I used to be found in the gym lifting weights ... I still cannot quite reconcile with being a *
runner*
Being a gym bunny* could actually help. You know how to warm up and cool down. You can can probably control your breathing quite well (what is running if not Thigh Curls and Leg Extensions?
). You are already used to physical exertion and probably used to pushing forward to make gains. And if you tend to be injury free then you'll be aware of using and maintaining good form too
The standard seems to be to move forward at a pace where you can almost still hold a short but understandable conversation. I quite enjoy a good fartlek ~
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartlek . Basically it's purposefully increasing your pace for a per determined time or distance .. 'From the next post to the house on the corner'. Then you drop your pace back to normal to recover and when/if you're ready set a new target.
* Disclaimer ... This is my general and generic term for gym users. There's nothing wrong with using gyms. I do not use it as a gender specific term.