow at it. I did 2 half marathons with my times at 2:52 and 2:39 respectively. Although very slow, I was just really pleased to finish. In fact, on the 2:52 one, it was the London half marathon and I did it with my sister and brother in law. He did it in about 1:21 and she was about 1:58. They were phoning me to ask where I was! Now that's embarrassing BlushBlush

OooLookShoes · 21/05/2016 17:04

tutan oh yes, been there I did my half marathon with someone who did it in under 2 hours, and that is EXACTLY what he said:
' yes I was faster, but YOU were out there for another 40 minutes, I don't think I could have done that'

Made me feel Blush but also quite proud

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 21/05/2016 17:57

it's much harder to be out there working hard for 45 mins than it is for 20

Thats something that Ive never thought of, but its true.

A lot of non runners who want to run think that they need to do it in the dark or that they will look stupid (exactly like I did when I first went started) so feel a bit unconfident with it, when in reality no-one looks stupid or makes a fool of themselves while running and anyone who thinks that the runner does is just a dick and not worth worrying about. Also probably not a runner so you are doing much better than them anyway.

Allbymyselfagain · 21/05/2016 18:21

Please never give up running never! Last year I couldn't run for a bus and I did a marathon last week. Yeah I'm slow, yeah I'm sweaty but it's enjoyable and goor for you.

These 5k obstacle courses take forever anyway, you usually have to queue to get on the obstacle, you can miss the ones you don't want to do and you have to work as a team, our work is doing one in a few weeks and I know I'll be the fastest (only runner) but I'll run with the slowest and we will take our time and have fun.

crayfish · 21/05/2016 18:56

Don't give up!! Running is the only exercise I have ever stuck to and I think half of that is because anyone can do it, no matter your age or size (disabilities aside obviously).

I also recommend parkrun, I got to a really small one and today our slowest finisher was about 45 minutes. At bigger events there will be loads of people slower than that. It's great to run a regular course because even small improvement boost your confidence. I literally shaved 2 seconds off my PB the other week, I'm slower than lots of people but that day I felt like a champion!

I also don't like running with others, even when I do parkrun or run with DH I wear my headphones and listen to music. I've got a really good playlist and it helps me get in the zone.

Keep at it and you will see improvements, I have gone down nine minutes on my 5k time in the last year and I do no proper 'training', I just go for a jog a few times a week.

littledrummergirl · 22/05/2016 12:00

I was thinking about this for when I complete the c25k. I'm planning on going back to week1, doing my normal run (slow) for the walk part and stretching my stride for the run part which should mean I increase my speed. Maybe you could do something similar.

Original poster
TheoriginalLEM · 24/05/2016 10:18

went for a run this morning - i did the speeding up between lamp posts and generally FELT faster but still 42 minutes. getting there [Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
TheoriginalLEM · 24/05/2016 10:21

oh and my friend said her 27 minutes was on a treadmill so that doest count !Grin

OP posts:
CruCru · 24/05/2016 10:22

This is going to be fun - it is NOT going to be like sports day.

You are doing well. Keep going.

londonmummy1966 · 24/05/2016 10:52

OK so another slow runner here - who cares? I am still getting out for some fresh air and exercise (and a respite from two noisy dds). Some people are built for speed and some for distance - keep going and perhaps try out 10k afterwards.

If you have facebook sign up to the This Girl Can feed as they have lots of encouragement for us larger slower older ladies......

Runningupthathill82 · 24/05/2016 11:03

Woohooo! Well done LEM! That's officially your first interval session done, right there. Fab stuff.

littledrummergirl · 24/05/2016 11:08

Well done Lem. Smile

crayfish · 24/05/2016 12:07

Well done! I find it really hard to run faster than my natural pace so do shorter distances, say 500m slow, then 500m fast and repeat until I have done 3k. I would normally run further than that (I'm built for distance, not speed!) but knowing it will be over quickly makes the fast bits easier.

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