So many running training plans I see, even the beginner ones, assume that you run a 10-minute mile! I’ve been trying to run for the past several years, have completed 5K’s, 10K’s, and a half marathon, but I have yet to regularly see anything close to a 10-minute mile on my Garmin GPS or treadmill readout.

That’s not to say I haven’t tried. I’ve done running clinics with hill work, tried fartleks, and have even just gone out and tried to do my regular 3 mile run at a 10:00 pace, but I end up winded and exhausted after a minute of running at that pace.

I have come back to running after having my baby last year. I started slow, as a beginner again, and have been doing 2 mi runs at around 12:40/mi. Even though I can tell I have more cardiovascular endurance, since I don’t need to take walk breaks, I still can’t seem to get to even 11:00/mi unless I’m going downhill.

Why does it seem so easy for “everyone” to do 10- or even 8-minute miles?? At this point I would trade in all my running gear to be able to do 3 miles in 30 minutes or less.

I’m not overweight, and I don’t think I am unfit. I just can’t do a 10:00/mi pace if my life depended on it. Sigh. I am hoping that patience is the key to achieving this goal.

A girl can dream.