hey 3aces, welcome to the site. and I'm still slow too. For me it's more about beating my previous times than it is anybody elses. That said, here's what you can do:

1. Don't be tempted to stick with your friends and try to race them. Stick to your own plan and over time you'll catch up. sometimes this means running on your own or taking some flack.

2. Base train. Put in the miles this winter at that slow pace keeping your heart rate low. You'll condition your heart and body to be more efficient and in the spring it'll pay off.
heart zone info:
http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/training/000476.php
http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/triathlon_training/000421.php

3. Do periodized training. So base/miles now, then work in race pace and speed work as you come into racing season. there are a bunch of articles on running here:
http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/cat_run.php

So basically base train, then work in interval, hills, and speed work as your training progresses. Stick to the heart rate training though even if you have to walk to stay in the zone, I promise it'll pay off.

I know there's alot of info in the articles I pointed too. It can be complex at times but stick around and we'll help you through and hopefully you'll pick up a little knowledge here and there along the way.

I have a couple of tips as someone who started as a slow runner but now runs okay (I ran for years before doings tris, started at well-over 10 minute miles and stayed that way for several years until I discovered some of these methods. I consistently race sub 8 now ).

1) DON'T run with your friends (or at least run without them 50% or more of the time)--it's demoralizing and doesn't allow you to work on your gait or your own rythm.

2) Do intermittant sprints during your runs, like racing yourself to the next street light or lamp-post, to teach yourself how to extend your stride and increase your turnover. It also builds anaerobic strength in a very unthreatening way (it's less macho than going to the track ). It will give you that "next gear" you need in racing and teach your neuromuscular and cardiovascular system how to take it up a notch.

3) Do turnover counting. When people run slowly it is usually because they take too few steps--not because of short strides alone. (For example, the Pose method works with no reach in the stride. ) Focus on picking your legs up faster (not higher) than is comfortable. Count your footfalls per minute--counting your right foot as one, and then two when you land on your right foot again, etc--aim for at least 80 per minute and increase it from there. This alone will make a huge difference if you stick with it.

4) Practice gait drills, like lifting your heels high behind you for half a mile, or lifting your knees higher than normal in front of you for 2 or 3 minutes--repeat these as you recover. It will help to make the neurological adaptations needed to enervate your muscles to be able to go faster.

These will really help if you do them. I know there are tons more tips you could follow--speed drills, fartlek workouts, etc. But these basics are vital and will make a big difference sooner than you might imagine.

Happy running!

Thank you both for the great speed tips. I will give the drills a try once a week without my friends. I really enjoy tri-training too much to feel so negative about running. Just focusing on new drills, techniques will help change my mindset.
Thanks again