Croz69 - Actually, you did not ask your question wrong the first time - you asked it properly.  I do agree with others, that as long as you are doing some sort of running, slogging, jogging, or whatever you want to call it, I would consider you a runner.  I have to disagree with some of the comments in reference to time, though.  I consider anyone to be a Penguin if you are running at a pace of a 15 minute mile or slower.  Anything faster than that (which is most of those who post here) I don't consider to be a Penguin.  I might slide a little bit and say that if you do a 13-14 minute mile part of the time, then you might still be a Penguin, but anything faster than that is not a Penguin.  Keep in mind that these are only my opinions, are not meant in a negative way, and do not reflect the opinions of anyone else on here.

So, in answer to your question "If I said I'm a Penguin.  I run a 3 mile run at a 10 mm pace" would you agree with me or tell me that's not a Penguin pace?"  I would say that's not a Penguin pace.  I've seen people post on here that think they are a Penguin when they run an 8 or 9 mm, which I could only do in my dreams.  But as someone else said, it's all relative, and everyone's opinions/definitions of a Penguin are different.

Even John "The Penguin" Bingham, who started all of this Penguin stuff says he runs a 12 mm, which is fast to me, and I don't consider him to be a Penguin.

SoulSong - You said you finished last in the last half marathon you did.  Just curious, what was your finish time, if you are comfortable in posting it? 

Thanks SloMo2. I just didn't want to come across as "please sir, can I be called a runner too?" I consider myself a runner. I dare anyone over the age of 20 (and half of them under 20) to go out there and run 3 miles at any pace without taking breaks or walking breaks if you're not a runner. Doesn't work.

I was just looking for some indications of what would be a 'normal' pace vs. a 'slow' pace for an average runner, etc. Unfortunately, too many articles are "don't worry about how fast, just do your best. You're good enough, smart enough and doggonit, people like you!" type stuff. I'm a big boy, if I'm slow, tell me I'm slow and then point me to any way you know on how to get faster, etc. So I appreciate your feedback. When I do these things, I strive to always improve and was looking for info to help me do just that.

And Wayna, DAMN! (sorry for the language) I don't give a crap what your mm is, 13.1 deserves respect! I can't imagine the work involved in getting there. Take every one of those rest days, and congrats for keeping the Type 2 beast at bay.

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I consider anyone to be a Penguin if you are running at a pace of a 15 minute mile or slower.  Anything faster than that (which is most of those who post here) I don't consider to be a Penguin.  I might slide a little bit and say that if you do a 13-14 minute mile part of the time, then you might still be a Penguin, but anything faster than that is not a Penguin.  Keep in mind that these are only my opinions, are not meant in a negative way, and do not reflect the opinions of anyone else on here.

So, in answer to your question "If I said I'm a Penguin.  I run a 3 mile run at a 10 mm pace" would you agree with me or tell me that's not a Penguin pace?"  I would say that's not a Penguin pace.  I've seen people post on here that think they are a Penguin when they run an 8 or 9 mm, which I could only do in my dreams.  But as someone else said, it's all relative, and everyone's opinions/definitions of a Penguin are different.

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SloMo - I am with you on this! I average about a 14 minute mile. Or about a 15 minute mile when I have not been consistent. Shorter distances or better days might be able to get down to 13 (or race pace of about 12:50). I would be sooo stoked with being able to run a 12 mm on training runs. I think in high school I did "the mile" at about 10:00 and remember being the slowest kid out there. Now that seems so incredibly fast I don't know how I did it (okay I weighed quite a bit less and was 16 so that's probably a start). I guess I'd consider 12 and up to be okay for calling yourself a penguin. I get sort of offended honestly when folks talk about how slow they are and make a big deal of it and then I see their 5k times are around 30 minutes! Seems like lightning speed to me! Then again I recognize we all want to improve so I don't mean to criticize anyone's judgement of themselves. I just mean to say that if YOU think you are slow at 10 mm, well where does that put the rest of us, right?

I've been getting the emails again so have been following this conversation a bit. 

Here's my take:  If you feel like a runner, you are a runner.  As some of those motivational posters say, it's still a mile if it takes you 5 minutes or 25 minutes. 

That's exactly my take on being a penguin too.  If you feel like a penguin, you are one.  I think it's more of a state of mind than a number.  I feel comfortable with the people here.  Even as I've gotten a wee bit faster, I still feel most comfortable here. 

There are still those hardcore "runners" who think you aren't a runner unless you can do a marathon under 4 hours.  That's rubbish imo.

