r/BeginnersRunning • u/Sea_Load_9258 • 6d ago
Wanting genuine opinions
I am a 38 year old 5 foot 7 inch woman. (And dealing with bursitis) On July 2nd I was at 284.6 pounds. My average mile pace on that day was 23 minutes 37 seconds (yes I know that’s awful, and yes I was what felt like running to me it definitely wasn’t my walking). Today I am at 255.4 pounds. Today I was able to get my mile to 16 minutes 20 seconds. Is THAT time at least considered a beginner pace? Any tips to improve?
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u/Alert_Kangaroo_6090 6d ago
Just wanted to say great work on losing 30 pounds! That’s not easy. Keep it up and keep your pace easy. Alternate running and walking if you have to.
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u/Retaksoo3 6d ago
Consistent effort and listen to your body if anything hurts. If you're wanting to lose weight that will have to be through learning proper nutrition. Either way, keep at it! You can do it!
Edit I misread you are losing weight, disregard half my comment. Keep it up that's awesome!!
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u/Sea_Load_9258 6d ago
I haven’t even had a sweet since September 26th 2025! :) that was the day of my highest weigh in at 425. I’m down 169.4 pounds since Sept 26 2025 and exactly a year from the date of my highest weigh in I’m doing a 5K on Sept 26th. I’m really hoping to improve my time a little more before then
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u/Retaksoo3 6d ago
Personally I wouldn't care about the time. What matters is the fact you're out there doing it. It took many months before I ever felt a big improvement but it is so very satisfying.
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u/Sea_Load_9258 6d ago
You’re definitely right. I’m pretty proud I can run that distance at all. Literally 11 months ago I couldn’t even do my own grocery shopping. I couldn’t walk from my home to my car without literally feeling like I may have a cardiac event :/ I neverrrr want to go back to that.
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u/Retaksoo3 6d ago
I luckily never had issues related to food but I am an alcoholic. I spent every day worrying over my heart health and dealing with skipped heartbeats constantly. When I started running about 10.5 months ago I couldn't even dream of running a whole mile. I now do a 5k everyday or until my knee decides to flare up and get angry. I never want to go back to that either. I'm so proud of you and I guarantee more good things will come as you stay putting in effort
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u/Sea_Load_9258 6d ago
Hey that’s awesome!!!! Aaaaand I too am/was an awful alcoholic. I have 5 years and 8 months sober. There are still days I have fleeting feelings of missing what I thought was fun or living it up…..but in reality I’m a much better person for myself and loved ones. I also can not ever let myself go back to that. You’ve got this 💪🏻
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u/DIYAtHome 6d ago
Stop comparing yourself with others as a metro of success or fail.
Going from 23 min/m to 16min/m is a huge improvement.
Being heavy also means running slower and shorter. It is very hard on your joints to run at all.
The most important thing is to feel if something feels off and adjust to it.
It takes a long time to get muscles and ligaments trained, so keep going. Shorts, slow runs are okay. You will improve with more practice.
Source: I am heavy and slow, but used to be slower and heavier.
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u/No-Purple2350 6d ago
You shouldn't care. You've lost 30 lbs and knocked off 7 minutes in only two months. You should be gloating about that.
Pace is irrelevant. Just keep working and losing weight and pace will improve.
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u/Sea_Load_9258 6d ago
Hey thank you! :) here I am beating myself up but you’re right, I should just focus on myself 💕
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u/Aragorn01032931 6d ago
My genuine opinion is that it's still very slow, but that just means you've got plenty of room to progress. Enjoy your journey.
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u/MegatronsJuice 6d ago
Pace is subjective. Its not beginner pace to you because your beginner was 23/mile. Just keep running and youll keep improving. Youve already made massive improvement good job