To be upset after comment from friend?

[SlowStarters]

For context, I used to be very overweight and unfit, mostly due to MH issues. I lost 38 kilos, and I've kept it off for 6 years now. I discovered I loved hiking and enjoy 10-15k hikes around the Brecon Beacons, for example.

I'm not a 'natural' sportsperson in any way. I'm very short, big bust, mild asthma, but I'm proud of my achievement and want to improve my fitness more so I recently started running. My legs are strong from the hikes but I am slow.

And I say running. Well. More sweaty, breathy jogging, really.

I ran jogged my first full non-stop 5k distance yesterday. I felt elated! I met a friend for coffee this afternoon and told her I'd managed my first 5k in 39 minutes and I was hoping next time I'd knock a minute or two off the time.

She actually scoffed and said she could walk 5k quicker than that. Then she changed the subject.

I can't believe I felt, and still feel, utterly deflated. I know it's really slow and an average time is 25-30 mins but is 39 mins embarrassingly awful?

I feel like throwing my running trainers away.

My husband has been a runner all his life. He always says there's no such thing as jogging, that all running is hard and calling it jogging is diminishing what you are doing.

Your friend is a total cow. 39 minutes is an awesome time for your first 5k, well done and well done on your weight loss and general awesomeness

And there’s no way she’d be able to walk it in that time 🙄 What a bitchy thing to say. I’d be rethinking my friendship with her.

Another vote for giving parkrun a try 👍

Your friend isa load and really nasty. Get a new friend

She's a liar, not a load.

I can't even jog one block down the road without needing to stop and walk, literally. I'd be so proud of myself if I could do what you have.

I did parkrun in 39 minutes last week and I've got no excuses as done over 70 of them. Sometimes I'm a bit faster, sometimes I'm slower and it's hard because DH is very competitive and has had to learn not to ask me what time I've done , as for me it's all about being there and doing it.

Well done OP - I think you'll love parkrun, and it's in other parts of the world too- DH and I ran it in Queenstown, NZ a few weekends ago, such a buzz and the people are so lovely the world over.

That’s an incredible achievement! You should be so proud and your ‘friend’ sounds jealous.

Well done OP that is a brilliant time and a real achievement. I have checked out the parkrun website a few times and was always too scared to register!

I’ve lost a bit of weight this year and whilst I walk a lot, my attempt at C25K was short lived.

Your thread has inspired me though and whilst I won’t achieve a time as good as yours, I think I can walk it in around 50-55 minutes. I have just signed up and will do my first one next weekend. I will be very close to the back of the field but someone has to come last!

I think your friend is jealous of your weight loss and your success. You should be very proud of yourself.

You’ve done incredibly well!
Personal bests are personal for a reason. It’s amazing that you’ve made that progress, and that your looking to better it. Do not throw your running shoes away! Compete with yourself, not other people.

Where was your ‘friend’ whilst you ran the 5k?

Well done and don’t be demotivated by silly comments!

Hi OP, I hope you got a chance to go down and see the parkrun today. Good plan doing it next week when your legs are recovered, might have been a bit much to ask of them today. Let us know how you get on.

pinacolada you will be fine walk/running it, even if it's mainly walking, lots of people do, and you will never be last as that's the tail walker Give it a go!

There is a parkrun thread on the exercise bit in the Health board which is great for general parkrun chat too.

You are so similar to me op. You have done amazingly. My first and only park run was done in about 43 minutes. I was super proud of this and everyone at park run were amazing. No way could I have run it from start to finish so that in itself is an amazing achievement. There was about 10 behind me. Do it next week. You will love it.

Your friend was tactless and unkind. I wonder if she changed the subject because she realised she was out of order

I'm sure you'll enjoy Park Run. It's a friendly supportive environment

Ditch her. You are doing amazing and don’t need crap like that from anyone. I’m a similar build to you and have asthma and I couldn’t do it. Right now I struggle to walk the ten mins from my house to my uni campus in under 30 mins without bags.

What a nasty woman she is l really think you should distance yourself from her as she sounds like a drain on your positive attitude.

I think it's absolutely amazing that you have done this. I really wish l had the get up abd go too.

familygermsareok

Thank you. Will have a look at the parkrun thread.

I’m a park run regular (have done half marathons in past etc). I’m always at 34mins occasionally up to 37, I’m just not fast and never will be. And I couldn’t care less! I go cos it’s fun, it gives me a base layer of fitness and no one cares what time you get- I am regularly overtaken by 80yr olds and I also overtake skinny 20 somethings.
Crack on!!! And enjoy!!!

She’s not much of a friend. Friends should celebrate your achievements and build you up, not tear you down. Keep your trainers and distance yourself from her. She should try a 5K herself - off a short pier.

Your ‘friend’ is a twat.

You should be running away from her. People like that have the ‘I tell it like it is’ thing going on, when really it’s an excuse for being a nasty rude and ignorant asshole.

You did amazing, honestly well done

My first 5k was 39 mins too and all my friends were so happy and proud of me. Your friend sounds rude and not v nice unfortunately. Well done, keep at it! I am at about 35 now which is comfortable for me. I don’t aspire to get much quicker. Am proud of what I have achieved and so should you be.

Just joining in to agree with everyone else! You should be really proud of your achievements, and I'm pretty sure your "friend" is jealous and insecure. I've recently lost weight and got fitter and I'm about to start running again. I won't give two hoots about my time. The only person I want to be better than is myself, yesterday. You go!

Someone's going to be even more jealous when you start making new friends!!! (Sorry, but younger, better-looking ones than Bob)

She's not entitled to an opinion about YOUR running time and to deflate your elation! What a cow. I'm fairly active but I HATE running. 3 miles non stop is an achievement in itself.
Be proud OP and ignore your rude friend

Your post has inspired me OP. And please just ditch the 'friend' x

I look fit and can walk for miles, but I couldn't run 5k, so I'm always impressed by anyone who can, and doing so in 39 minutes is very impressive in my book. Well done, OP.

You are faster than me!! Well done!!! xxx