My 5k race pace is now a 10:30 or so.  My marathon race pace is 14:00 or so.  I'm a penguin. 

I do tend to compare myself but I try to stay in my age group when looking at the comparisions.  If you want to know what the average runner's pace is in a race, I'd choose a local race and go look it up on athlinks.com.  I've got the link to my results at the bottom.  I like to look to see what the average pace was, the average women's pace and where I stood in my age group.  I think that's a better gauge than just throwing out a number for everyone. 

I just set a PR in my last 5k.  I did a 10:33 pace.   79% of the women finished ahead of me.  The average woman's finishing time was 30:13 and I finished in 32:47.  That 2 1/2 minute difference pushed me down 29%.

Ultimately, it doesn't bother me at what pace people consider themselves penguins.  John Bingham started a revolution with his books and the thought that those of us not doing a 8 minute pace can be and are runners.  Who cares what the label is as long as you are happy, find some people who can share the joy of running and support you?

OK...so is anyone else having problems listening to their bodies? I've undertaken this really outrageous schedule all in the attempt to qualify at the highest level for Half Fanatics. Thankfully it's not about speed because instead of setting new PRs I'm setting more WRs (personal worsts) lol!  Did my double last weekend in IN/MO. Kept a decent, fairly normal pace of 12:19mm in IN on a relatively hilly course and a 13:13mm in MO. At mile 8 in MO I was even 10 minutes ahead of my goal finishing pace of 2:40 but hit a major wall at mile 9 and walked the majority of the remainder of the course finishing over 13+ minutes on my PR. I ran what should have been a flat (and I mean FLAT), fast race yesterday but ended up walking the majority of it after mile 2 because my ITBS kicked up again thus setting my PW at 3:07:26 (14:17mm). Today I'm more sore than I have been after any of the 2 doubles that I've done so far.

At this point I'm not really concerned about time, just finishing. The thing is, I have 4 more races in the next 3 weeks (one double) that are already paid for and I'll be damned if I let the money go to waste. I know I'll do these 4 at least and another 2 that are paid for in June and November, but I have a mega list of races that I want to get done before August. I might be able to talk myself into taking a month long break between May and June, but at the same time I feel like I'd be wasting time. This is what the remainder of my summer schedule looks like it includes 4 doubles, 1 triple and the rest singles (all HMs).

So, honestly, would you be able to listen to your body or would you be on the stubborn side and keep going as long as possible? I'm thinking that I'll wait until after OKC to determine if I'll actually take a break or keep going...

EDIT 3/25/12: I decided to go ahead and take a month off. Dropping Fargo/Papillion/Louisville/Casper off the schedule.

Hi my name is Crystal....and I'm a slow runner...

lol looking at some of the people's PR's on here I'm thinking i'm more of a penguin then some

Its all good.  I have always done charity walks, 2-3 a year with my family.  In 2010 I was diagnosed with cancer, and had to have a partial mastectomy.  I beat the disease, but the after effects were pretty bad.  I was severely depressed.  When I finally got my health and my head back I was tipping the scales at 252 lbs.  And I knew something had to change.  I started to watch what I ate, I started walking more.  October 2011, one year after my surgery I finished my first 5k at 53:10 SLOW, but I finished and thats all that mattered to me.  I continued my journey, lost 10 lbs finished my second 5k 49:00 stoked! and the next race was a 7k 1:01:36 and the most recent this past Saturday I finally ran the entire 5k (well my run is most peoples slow jog lol) But either way I finished 46 something...results aren't posted.  I am proud of myself, I have lost a total of 24 lbs to date and have been making strides to improve my health.  Since January I have hired a life/health coach (KaraWaitek.com) I highly recommend her.  She has been super supportive and a dream to work with.  she ran this last race with me and really pushed me though the 86 degree race!  So that's my story...simple as it is

I used to be a penguin....but I think I've graduated to maybe a....hmmm......a goose?? 

I know I'll never be a 6 or 7 min mile runner but as vcackerman said, 'I'm racing to be in better shape and have fun.'!!! And boy oh boy am I having fun!!! (never in a million years did I picture myself saying that I'm having fun running! Used to be, I'd rather have a quadruple root canal as run across my front yard!

Happy running!!

Oh gosh!! A Wogger is the best way to describe me lol I run a 16:30mm and I'd love to improve, but I really don't have a support system or anything at all. And my motivation for myself is minimal :-/ it's too dang hot in Joplin this time of year to go running and gyms are expensive! Any suggestions or anyone wanna be "running buddies"?? I could use the moral support!