I don’t believe in ‘conversation pace’ running. If you are going to talk to anybody while you are running, talk to yourself.
I can understand the thinking behind ‘conversation pace’ running in that it guarantees a pace well within yourself. That is all very well if you want to stay at a pace or a tempo well within yourself. But most runners don’t. I suggest you forget about the conversation and concentrate on the pace.
I believe that ‘conversation pace’ running developed as a theory around the time of the ‘listen to your body’ theory. These theories were devised with the best will in the world. They were cautious and prudent. They were all motivated by the ‘don’t over do it’ school of running thought.
This was understandable when most practitioners and advisers didn’t know what they were about, so caution ruled, OK.
The real merit of such advice is highly debatable. I have never seen real progress come from a ‘take it easy’ or ‘don’t push it’, philosophy. That’s why I think ‘conversation pace’ running is for the birds.
You cannot talk and concentrate fully on your running anymore than you can listen to someone talking when you are running. In fact if you are running with an ounce of seriousness, any talk is an irritant.
Running is not for discussing topical issues or solving the world’s or your own problems. It is an escape from all that. Running is an escape unto itself.
To run well you should think of nothing else. If you find yourself seeking a partner that you can run and hold conversation with, I suggest that you are seeking a soft training run.
So don’t talk yourself out of a good run. If anyone wants to hear what you have to say, let your running do the talking.
And if you do more running and less talking, it’s surprising how much will be said about your running.
