fitness · Guest Post · running

Guest Post: My 6 Minute Kilometer (That’s a 10 Minute Mile, American Friends)

Susan Tarshis

I did it.

I did it, I did it, I DID it, I. DID. IT.

I started running when I was 35. I did a “Couch to 5K” program. . .about 4 times before I ever ran a full 5k. While paying attention to that running schedule that later morphed into a running app, I was introduced to the idea that one should be able to run 5 kilometers in 30 minutes. Needless to say, my previous unfit-ish self did not complete 5k in 30 minutes. I was happy that it took me 39 minutes.

I have done exactly 15 minutes of internet research trying to find out why this is some sort of magic number. Here is a link suggesting running speed as a predictor of heart health. The rest of my 15 minutes unearthed only assumptions, how to achieve it and a couple of “please to back off holding all us older folks to a younger standard” articles.

Regardless of why, it is certainly a nice round milestone and I think I shall celebrate it.

One of the really interesting things about the accomplishment is I didn’t try to get there. It just happened.

I won’t say that I wasn’t trying to go faster, that would be lying. However, I didn’t set a goal, make a plan, get pissed off for not following the plan, fail at the goal, stop running, feel guilty and try again. . .my previous pattern. I just ran. I ran as much as I could. I tried to vary the distances based on time and inclination. I was also cross training with the bike and getting care from an awesome Osteopath. I’m not sure what made the difference but I do know that suddenly this fall, every run was 5 or 10 seconds faster on the kilometer than the last.

So, HOORAY! I feel very fast now. I may get faster. I may not. That all depends on what my knees have to say about all this speed. But for now, I’m enjoying it very much.

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Published by Susan Tarshis

Susan is a full time Registered Psychotherapist who is seriously sick of being physically distanced from her clients and everyone else. She enjoys all manner of outside activities, her kids, her animals and her people.

7 thoughts on “Guest Post: My 6 Minute Kilometer (That’s a 10 Minute Mile, American Friends)”

  1. That’s great! And I like your plan- just do the movement, not worrying about how fast, how long, how hard. This just goes to show that there are many roads to fitness and satisfaction and personal success; this is a message I’m glad to hear.

  5. That’s amazing. I too would like to get there and am working on it as an ongoing goal. Congrats and thanks for telling us about your success!

  6. Yay – go you!!! Celebrate this achievement! You are kicking ass. I am inspired by your sense of celebration and genuine happiness at your achievement and reading this post has cheered me up and made me realise I should celebrate what I have achieved in running this week, not beat myself up over what I haven’t. Thank you.

  7. That’s amazing!! Inspires me to run for improvement as well as enjoyment. Great job, proud of you (even though I don’t know you)! 🙂

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